Dyson launches £420 AI-powered toothbrush with built-in camera

Dyson has launched a £420 artificial intelligence-powered toothbrush fitted with a built-in camera designed to help users monitor how they clean their teeth.

The home appliance manufacturer, known for its bagless vacuum cleaners and bladeless fans, said the new toothbrush took six years and the work of 661 engineers to develop.

The device features a “100k pixel macro lens camera” and an “anti-gravity (mouthwash) tank”, allowing it to combine brushing, flossing and mouthwash delivery.

According to Dyson, the camera functions as a “high-quality endoscope”, enabling users to “see what their dentist sees”.

Users can also view “live cleaning footage” through the MyDyson app and receive feedback on their brushing routine.

The toothbrush was unveiled on Tuesday by Dyson founder and chief engineer, James Dyson, at an event in Paris.

Dyson said its engineers and scientists had spent more than a decade studying oral care routines and how plaque builds up in the mouth.

The company said its research included the development of a “proxy plaque” to enable accurate testing of plaque removal.

Dyson said the toothbrush was developed in response to the difficulty many people experience with flossing.

Flossing was an “awkward and time-consuming chore” and “few of us do it even though we know we should”, Dyson said.

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“Our research has shown that people consistently miss the areas where plaque forms: the gaps between teeth.”

Explaining the technology behind the device, Dyson said that by “combining a camera, machine learning, precision fluid dynamics, advanced brushing technologies, connectivity and wifi”, the toothbrush offered an “entirely new way to keep your mouth healthy”.

The camera detects gaps between the teeth, after which a jet on the stem releases a burst of mouth rinse while the user brushes.

At the same time, the brush head cleans along the gum line and lifts surface stains.

Dyson claims the toothbrush removes “up to 72% more plaque than market leading electric toothbrushes”.

The company is also marketing the device as a “complete dental system”, with a non-foaming toothpaste and mouth rinse designed to prevent the camera lens from being obscured during use.

Each of the toothpaste and mouth rinse products costs £8.50.

The launch puts Dyson into an increasingly competitive electric toothbrush market, which already features smart devices equipped with apps and other technology aimed at plaque and stain removal, among other functions.

The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean, for instance, is sold at Boots and John Lewis and is priced at £600.

However, the British Dental Association (BDA) said consumers do not need to spend large sums on toothbrushes to maintain good oral health.

The association advised people to follow their dentist’s recommendations and brush their teeth twice a day.

BDA chair, Eddie Crouch, cautioned against relying on expensive technology to solve oral health problems.

“Patients shouldn’t be lulled into thinking the latest gizmos will solve all their oral health problems. Big brands with high price tags are no substitute for a proper routine,” he said.