It's been a game-changing year for the toothbrush, which has joined the innovative bandwagon to meet the needs of every type of brusher.
The ergonomic enthusiast
After a wildly successful Indiegogo campaign, Swedish cosmetics company Foreo released the Issa, an electric brush made entirely of silicone that is less abrasive than traditional plastic bristles. This, they say, encourages blood flow in the gums without damaging them and removes plaque without damaging enamel. To top it off, the brush heads last an entire year, a far cry from the three-month duration of traditional brush heads.
The wearable-tech geek
Earlier this year, French start-up Kolibree unveiled its sensor-equipped smart toothbrush that scolds users on its corresponding app if they miss a spot. Users can track brushing habits, and the brush is designed for family use, so parents can track their children's brushing habits, too. Having met its fundraising goals on Kickstarter, it will soon be released.
Oral B debuted its first smart toothbrush at the Mobile World Congress in February. Like the Kolibree, it has a corresponding app, but it goes one step further and allows dentists to program their patients' brushing routines to meet their individual needs. The product was released in the UK and is available for purchase at boots.com and amazon.co.uk with a suggested retail price of £229 (approximately €293), although prices may vary. It will be released in greater Western Europe and North America this fall, with other releases set to trickle into 2015.
Kids who hate brushing
Grush, the gaming toothbrush for kids, fulfilled its crowdfunding goal on Indiegogo and is set to ship in late November. It's equipped with motion sensors and makes brushing interactive and fun by means of its gamefied app.
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