When will we get to the point where all the accessories in our home are smart? Is there a limit to what really should be smart? Let’s talk about a category that might not be what you traditionally think of as a smart device: toothbrushes.
I’m all for smarter healthcare products and better technology in our hygiene products (like bidets), but I haven’t given much thought to how or why my toothbrush is smart. It’s time to dive in and see if it’s worth it.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
What is a smart electric toothbrush?
First, what makes a toothbrush smart? This category varies, but a smart electric toothbrush usually has Bluetooth technology and sensors to track data. These sensors can track things like time, habit tracking, gentle pressure, and more. Some smart toothbrushes can even connect to apps on your phone to display data.
There are several brands of smart toothbrushes, including Oral-B iO, Sonicare DiamondClean Smart, Colgate hum, and Quip Smart. For the sake of transparency, I have a Quip toothbrush, but it’s not their smart new model.
What are the advantages?
Some of the main benefits of using a smart toothbrush include notifications and reminders, rewards, and data. The American Dental Association states that you should brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes. Most of these smart toothbrushes also have built-in timers that help you move to different areas of your mouth or stop brushing altogether. They typically send notifications and reminders to your phone to let you know when to brush or replace your brush head.
Some companies reward you for brushing your teeth regularly during an allotted time. These rewards often include discounts on other dental hygiene products or products that complement your toothbrush. For example, Quip provides money for new brush heads and travel bags.
Finally, one of the most useful benefits of using a smart toothbrush is the data it collects and shares. You can get data that lets you know where you might be missing or brushing too hard. For example, evidence shows that most people brush the side of their mouths more with their dominant hand, and canines often brush less. Data and mapping can help you identify and correct these behaviors.
What about the defects?
The disadvantages of smart toothbrushes are similar to the disadvantages of all new innovative technologies: price and utility. The cost is easy to quantify. The price range for a basic toothbrush can be in the single or double digits, and an electric toothbrush can cost as much as $100 or more. Smart toothbrushes can easily cost $300 or more, that’s five times more than the average standard electric toothbrush!
Notifications can also be more annoying than helpful. Personally, I don’t want any more messages to appear on my phone or tablet. When I see them from unwanted apps, I usually turn them off or delete them. Information overload is a real thing.
Next up is utility, and that’s where people will have differing opinions. Even dentists are on the fence about whether to invest in one. For one, smart toothbrushes provide data you can’t get anywhere else, but they won’t brush for you. I cannot, for example, adjust the pressure or improve the technique, I can only tell you to do it.
So should you buy a smart toothbrush?
Smart technology is at its best when it does something for you. Take smart robot vacuums; the reason they are so desirable is because they vacuum so you don’t have to. Smart lighting can be turned on, dimmed, and changed colors without changing bulbs or adjusting wiring. This convenience is something that a smart toothbrush cannot currently do. Also, paying five times the price for an equally viable electric toothbrush seems ridiculous.
I recommend getting a decent or above average smart toothbrush with a built in timer, interchangeable heads, and motor function; eg Oral-B Smart 1500. Then ask your dentist about the correct techniques and how you can improve your dental hygiene. Finally, if you’re looking for the best of the best in smart toothbrush care, check out Sonicare DiamondClean Smart.
Technology and smart devices are advancing at a rapid pace and they won’t stop anytime soon. The good thing about the data obtained from these devices is that companies can see how we use certain devices. This information can help make more practical advances in technology. For example, maybe one day smart toothbrushes will become standard and you don’t want to live without them. Maybe one day we can have a smart home robot that takes care of all our hygiene and grooming like Jimmy Neutron did.
Smart toothbrushes are still in their infancy, and the benefits often don’t outweigh the price. As technology advances, it will become more widespread and useful, but for now, a standard electric toothbrush may be a better option than a smart toothbrush.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn