Key Takeaways
- Dyson has introduced the CameraJet, a $499 smart toothbrush that uses AI to detect gaps between teeth.
- The device automatically sprays mouthrinse into detected gaps while users brush.
- Developed over six years by 661 Dyson engineers and 30 dental professionals.
Dyson has launched the CameraJet, a $499 smart toothbrush that uses AI to detect gaps between teeth and automatically sprays mouthrinse into those areas while users brush.
Founder and Chief Engineer James Dyson said the company developed the toothbrush after research showed that people frequently miss the spaces between their teeth where plaque commonly forms.
The CameraJet features a 100,000-pixel macro camera with an integrated light, which uses Dyson’s Gap Optical Targeting machine-learning system to analyze 28 live images every second and identify gaps within 100 milliseconds.
When it detects a gap, the toothbrush automatically fires a burst of mouthrinse into the area to floss it while the user continues brushing.
The toothbrush supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and its camera can also work as an endoscope, allowing users to see a live view of their teeth in the accompanying app.
The app provides coverage maps, guided cleaning, brushing and flossing insights, and feedback, but Dyson says the toothbrush does not record or store images either on the device or in the cloud.
Dyson worked with the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Dentistry for more than five years while developing the CameraJet’s flossing system.
The company created its own artificial plaque for testing and found that conventional water flossers often use narrow jets that can punch through plaque without removing the surrounding buildup.
CameraJet instead uses a conical jet designed to cover a wider area while operating at lower pressure.
The toothbrush includes a 12.5ml mouthrinse tank that can work regardless of the angle at which the device is held, designed to reduce air pockets that could prevent the jet from firing when the toothbrush is held horizontally.
Smart brush heads track usage, with each dual-bristle brush head including an RFID tag that allows CameraJet to detect when a brush head is attached and track how many times it has been used.
The heads also include a sonic dampener to reduce noise, and CameraJet uses variable sonic oscillation, which changes the angle of movement while brushing to keep the bristles moving in harder-to-reach areas.
External laboratory testing found that the variable mode removed up to 69% more plaque in difficult-to-reach areas than market-leading premium electric toothbrushes.
Users can select between automatic gap detection and manual jetting modes and adjust the brushing intensity.
Dyson also offers a sensitive-bristle brush head for people with sensitive teeth and gums.
