My longtime dentist, now retired, was never a fan of electric, smart, or sonic toothbrushes. He said he could not tell a difference between patients who used these brushes and those who used traditional brushes.
But he had only been exposed to standard electronics, and by smart he meant an accessory that timed brushing his upper and lower teeth.
More recently, smart has expanded to connected toothbrushes and phone apps that can both measure and analyze tooth brushing. Will it make a difference?
Many studies have shown that newer models of electronic and ultrasonic toothbrushes reduce plaque by up to 21% after three months of use. It doesn’t sound dramatic and probably wasn’t enough for my dentist to notice. However, when this is multiplied by several years of use, it is likely that neither the dentist nor the patient will notice a difference.
Additionally, oral health is a major focus area for technicians working in this field, and toothbrushes are evolving every year.
Now, inevitably, artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way to toothbrushes. At the CES 2024 Technology Expo in Las Vegas in January (long the starting point for consumer health technology), a brand called Oclean debuted as the first of a new generation of AI-powered toothbrushes. Now, just a few weeks later, the Oclean X Ultra S has arrived in South Africa.
I was curious to see if this was a device that would convince me, even if I’m not a dentist.
The first thing you notice when you open the box is the care and attention to packaging. This isn’t just superficial. Removing each successive layer reveals the device and its accessories.
When you plug in the charging stand and place your toothbrush, you’ll see its outstanding features. It has a built-in touch screen that is meant to provide instant feedback while brushing your teeth. It’s called “Brushing Health Clover,” and it shows you brushing time, duration, and score on an interactive color screen.
Although it looks gorgeous, the main drawback of this device becomes obvious as soon as you start brushing. It’s not practical to see or interact with touchscreen controls while brushing. I almost wished there was a standalone accessory that would guide a more traditional connected toothbrush.
But then my toothbrush started talking to me. No, I wasn’t hallucinating, even though no one else could hear me.
The toothbrush has a built-in AI voice guide that provides feedback on how to brush your teeth from inside your mouth. It uses bone conduction technology, which transmits sound through your jaw to your ears. It’s not exactly conversationalist. Its advice is limited to basic advice and warnings. For example, it warns you if you’re applying too much pressure or not paying enough attention to a group of teeth, and provides guidance on how to improve your brushing technique.
It’s like having a dentist by your side, giving you tips on how to make sure your new technology gets approved.
IVOhealth, which sells the Oclean line, says its ultrasonic FlexFit brush head produces up to 84,000 movements per minute thanks to an algorithm called TurboClean. Equipped with a Maglev 3.0 motor, it provides stability and power in your mouth and has 5 modes to choose from. White and red light pressure sensors also provide quick notifications when the brush is in use.
Most notably, the rechargeable battery provides up to 40 days of battery life with just 4.5 hours of charging.
This toothbrush works with the Oclean Care app, so you can customize your brushing experience, or at least your own habits.
I have little doubt that the combination of ultrasonic brushes and continually improving technology will bring about the changes my dentist was hoping for.
How long will it take?
Suggested retail price: R3,999 (www.ivohealth.co.za)
What’s the biggest downside?
- Interactive touch screen is not practical during use.
- Although it has its own app, it also works with the Apple Health app, but not with the rest of the phone ecosystem’s built-in apps.
What is the biggest advantage?
- Excellent battery life.
- A highly personalized experience.
- Comes with a 2 year warranty.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
*Arthur Goldstuck is the founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za.follow him twitter Instagram is @art2gee.