Sound of Bristles Impacts Tooth Brushing Satisfaction
How effectively we clean our teeth and how satisfied we are with the brushing job depends a lot on the sound of the bristles scrubbing against the enamel, according to new research from scientists in Japan.
In trials with volunteer teeth cleaners, researchers used a tiny microphone in a modified toothbrush to “sample” the sound being made in the mouth during brushing. The authors found that if they manipulated the pitch, or frequency and loudness of the brushing sounds, they could alter the volunteers’ perception of comfort and accomplishment. They also found that if they gradually increased the frequency as teeth cleaning progressed, the volunteers felt like the process was more comfortable and that their teeth were cleaner at the end of the process.
Results show it is possible to motivate users by manipulating the frequency of brushing sounds, so the task becomes more satisfying.
The prototype system has a built-in force sensor which can monitor if a person is brushing too hard, leading to possible damage of the gum line, and give aural feedback to encourage users to clean their teeth more gently. Currently, the system requires teeth cleaners to wear headphones, but there are bone conduction speaker systems that might be incorporated into the smart toothbrush.
For more, see the study in the International Journal of Arts and Technology, vol. 8, no.4, pp.307-324.
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