Have you ever wanted to see what your dentist sees? While many of us would probably answer no, a product that allows you to do just that – the Dyson CameraJet electric toothbrush – has hit the market. And it’s causing quite the buzz.
Dyson’s foray into oral care, touted as the “complete oral care routine in one toothbrush”, includes an array of functions, including jet washing, liquid flossing and mouthwash dispensing.
But along with the hefty $799 price tag, it’s the integrated 100k-pixel macro-lens camera that is attracting the most attention.
This feature, which Dyson says can detect, track and predict gaps between teeth in real time, is also said to remove “up to 72 per cent more plaque than market-leading electric toothbrushes” by delivering a targeted jet of mouthwash to the detected area.
This mouthwash, along with toothpaste, needs to be non- or low-foaming, so the camera can see clearly. The brand has launched its own line of these products, retailing at $15.99 each.
Dyson says these features – including an app which gives you feedback on your brushing, after analysing footage – set the CameraJet apart. But are people willing to fork out almost $800 on a toothbrush and, most importantly, what do dentists think?
Do people really want it?
From the brand that has generated cult followings for many of its products, from cordless vacuums to the Dyson Airwrap, you’d assume this could follow suit.
At the time of publishing, the CameraJet is out of stock on the Dyson Australia website but available from other retailers, including JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman. However, exact sales figures in Australia remain unconfirmed.
“Dyson does not comment on specific sales performance. But we’re delighted by the initial response and engagement we’ve seen from consumers so far,” says Niamh Turney, a senior engineer and commercial manager at Dyson.
On social media, led by influencers, gadget reviewers and users from the dental industry, #dysontoothbrush has accumulated over 600,000 posts on TikTok, while Instagram has seen mixed reactions, including jokes about the live-stream feature and outrage over the product’s cost.
What do dentists think?
Dr Monica Farrelly, a dentist and Oral Health Promoter for the Australian Dental Association, says much of the hype is likely attributable to the brand rather than the product itself.
“Dyson entering a completely new category always draws coverage,” she says, adding that the “novelty factor” of a toothbrush with a camera and the product’s price point may also have contributed.
Feature-wise, Farrelly believes it is too early to say with confidence whether the product deserves the attention or the price tag.
“Independent, peer-reviewed clinical research on the CameraJet specifically doesn’t exist yet, since the product has only just launched,” she says.
However, she says that “the underlying idea – a toothbrush that helps people clean interdental gaps more consistently – is genuinely useful because interdental cleaning is where most people fall short.”
“Whether the camera and AI targeting deliver meaningfully better results than a person using a water flosser or interdental brushes properly is not yet established,” she adds.
She also has some reservations about the camera being used by people without dental training.
“It may be difficult for people to know what they are looking at: is it plaque, calculus or a hole?” Farrelly says. “The camera itself also only shows you limited surfaces of the teeth. Even as dentists, we need to take X-rays to accurately detect all things in the mouth.”
Dr Giulia D’Anna, principal dentist at iDental, says most of the features of the product that look good are the usual features of an electric toothbrush.
“A small round oscillating head is good at being able to target small spaces well, with minimal movement required from the user,” she says. “This means hard-to-reach areas are better brushed.”
What to look for in a toothbrush
When looking for and choosing an electric toothbrush, D’Anna says that in addition to the small head size, she recommends:
- A pressure sensor that alerts when you’re brushing too hard
- A 30-second timer function. She recommends 30 seconds of brushing for the lower outside, lower inside, upper inner and upper outer segments – so two minutes total
“These features are generally included in a brush that retails for around $120 to $180,” D’Anna explains.
Farrelly says that individual factors – age, orthodontic appliances such as braces, gum conditions such as recession – should be considered when choosing an electric or non-electric toothbrush, as people with sensitive teeth or gums benefit from soft bristles or a gentle brushing mode if using an electric brush.
According to Farrelly, manual brushes are often perfectly adequate, though older adults or people with reduced hand dexterity often do best with an electric toothbrush with large, easy-to-grip handles.
Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
