The Beam Brush, touted as the first toothbrush connected to a mobile app, officially hit the market this week, with consumer and professional offerings as well as a gamification aspect. Beam Technologies, of Louisville, KY, is selling the manual brush with embedded brushing sensor and Bluetooth radio for $49.99. A free companion app for Android or Apple iOS tracks brushing habits, including frequency and duration, as well as time spent in each quadrant of the mouth. Users sync data to the smartphone app by pushing a button on the brush handle.
The app supports multiple users so families can compare statistics, and then upload data to their dentists. Beam Technologies is providing the connectivity free to dental practices that want to participate, and will be selling targeted advertising on the app for dentists to promote their services, the company says. In a spin on gamification, Beam Technologies is providing a rewards program for people who meet certain targets, including the basic goal of brushing at least twice a day for two minutes each time. The app can play user-selected music for those two minutes. Beam says the music and an on-screen timer makes people 50% more likely to brush for the recommended two minutes, rather than the typical 46 seconds. As MobiHealthNews previously reported, Beam Brush and the smartphone app gained FDA 510(k) clearance last June. Beam Technologies also is a member of the current class of digital health accelerator Rock Health. The Beam Brush is available in blue or pink, with adult or child-size brush heads. Replacement brush heads cost $3.99. The brush draws power from one AA battery.
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