Dental products make a splash at CES 2020

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas isn’t just for large tech companies. Some dental heavyweights and one French startup company all made a splash at this year’s show, held Jan. 6-9.

The crowdfunding campaign for French company FasTeesH’s Y-Brush raised $165,000 in 2018. Now, after two years and several tweaks, the Y-Brush made its mainstream debut at CES. The brush is designed to deep clean all 96 overall tooth surfaces in just 10 seconds, five seconds for uppers and five seconds for lowers. Customers can still use their own toothpaste and the Y-Brush is said to clean 4 times faster than a manual or electric brush.

This new device utilizes the ADA-approved Bass method, a technical brushing movement that consists of tilting the head of your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle while making a rolling motion that removes more effectively dental plaque, plaque, and bacteria at the gingival crevice. With its nylon bristles, the Y-Brush is said to eliminate bacteria responsible for gingivitis, periodontitis, and gum disease.

Colgate also released a new toothbrush, the Plaqless Pro, which is a smart electronic brush designed to relay precise information specific to each mouth and the distinct brushing technique of every individual in real-time. With a launch scheduled for later this year, the Plaqless Pro will be the first commercially available electronic toothbrush that is designed to detect biofilm buildup and coaches in real-time so users know when to brush longer in a certain area. Using a light ring around the toothbrush, users will see a blue light when buildup has been found, and a white light will appear to tell users to move on.

The sensors in the brush’s handle create a map of the user’s mouth that can be tracked via the Colgate Connect app, which connects to the brush via Bluetooth. The app will also provide instant brushing feedback, personalized data, and oral care tips. The Plaqless was recognized with the CES award for Best of Innovation for Health and Beauty.

Another CES Innovation award winner was the Oral-B iO, which features a frictionless magnetic drive that distributes energy to the tips and bristles more efficiently. The result is a smooth, quiet cleaning experience. This magnetic drive also delivers cleaning energy to the iO brush head, which is designed to combine oscillating and rotating cleaning motions with micro-vibrations to reach every contour for a professional-like feel. The iO also has twisted bristles reinforced with high-density tuft-in-tuft configuration.

The iO also features a biomodal smart pressure sensor that provides positive feedback that guides users to brush in the optimal pressure range and includes a variable-speed smart drive that adjusts to protect gums and enamel. An interface will greet users and also provide coaching and motivation and has up to seven brush modes for an even more personalized experience. The iO also includes an artificial intelligence tracking option through the Oral-B iO app, which provides real-time individual tracking and coaching informed by recorded brushing sessions and 3D teeth tracking to ensure a thorough clean.