When you’ve been brushing your teeth for the best part of four decades, you aren’t really expecting to learn how to do it again. But with Dyson’s newly announced $500/£420 CameraJet electric toothbrush, that’s exactly what I’ve found myself doing.
I’ve been using the camera-toting toothbrush for almost a week now, and the habit changes I’ve noticed in that time are somehow more surprising than its price tag.
The idea behind Dyson’s new launch is that it combines toothbrushing and flossing into one device, replacing the need for a separate flosser by firing tiny jets of mouthwash in between your teeth while you brush. The camera sits in the brush head to keep an eye on your teeth while you brush, looking out for the so-called “interdental spaces” – those small gaps between your teeth – and automatically firing a jet of mouthwash when it spots one.
Too much tech?
Some people might feel that’s a bit too much tech for a toothbrush, but it’s amazing how normal it all feels already. That’s not to say there isn’t a knack to getting it right, and you may, like me, spend the first few days in a bit of a mess while you master the technique required. Thankfully, there’s something strangely addictive about it – almost like it has gamified my teeth brushing – that encourages you to push on.
Dyson has been working on the CameraJet for six years, and in that time conducted research that suggests 9 in 10 people aren’t flossing as often as they should. Despite my dentist’s recommendations, I’m definitely guilty of being one of those people, so the idea of having one device to do it all is certainly appealing (and helps to make some sense of that price tag).
The CameraJet is big though, certainly when compared to my trusty, decade-old Oral-B. It features a built-in 12.5ml mouthwash tank just above the handle that works in hand in hand with the camera and a machine learning algorithm to spot, track and predict when it needs to fire a spray of mouthwash from an opening in the brush head.
When it first happens, it’s a bit of a shock, and a bit of a noise (my husband assures me it’s louder to me than anyone nearby), but it’s a sensation that very quickly becomes normal – and one you feel almost rewarded by when you brush.
A bit of a learning curve
There is a knack to it though, and I’ve found myself having to slow down and relearn how to brush my teeth in a way that’s a bit more mindful and considered. You are supposed to move in small circles over each tooth slowly, in defined sections, and while that’s probably good advice for any toothbrushing routine, not doing it with the CameraJet has more of an impact.
Not only will it give you a polite but meaningful beep for anything considered to be scrubbing, you’ll notice the jet won’t fire as consistently unless you take your time. Keeping the brush horizontal to the gum line is also key, and smiling when you get to your front teeth helps to keep it consistent too.
I’m still working on not spraying my mirror with mouthwash as I move the brush around my mouth, but there’s no doubt I’m getting a more reliable performance now than I was when I first started using it – so there is a learning curve here that you’ll need to be prepared to commit to. That sort of (unintended) gamification feeds into my brain type quite nicely, and has improved my brushing technique as a result, but it’s something anyone considering investing should be aware of. Dyson provides tips and walkthrough videos via the MyDyson app, but even then, there’s some trial and error to your own technique.
I can see clearly now
There are other things you’ll need to do too. In order for the CameraJet to fire efficiently, it needs to actually be able to see your teeth (duh). This means you need to clear your mouth more often than you might do normally.
I’ve now started doing a quick brush with toothpaste and brushing only to ensure I’ve got good fluoride coverage across my teeth first, before I switch into auto-jet mode and begin flossing. You’ll find your own routine that works (there’s that learning curve again), but the CameraJet allows you that, including a flossing only mode, and the ability to add in extra jets while brushing too.
Regular toothpastes and mouthwashes are too foamy for the camera system though, so Dyson has created its own non-foaming versions.
Thankfully there are cheaper alternatives available if you want to cut down the outlay, but one cost you can’t get away from is the replacement brush heads – they (understandably) need to be Dyson’s own. You do get two in the box, along with your first toothpaste and mouthrinse, but further heads will set you back $25/£25 for two. Once you’ve used up your included supplies, I reckon you could spend as much as $200/£200 a year on Dyson consumables.
There are some quirks to consider too. To charge it, you attach it to either the included travel cable or the mouthrinse dock, which also tops up your mouthwash from a reservoir after each use. That’s satisfyingly slick, and looks lovely too – but it uses USB-C. For those of us in the UK, we generally have shaver sockets only in the bathroom, and I’ve not managed to find an adapter which uses USB-C. That means my toothbrush is sitting next to my bed, which feels just a little odd after always having it to hand in the bathroom.
How your house is laid out will depend on how much that changes your toothbrushing routine, but even little things like that can feel a bit annoying when you’ve paid this much for your shiny new toothbrush.
Encouraging results
But I have to say, even in just under a week using it, I’ve already seen and felt a positive difference to my teeth. Without getting into my dental history, I have some reccurring redness in my gums that looks noticeably calmer, and while I’d rather not get into specifics on the internet, I’ve seen the evidence that my teeth are cleaner too. It’s certainly encouraging and I’m keen to stick with it.
There are some features I haven’t had chance to explore in depth yet, like the MyDyson app, which wasn’t available to me pre-launch. It offers things like live-viewing while you brush, a guided brushing programme and some tips for improvement based on how you brush over time (which is opt in). Having had a quick go with the live view this morning, it’s a fun feature but not one I can imagine using very often, but the guided brushing is a good visual way to ensure a comprehensive clean.
With the cash you could spend on the Dyson CameraJet, you could get a high-end electric toothbrush and a separate water flosser, and come home with change in your pocket. But that’s not really the point. Considering the number of people struggling to floss as often as they should, the convenience of having it all in one product is undoubtedly the selling point here. I’m certainly seeing the signs of its effectiveness – we’ll see what my dentist thinks when I see him next week…
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