From work to entertainment, AI is everywhere. But should it really have a place in one of the most basic human routines: brushing your teeth?!
Twice a day, two minutes are reserved to brush our teeth—a habit during which the average person does not think about AI. Yet now, even this everyday habit is being reimagined. Dental companies are launching AI-powered toothbrushes with cameras, sensors, and real-time feedback. Supporters see them as a breakthrough in preventative healthcare. Critics argue it is a textbook example of digital overengineering. The real question is: Do We Really Need an AI Toothbrush, or Is This Digital Overkill?
Artificial intelligence toothbrushes turn a familiar tool into a connected health device. Sensors can track brushing patterns, while built-in cameras scan teeth and gums. With real-time feedback, consumers can instantly enhance their brushing behavior. Current pioneers are Feno and Oclean. The Feno Smartbrush utilizes a camera and AI to detect gum health and early cavities, while Oclean X Ultra provides feedback with an AI voice coach. The promise is simple: Better technique, better long-term oral health.
Real-time feedback can help correct mistakes and improve your teeth brushing routine. Such tools may be valuable for children and elderly people who struggle with proper technique. Sure, they may promise fewer dentist visits and healthier smiles, but a normal toothbrush can achieve the same outcome.
Despite these benefits, brushing teeth is a simple routine that does not need to be overengineered. Layering AI on top of such a basic routine adds complexity without solving a truly pressing problem: users becoming dependent on technology for an instinctive task. It reflects more of a marketing push than a genuine healthcare breakthrough. And we cannot ignore the other issues: privacy risks from storing personal health data and accessibility concerns. Such toothbrushes can easily cost ten or twenty times more than a normal one.
While AI toothbrushes may provide benefits, AI has no place in my toothbrush. Brushing my teeth is a simple routine. The technological advancements are great, but it feels more like digital overkill than real healthcare progress. We do not need cameras, apps, and cloud data to validate a routine humans have mastered for centuries. What worries me most is the idea of outsourcing even or most basic self-care to technology – as if we cannot be trusted with a toothbrush anymore. Would you pay hundreds of euros extra for a toothbrush that may improve you oral health?
References
Feno. (2025). The Future of Oral Health: AI-Powered Smartbrushes. Feno.
https://feno.co/blogs/oral-health/the-future-of-oral-health-ai-powered-smartbrushes?srsltid=AfmBOoo5Q5TbuzVqQLkB3PD4VOBhWjP4-dUPSbyKQjNGDwbaGruLSOsf
Fu, M. (2025). Smart Sonic Toothbrushes: Role of AI and App Connectivity in Oral Care. Oclean. https://eu.oclean.com/blogs/tips/smart-sonic-toothbrushes-role-of-ai-and-app-connectivity-in-oral-care
Garden City Dental Center. (2025). Smart Toothbrushes: How AI Is Transforming Your Oral Hygiene Routine. Garden City Dental Center. https://www.gardencitydental.com/smart-toothbrushes-how-ai-is-transforming-your-oral-hygiene-routine/
Kim, J., Choi, Y., Song, Y., & Park, W. (2025). Smartphone-Based Telemonitoring for Better Oral Health With Toothbrushes: 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27. 10.2196/65128
Maini, V., Gandhi, G., Chopra, A., & Bhat, S. G. (2025). Artificial-Intelligence-Based Smart Toothbrushes for Oral Health and Patient Education: A Review. Hygiene 2025, 5(1), 5.https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene5010005
