The Beam Brush looks like a normal manual toothbrush but its smart head is able to report the user's brushing habits to a smartphone via Bluetooth. (DTI/Photo courtesy of Beam Technologies)

2012-3-1 | News USA

LOUISVILLE, Ky., USA: Beam Technologies, a new enterprise in digital oral healthcare products, has developed the first toothbrush fitted with a Bluetooth interface. The Beam Brush analyzes the user's oral hygiene habits and reports them to a smartphone application.

The new oral health gadget is a manual brush embedded with sensors that monitor the user's brushing habits and transmit the data to an interface via Bluetooth. Users need to download the respective app to their Android or iOS device. Once connected with the brush, the app builds up an individual's profile, according to the recorded brushing length and frequency.

The brush is equipped with a replaceable head. 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.

The app offers several features, such as Beam Goals, which allows users to set individual targets. The manufacturer promises an intuitive interface with easy-to-understand functions that can be handled by all ages, from a child to a senior user. Users also have the option to send their brushing information to their dentist.

According to the manufacturer, the average person brushes his teeth for only 46 seconds, but 50 percent are more likely to brush their teeth for a full two minutes by using just a simple timer. The app was thus configured for brushing twice a day for two minutes. The user can even set the app to play any song on the phone while brushing. The estimated battery life of the brush is 90 days.

The brush will be available in summer 2012 at the recommended retail price of $50. The expected price of the replacement heads will be $3. "We will be launching in the U.S. first, but plan to begin European sales before the end of 2012. We will be doing our own sales in part, though we will be looking for distribution partnerships in Europe," said Alex Frommeyer, CEO ofBeam Technologies.

Beam Technologies is a new manufacturer in digital oral health devices, founded in 2012.