By this point in our adulthoods, we all know the importance of oral hygiene. We’ve been trained since childhood to brush and floss twice a day, but even when we do, that dreaded annual trip to the dentist is almost always going to reveal some sort of bad news: some spot we missed, some technique we’re misapplying, or some other new way we’re otherwise falling short in the quest for oral perfection. It’s enough to make one want to give up on dentist trips altogether. But as of this September, a game-changing new product released by longstanding oral care technology leaders usmile brings consumers two new devices that will help bring the keen eye of a professional dental exam to our daily toothbrushing routine, and make sure the dentist has a lot less to say on our next visit.
Let’s break the release down. The new “D-series” from usmile offers two distinct products as an integrated oral care system: the “D50 OralCam Toothbrush” and the accompanying “D-lite OralCam”, which can be paired or purchased separately depending on your needs.
First up: the D50. There might not seem like a lot here at first glance to the uninitiated consumer. Certainly most of us have seen or used an electric toothbrush before, and those of us particularly invested in our oral health have maybe even seen an electric toothbrush with a camera installed in it at this point. For example, those who follow these types of things will have likely heard of Dyson’s “Camerajet” model released in September. And the observant among that group might also note that Dyson’s product was released at a $500 price point, where the “D50 Oralcam” comes in at a fraction of the cost ($199.99). But it’s the functionality, not the cost, that sets usmile ahead of the competition.
What you can expect from the D50 is such a streamlined, simple experience it will boggle the mind to know the advanced AI-powered technology that makes it possible. When it’s time to brush, you simply press the button on the side of the handle to enable a full dental scan of your mouth, guided by the screen interface in the handle of the brush: Scan front teeth, scan bottom teeth, etc. From there, you can review the results straight from the screen if you have the time, or save them to review later on the app that pairs with the product.
However, what impressed this consumer most was not simply the scan, but the accompanying “Snipe” mode. You turn the toothbrush on and, using the data it has collected from the scan, it adjusts its speeds and rotations automatically as it takes its trip around your mouth: more intense for plaque-heavy areas, softer for problem-free areas, etc.
What sprang to mind for this consumer personally when using Snipe Mode was how perfect the D50 would be for younger members of the family. The experience truly is so guided and automated that a child could do it. And as any dentist will tell you, immaculate oral hygiene starts young.
Of course, the toothbrush will not lock you into simple “Scan” and “Swipe” modes. For those with periodontal disease or other sensitivies there is a “soft” mode, for a focus on whitening there is a “white” mode, a “clean” mode etc, all of which are customizable via the brush itself or the app on your phone or device, which allows you to track your progress and even receive a score out of 100 in terms of your brushing performance for the day.
While the D50 is certainly the flagship item of the D-series release, usmile also offers a second product: for $69.99, one can also purchase separately the “D-lite oralcam”, a portable oral camera capable of holding in your hand rather than being attached to the camera. The smaller size offers increased flexibility of movement while still pairing with the usmile app, so target zones can still be recognized without necessarily being attached to the brush. For this consumer’s money, at a price point about half that of the leading competitors, I would advise pairing the two as a comprehensive oral health system: a dentist to do the inspecting and a hygienist to do the cleaning.
usmile’s D-series is a true revolution in oral hygiene, and one that won’t break your bank. Even having only sampled the product for a few weeks, for once I am almost looking forward to my next dentist appointment to see what little they have to say.
