Bluetooth is a sweet new additional to the realm of electric toothbrushes, and they’re picking up steam pretty fast. Wondering about what Bluetooth does on a toothbrush and why this function is present on an ever-growing number of toothbrushes? I did too, so I decided to dig in.
What does Bluetooth do on a toothbrush? A Bluetooth toothbrush, also known as a smart toothbrush, enables the user to keep track of their brushing statistics, such as time of day when used and length of the brushing session. Bluetooth toothbrushes can track your brushing progress over time, helping you actively improve your dental hygiene and brushing efficiency.
Wondering more about the exact functions that Bluetooth plays on a toothbrush or the difference between different smart toothbrush models? Make sure that you keep reading as we dive into the details on what Bluetooth functionality entails on these smart toothbrushes.
The details of What Bluetooth Does on a Toothbrush
A few years back, Bluetooth was available on only a handful of models. Now days, more and more models are increasingly incorporating this feature in the list of options that they provide you with. A lot of electric toothbrushes prominently advertise their Bluetooth functionality, as well they should.
Why has Bluetooth become so popular? Bluetooth is one of the benefits of electric toothbrushes that most of the users have fallen in love with. Bluetooth can help you do quite a few things, and they will help you get the most benefit out of your brushing experience.
Of the benefits that Bluetooth adds, these are a few of the user favorites.
- Connecting Your Toothbrush with a Smartphone
One really important thing that Bluetooth does is make it possible to connect your toothbrush to your smartphone. Connecting your smartphone to your toothbrush allows you to set goals, as well as keep track of each brushing session. Once enough data is collected, brushing plans can be created to make sure you are taking the best care of your teeth.
- Tracking Your Brushing Session
With many of the Bluetooth models , you can easily track the progress of your current brushing session. What does that mean exactly? While you are brushing, the toothbrush actively tracks which teeth, or zones, you have brushed, and which ones you have not brushed yet.
The information is relayed to the app in real time, which in turn tells you areas that could do with a little extra cleaning. The app will let you know when you’ve got them all! This ensures that you actually put in the right amount of effort into keeping up your dental health.
Remember how the dentist used to tell you to brush for 2 minutes? Most brushes still incoporate a 2 minute timer, but it is no longer as relevant with a smart toothbrush. As long as you are adequately covering every area of your mouth, the time you are actually brushing becomes less important. It makes brushing all your teeth more important! - Customizing Your Brushing Experience
If your dentist recommends focusing more on a certain area, you can customize your brushing experience according to those recommendations as well as to your individual needs. The apps allow you to program in which part of your mouth you want to devote a little extra time for. - Brush Head Replacement
I always question when I need to replace my toothbrush, and probably end up waiting longer than I should. Smart Bluetooth toothbrushes will send you a notification when it’s time to replace the brush head. They often make it easy to order new toothbrush heads directly from the app.
How do you use a Bluetooth Toothbrush?
How do you use a Bluetooth toothbrush? A Bluetooth is used by first connecting to the app and then beginning a brushing session. The toothbrush communicates with the app in real-time, indicating when you have brushed an area in your mouth long enough, when you can move onto the next area, if you are brushing to hard, and total time of your brushing session.
The main thing that Bluetooth does is establish connectivity with your smartphone. It transforms your electric toothbrush into a smart toothbrush. Having a connected toothbrush allows you to access a much wider range of features.
The first step of connecting your toothbrush to your smartphone is fairly simple once the app is installed. First, download the manufacturers app from the app store. Here are the links to the two most popular brands, Oral-B & Phillips.
Android:
Apple:
Once the app is installed, you need to pair the toothbrush with your smartphone and ensure that the two are connected. The app will actually guide you straight through this process. All you have to do is open the app. The app will ask if you have a toothbrush you would like to connect to. Answer “Yes”, and follow the apps instructions.
The instructions are actually easy to follow. All you have to do is turn your toothbrush on and your phone will then automatically connect. The app will guide you through a few more prompts to help get the settings set to your exact preferences.
Once this is done, you can move on to actually using the features that your toothbrush offers, ranging from just alerts about brushing progress, all the way to actively tracking your brushing session in detail.
From there on out, it’s tweaking settings to make sure you properly brush your teeth. For example, you might want to brush a specific part of your mouth more than the other parts. You can program your toothbrush accordingly from your smartphone app.
Here is a video that will help you out if your a visual learner.
Are Bluetooth Toothbrushes Safe?
Are Bluetooth toothbrushes safe? Smart Bluetooth toothbrushes are safe to use. There is no research indicating that the amount RF emissions is harmful. Bluetooth toothbrushes are actually beneficial for your dental health, as they ensure you brush properly for the right amount of time.
There are a lot of people that often wonder if Bluetooth toothbrushes are safe. The good news is that there is absolutely no reason to worry! They are perfectly safe to use. At any rate, there is no reason to be afraid. Bluetooth toothbrushes are no different than your regular toothbrush as far as safety is concerned. Just like any other feature, Bluetooth is meant to improve upon the brushing experience and improve the health of your teeth and mouth.
If you have braces or other orthodontic equipment, using a toothbrush equipped with Bluetooth can actually help make brushing safer by ensuring that you clean around the equipment and efficiently. Also, Bluetooth toothbrushes don’t require much pressure, which can damage braces over time and require a trip to the orthodontist. If you’ve ever had braces, you know it’s no fun when one of them gets flipped around and scratches the inside of your mouth.
I’ve already talked about the pressure sensors built-in to these smart toothbrushes, but wanted to specifically point out their relation to health and safety. The pressure sensors helps by alerting you when you are applying too much pressure. Applying too much pressure is harmful to your gums, and can cause damage over the long term.
What is the Difference Between a Manual, Electric and Bluetooth Toothbrush?
Here is a chart that compares features across the various types of brushes.
| Manual | Electric | Bluetooth | |
| Strokes Per Minute | 300 | 10,000+ | ~30,000+ |
| Pressure Sensor | No | Yes | Yes |
| Timer | No | 2-Minute | Multiple Timer Modes |
| Plaque Removal | 50% | 100% | 100% |
| Measure Brushing Habits | No | No | Yes |
| Cleanliness | Good | Better | Best |
Research has shown that electric toothbrushes leave you with cleaner teeth than using a manual toothbrush. The motion of the brush heads on an electric toothbrush clean better between teeth, and remove significantly more plaque than a manual toothbrush.
You might have already noticed that not all electric toothbrush models provide you with the Bluetooth feature, despite the fact that it’s becoming more and more common among electric toothbrushes.
There is almost no physical difference in your brushing experience between brushes with or without Bluetooth. However, the difference lies in how well you can optimize your brushing experience and adjust it based on the specific needs that you have. Having your Bluetooth toothbrush connected to the app provides real-time feedback about how long you have brushed, where you have brushed, and if you are brushing too hard. Over time, the app can tell you if your brushing habits are improving or not.
Bluetooth really does a great job at not only helping you identify your needs even more closely by helping you monitor your brushing session up close and in greater detail, but also by helping you program your device for brushing according to your needs.
The price difference in the various models also deserves a mention. An entry-level electric toothbrush will cost around $30 – $40, whereas the entry-level Bluetooth model will cost you around $100. The top of the line models, will all the features mentioned in this article may cost up to $300! That’s a lot to spend on a toothbrush. Which leads us to the next question.
Is a Bluetooth Toothbrush Worth It?
Is a Bluetooth Toothbrush Worth It? A Bluetooth toothbrush is worth it if you find that you need to improve your dental hygiene or brushing habits. A simple electric toothbrush will work if you already correctly brush your teeth, as electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than manual toothbrushes.
The question at the end of the day is if getting a toothbrush with Bluetooth is really worth it, and honestly, the answer depends on your exact needs and preferences.
If you’re fine with your traditional brushing methods, you might not be in need of the Bluetooth feature, However, that being said, there are such a wide range of benefits that it provides you with that it really isn’t hard to see why more and more people are starting to go for models that have this feature.
Bluetooth does help you take better care of your teeth by making sure you brush everywhere for the correct amount of time, and that you don’t brush too hard.
I would say an electric toothbrush is definitely worth it, and adding Bluetooth may be worth it. Removing the additional build up on your teeth will keep you from having terrible toothaches, and possibly increase your life-span. People long ago used to die in their 20’s and 30’s because they didn’t know how to take care of their teeth! That seems crazy to us these days, but I mention it to point out the importance of maintaining your teeth as best you can.
If price didn’t matter, we’d all go with the Bluetooth model. Unfortunately, it does. So, if you find that you brush your teeth too hard, or you miss areas of your mouth while brushing, I’d say go with Bluetooth. If the dentist is happy every time you go visit, I think an electric toothbrush will work just fine for you.
Conclusion
Bluetooth does a lot on a toothbrush. We learned that it is easy to setup, and can transmit data in real-time as you brush our teeth. That data is displayed in a helpful manner, showing where you have brushed and what you have left to do.
Later, you can review your brushing history, and make changes as need. Bluetooth helps you track your brushing progress as well as customize and improve upon your brushing experience.
At the end of the day, Bluetooth is a really useful one that a lot of customers think is worth paying the extra dollar for. Given the range of features that it provides you with, and how much more simple and efficient it can make your brushing experience, the little bit extra that they cost seems to be more than justified, making toothbrushes with Bluetooth a great choice!
Lastly, keep in mind that I am not a doctor or a dentist. I am a smart gadget enthusiast, and these are my opinions. Please consult your dentist before making a toothbrush buying decision.