Category: media

Smart Toothbrushes For Connected Bathrooms

Posted on July 20, 2014

Behold Smart Toothbrushes are here,

Sometimes I can’t believe we’re living in the year 2014.  But when I see smart dental products for sale in the drug store, I know its true. To me this equipment says, ‘Welcome to the future, a world of possibilities’.

Today three manufacturers each claim to have the first smart toothbrush.  Each company calls their product ‘smart’ by which they mean it collects data to acquire insights into user’s brushing habits and then displays that info on cellphone screens. Three separate offerings are now available to consumers.

the smart toothbrush

In a connected world, where everything is data driven and bent on educating users, the bathroom is set to become the foremost personal healthcare center in each family dwelling.  The master bedroom on-suit washroom in particular will probably become the house’s #1 wellness portal, and humans will interface with medical technology here using a smart bathroom mirror.  The dispensary will issue all manner of common remedies, first aid equipment and beauty tips.  Such tools available to bathroom users will almost certainly include a smart toothbrush.

That’s because the simple act of brushing their teeth is probably the most common health & wellness related activity that human beings perform on a daily basis.  And as time goes on, more and more researchers agree, oral care is an important part of preventive health. The latest research shows many correlations between oral health and overall wellness, and so there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that poor brushing patterns can lead to more than just bad teeth.  Not brushing regularly is the biggest cause of cavities and gum disease and this is a problem that smart toothbrushes can easily fix.

Beam Brush is a Smart Manual Toothbrush

beam smatr toothbrush

Beam Brush claims to be the world’s first smart toothbrush that monitors oral hygiene habits and reports them to a smartphone app.  This claim is reinforced by a CNN article about Kolibree which points at the Beam Brush as being the first smart electric toothbrush and one which first went on sale in 2013, making it the first of its kind in the USA.

Beam toothbrush also connects to phones via Bluetooth and records brushing time – however unlike the Kolibree it doesn’t track the brush’s movements inside the user’s mouth. Beam Brush has a small light in the neck that will glow for approx two minutes which is each user’s recommended brushing time.*  Later the app will sync the unit with your smartphone and share information. The brush can store up to 49 brushings or about 3.5 weeks worth of data if you brush twice a day.

Test data presented by the app developer shows the average person brushes their teeth for only 45 secs, but over half the respondents demonstrated they were more likely to brush their teeth for a full two minutes if presented with a simple timer.  The Beam Brush app was thus configured for brushing twice a day for two minutes. The user can  set the app to play a song on their phone while they’re brushing – this is great for kids. The estimated battery life of the brush is 90 days. The app offers ‘Beam Goals’ which allows users to set individual oral hygiene targets. Users also have the option to send their brushing information to their dentist.

BeamBrush

Beam Brush is equipped with a replaceable head, so multiple heads can thus be paired with one smartphone, a function aimed at parents in particular who want to keep track of their children’s brushing habits. In addition, the app alerts the user when it is time to replace the brush head. Extra heads can even be ordered automatically via the phone.

Beam Brush App keeps children engaged through the interactive timer that will play their favorite song while they brush?  and the goals that will give them rewards for great brushing! Big families can use multiple Beam Brushes with one smartphone. Connecting multiple brushes allows users to create goals in which siblings can compete to be the best brusher!

Beam believes that it’s simply not good enough just to collect data, but rather the challenge is to display that data in environments where it can reinforce or even cause behavior change. The Beam Brush uses mobile rewards platform Kiip to bring our users real world rewards for demonstrating great brushing habits. Kiip is also ‘smart’ and learns user’s reward preferences over time so they can get more of what they want. Available in pink or blue, Beam Brush retails for $25 and replacement heads are $4 each. One AA Alkaline Battery will last over three months.

Kolibree Smart Toothbrush

kolibree, smart toothbrush, connected bathroom

Kolibree is a French-based company dedicated to creating connected appliances that make users smarter, more aware and better equipped to improve their own and other people’s health and lives. These guys have created an easy-to-use compelling interactive experience around brushing your teeth, and especially comparing family brushing habits and making it all more enjoyable by gaming the exercise.

Kolibree toothbrush was invented by Thomas Serval, a French engineer and something of a name in France’s tech industry.  The story is that he was inspired to design it after suspecting that his children were lying to him about whether or not they had brushed their teeth. He wanted proof and so he designed a smart toothbrush to spy on them.

Kolibree is the world’s first connected toothbrush, unveiled at CES for the first time in Feb 2014.  This high technology toothbrush is fitted with an accelerometer, gyroscope and a magnetometer, which the company says allows the device to record data, such as the time, duration and frequency of the brush, along with which teeth are properly cleaned, and those that are being neglected.   It’s different in many ways than other smart toothbrush devices that are listed in this article; the Kolibree smart toothbrush can analyze each user’s brushing habits and then display them on a mobile phone or tablet.

Kolibree Fork by Nate Lanxon

Users’ brushing data automatically goes to their phones whereupon the app alerts them if they’re brushing long enough, or whether or not they remembered to brush their teeth at all.

play and share dental brushing habits

Like all the other available models, Kolibree Smart Toothbrush enables users to share their brushing data with their family or even their dentist.  However they can also choose privacy.  The app remembers and tracks up to five profiles and allows users to compare and ‘gamify’ brushing stats between them on a series of pretty time scaled graphs to award a score for brushing based on time, technique and overall coverage – cool huh.

Bluetooth Oral-B Smart Series electric toothbrush price

Oral B Smart toothbrush PRO 6000

Oral-B interactive electric toothbrush with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and the Oral-B App will be available in limited quantities in Germany this spring, with a global rollout – including the SmartSeries in June 2014.   The world got its first look at the device back in February 2014 at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress 2014.

At the Mobile World Congress 2014 the Oral-B Smart Series consisted of two models. The Oral-B Pro 6000 which costs about £229.99, and the Oral-B Limited Edition Pro 6500 Smart Series is priced at £249.99.

The new Oral-B App will be available in iOS in May, and in Android in August. The company actually envisions what they call a ‘well connected bathroom’ with a smart mirror in their advertising, and their trade show displays which are visible in various pieces online.  Dr Natalie Archer saw some of the German marketing in airports while traveling earlier this spring, and she was impacted by the idea. She commissioned me to look into what she thought was the world’s first smart toothbrush.

But of course Oral – B is the giant in the room. They’re a market leader and their products are expected to be of the highest quality and reflect years of overall testing and performance. They have registered Connected Toothbrush as their product information portal .

The big idea behind the Oral-B app is that it can help keep users motivated and informed while brushing with oral care tips, and even News and Weather information. Its keeps users brushing longer. Oral-B claims that tests of the app show that when connected, brushing time increases from less than 60 seconds with a manual toothbrush, to over two minutes ten seconds with the electric toothbrush, surpassing the dental professions’ recommended two-minute brushing time per session. Dentists can also program their brushing routines in the app to help improve patients’ brushing behaviours and focus on problem zones within their mouth. The smart toothbrush features a smart app and intelligent Bluetooth 4.0 enabled handle, as well as boasting six customizable cleaning modes.

Will you buy a smart toothbrush? Which one?

NYCEAC: An Innovative Canadian Program Prevents Dental Elder Abuse

Posted on April 22, 2014

The New York City Elder Abuse Center writes about the D.E.A.R Project

Recently the New York City Elder Abuse Center (NYCEAC) covered the D.E.A.R Project on their weekly Elder Justice Dispatch Blog – check out the article below. Thank you to the NYCEAC for your support and collaboration!

Mrs. Jones1 was an 87 year-old retired teacher who spent her life raising her family, educating the children of her community and volunteering at the local community center. She lost her husband at age 80 and was diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease at age 85. She was known in her community for her brilliant smile. Mrs. Jones’ retirement benefits didn’t cover dental care; however, her daughter, Susan, continued driving her mother to appointments with her lifetime dentist for basic cleanings and Mrs. Jones paid the bill using some of her own money as well as support she received from a public dental program. After her Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, her dentist began directing his questions about her future oral care to Susan, even though Mrs. Jones was capable of making her own dental decisions. During one visit, the dentist reported hearing Susan say that she was “more interested in preserving her “inheritance” than her mother’s oral health.” As a result, Mrs. Jones stopped smiling.

When Mrs. Jones’ dentist started asking Susan “one too many questions” about the state of her mother’s oral health, which included gum disease, decay, broken teeth and abscesses, Susan stopped taking her mother to the dentist altogether. Weeks later Mrs. Jones was admitted to hospital for pneumonia and her oral infections were so advanced that surgical intervention was required. Mrs. Jones spent years in pain, lost the ability to chew or speak clearly and died of pneumonia, which was an entirely preventable condition caused secondarily to oral infection.

Mrs. Jones’ case is a common reality of dental elder abuse and neglect in Canada. Many dentists may think that geriatric dentistry is not something that they will practice. However, with Canada’s rapidly aging population, 1 in 5 people will be over the age of 65 by about 2030. All dentists will practice geriatric dentistry – simply because the number of older adults in our society will be so high. In Canada and in the US, many older adults pay for their own dental care, which is expensive and creates barriers to accessing services. The Canadian government provides some support through several programs. In the US, Medicare covers medically necessary dental services done in  hospital settings and, in some states, community based dental services. Medicaid pays for adult care in a limited number of  states and dental services for institutionalized older adults. In addition, there are some Medicare Advantage Plans that cover limited dental services; however, the coverage is not standardized across plans.

As a result of cases such as Mrs. Jones’ and others, the  Dental Elder Abuse Response (D.E.A.R.) project was created by Dr. Natalie Archer and Laura Tamblyn Watts. D.E.A.R is dedicated to raising awareness about the seriousness of dental elder abuse, which happens when a person or system fails to provide the necessary dental care for an older adult (Click here for more).

“Dental elder abuse can cause pain, suffering and illness for the older person. It can even lead to cases of preventable death.” – Dr. Natalie Archer

The DEAR project fights dental elder abuse by:

  • Using a peer education model to teach older adults, dentists, caregivers and families to recognize dental elder abuse and neglect issues
  • Increasing awareness of the importance of oral health as we age
  • Highlighting the need to create a dental advance care plan, which will help older adults manage the cost of maintaining oral health in later life
  • Bringing dentists, patients and their families together across Canada through the NICE Network’s Dental Theme Team

Click here to watch a Rogers TV interview featuring Dr. Natalie Archer speaking in depth about dental health and elder abuse. Do you want to review the educational tools and materials created through this project. (Please note that you may need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to access the tools)

DEAR is supported by a community-based grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program – Employment and Social Development Canada and is a joint pilot project., the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, and the National Initiative for Care of the Elderly.

By Cara Kenien, LMSW, MPA, NYCEAC Social Media Manager & Allison Calcutt, Archer Dental Communications Coordinator, D.E.A.R Project Manager, & contributing authors, Natalie Archer, DDS, Archer Dental, D.E.A.R Project Lead, Laura Tamblyn Watts, LLB, SJD (in progress), D.E.A.R Project Lead, Canadian Centre for Elder Law Senior Fellow and NICE Network Law and Aging Theme Team Leader and Kavita P. Ahluwalia, DDS, MPH, Associate Professor at the College of Dental Medicine at Columbia University..

1. Mrs. Jones’ story is an example of dental elder abuse. It is not an actual case.

VIDEO: Dr. Archer on Citytv’s Downright Domestic

Posted on April 22, 2014

Dr. Archer Speaks about Senior Dental Care with Rebecca Webster

On April 19, 2014 Dr. Archer appeared on Citytv’s Downright Domestic to discuss Senior Dental Care. Host, Rebecca Webster, got a tour of the Runnymede Dental Centre and learned about our clinic’s unique features.

Belleville Intelligencer: Senior Scene

Posted on April 8, 2014

Local Belleville Paper Covers the D.E.A.R Project

Recently the Belleville Intelligencer wrote about Dr. Archer’s D.E.A.R Project in their Seniors Scene column in honour of Oral Health Month.

Accessible Media Inc.: Interview with Dr. Archer

Posted on March 21, 2014

In March, Dr. Archer spoke with AMI (Accessible Media Inc.) to discuss dental care and elder abuse. Dr. Archer discussed how elder abuse comes in many forms, including being denied basic dental care by negligent caregivers. A federal program, Dental Elder Abuse Response (D.E.A.R), was initiated to help create awareness of the problem. Dr. Archer discussed her work in helping seniors maintain proper dental care, her involvement with D.E.A.R and her advice on how to recognize and prevent such abuse and neglect.

Archer Dental Supports Dress for Success in Honour of International Women’s Day: March 8th

Posted on March 4, 2014

Archer Dental to donate a professional outfit to Dress for Success

This March the Archer Dental team is committed to supporting Dress for Success. Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network for support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

This year International Women’s Day will be celebrated on March 8th. In honour of this very important day, during the month of March, we will donate a professional outfit to Dress for Success for every New Patient who books a New Patient Exam.

Help us celebrate the women in your life!

Voted Best Dentist in Toronto by NOW Magazine

Posted on November 7, 2013

NOW Magazine reader’s have voted Dr. Natalie Archer as Best Dentist in Toronto! In early spring 2013, NOW launched their annual Best Of Series – a campaign that seeks to find the best of the best in Toronto; including everything from Best Restaurant to Best Art Gallery to Best Dentist. The public was asked to nominate those they felt were deserving of being recognized as the best in their industry. Very kindly, supporters of Dr. Natalie Archer nominated her in the category of Best Dentist in Toronto.

In late June, NOW announced the short-list of nominees for Best Dentist which included Dr. Archer and the voting opened up to the public. Voters had until September 25th, 2013 to cast their ballot and today, November 7, 2013, it was announced that Dr. Archer won the award for Best Dentist in Toronto!

NOW Magazine Celebrates Best Of Toronto Winners with an Honourary Breakfast

Dr. Archer and her team attended a celebratory breakfast at the NOW offices in downtown Toronto on Thursday, November 7, 2013.

The team was treated to some delicious treats and presented with a beautiful plaque in honour of their win.

Thank You from Dr. Natalie Archer and Team

Dr. Archer would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who voted her Best Dentist! The Archer Dental team is so grateful to be awarded with this amazing honour. We appreciate the time each and every one of you took to cast your vote and are truly humbled to be named Best Dentist.  We are committed to advancing dental care in our changing world and will continue to provide excellent patient-centred care using a responsive approach.

Dr. Natalie Archer Continues to Work Hard for Toronto

Did you know Dr. Archer is working hard to “Take the Bite Out of Elder Abuse”? Dr. Archer will continue to serve Toronto through her Dental Elder Abuse Response (D.E.A.R.) Project which is funded by the federal government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). The project aims to raise awareness and ultimately prevent dental elder abuse and neglect.

The D.E.A.R. Project does the following:

  • Teaches seniors, dentists, caregivers and families to recognize dental elder abuse and neglect issues.
  • Develops educational materials and tools on the link between oral health and elder abuse and neglect.
  • Forms a network of dentists and people concerned about dental elder abuse and neglect across Canada.

Currently, Dr. Archer and the D.E.A.R. Team are working hard to develop educational materials, deliver workshops and raise awareness to fight dental elder abuse! Check back soon for more updates on the D.E.A.R. project!