It’s a new year, so what better time to brush up on the latest tooth brushing tech tool for oral awesomeness?
French startup Kolibree is the latest company to take a turn at reinventing the wheel of daily tooth brushing monotony with an Internet-connected toothbrush. The Kolibree toothbrush will record every time you brush and include a sensor revealing the amount of tartar removed during each brushing. The recorded data will also tell users if they have brushed long enough and adequately cleaned those hard-to-reach tooth and gum areas.
Scheduled to be commercially available in the 3rd quarter of this year, the company generated some buzz at a preview event January 5th at the Annual Consumer Electronics Show by billing itself as the world’s first Internet-connected toothbrush. If you had a sense of déjà vu when reading that, there’s a reason.
In February 2012 Beam Technologies introduced the Beam Brush, a Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush that also monitors a person’s brushing and includes sensors that track data usage, including how long the user has brushed.
More recent versions of the Beam Brush also play music while users brush and offer prizes for good dental habits based on data the toothbrush collects. Collected data from both the Beam Brush and the Kolibree brush can be wirelessly shared with a user’s dentist.
Which smart toothbrush is smarter? We report, you decide.
The Kolibree toothbrush also connects wirelessly to its app via Bluetooth. Like the Beam Brush the Kolibree app will be compatible for Apple 4S or newer iPhones, iPod Touch, and Android-based 2.3 or newer smart phones. Kolibree’s website says it will also offer additional mobile devices in the future.
The newer of the two smart brushes is also designed to work under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes damage-free. The Beam Brush, on the other hand, allows for incidental contact with water but recommends it not be fully submerged for any period of time.
Other than current availability, what other differences are there between the two smart brushes?
Price: Big difference here. Originally $50, Beam Technologies reduced the price of the Beam Brush in July 2013 from $50 to $24.99. Sales prices on the Kolibree smart toothbrushes, once available, will range from $99 to $199, depending upon the model. Editor’s Note: Beginning January 1, both manual and electric toothbrushes are subject to the Affordable Care Act’s 2.3% medical device tax.
Battery Usage: The Beam Brush runs on 1 “AA” alkaline battery every 90 days. The Kolibree brush battery is not replaceable but is projected to last for two years.
Replaceable Heads: Both toothbrushes offer replaceable heads. Beam Brush replacement heads are available for $3.99 each, while replacements for the Kolibree will run around $18 for a set of three. (Excludes tax and import duties)
The goal of both smart toothbrushes is to have a better brushing experience, make it easier to monitor your oral hygiene regimen and communicate that data with a dentist. On this score they both deserve kudos for making the important daily chore of tooth brushing more rewarding.
The Beam Brush is available directly from Beam Technologies and participating dentist offices. The Kolibree will be available later this year through Kickstarter.
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