#3 The Bluetooth Tooth
No, we didn’t stutter. The Bluetooth tooth is actually a sensor designed to fit into an artificial tooth.
National Taiwan University researchers designed this prototype under the hypothesis that the mouth is an “untapped resource” for monitoring overall health.
Using a triaxial accelerometer, the Bluetooth tooth monitors mouth movements and can determine, with 93.8 percent accuracy rate, when a patient is chewing, drinking, speaking or coughing. The data can then be sent to a doctor’s smartphone for analysis.
#2 Bacon Floss
Who would we be if we didn’t include products along the full spectrum of cachet? In full lowbrow glory, bacon floss emulates the infamous smoky-sweet bite, removes plaque, and, according to BaconAddicts.com, “leaves your mouth BACON fresh.”
Hmmm… we can’t say we’d like to see this in dental offices anytime soon (or ever) but it certainly makes a good gag gift. (And hey, it’s actually vegetarian to boot.)
#1 The Toothbrush that Costs More than Your Computer
Forget Ferraris and retina screens—there’s a new exorbitant product on the market.
Designed by scientists and made of titanium, this toothbrush, named the Reinast, can be yours for around the tune of 4,000 bucks.
In comparison, the same amount of money could buy you two high-end laptops with change left over. Or rent a Manhattan studio for a month.
Or, of course, purchase around 1,200 regular toothbrushes.
Which means that although Reinast customers receive free brush heads for life, this toothbrush doesn’t *quite* pay for itself. If we assume the average individual buys four toothbrushes per year at five dollars per brush for 70 years—the Reinast still runs a cool $2,600 *more* than the average lifetime amount spent on toothbrushes.
What makes the Reinast even more unusual is that it is not electric. So why the hefty price tag? Dr. Djorde Djokovic, Reinast’s Chief Technology Officer, explains that it boils down to rarity and aesthetics:
“The type of client we have in mind and are currently selling to are those with an incredibly high net-worth. People who have their own yachts, people who have their own private jets—it’s for people who can spend this amount of money on a product they deem beautiful. And one that doesn’t exist on the market elsewhere.”
What’s our take?
The dental product market is not just vast, but eclectic: some items offer innovation, others mere novelty.
In researching this article, there were many contenders that almost made the cut: environmentally-sound toothbrushes made from twigs, cupcake toothpaste and pickle-flavored dental products to name a few.
We say whether progressive or just for fun—keep ’em coming.
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