PlayBrush turns any toothbrush into a game controller to help kids brush their teeth

The Internet of Things is now officially everywhere, even your mouth. PlayBrush has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to help bring to market a gadget that transforms any toothbrush into a game controller, with the purpose of improving kids’ toothbrushing techniques.

If this sounds familiar, the concept isn’t new. Last year Kolibree launched a connected toothbrush aimed at helping kids brush their teeth through games, and Grush introduced something similar around the same time. Other, more established dental hygiene brands such as Oral-B also have Bluetooth-connected contraptions that track your brushing habits.

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So while PlayBrush is entering tried and tested waters, its unique spin on the idea essentially boils down to one key point: It isn’t a smart toothbrush, it’s a dongle you attach to your existing toothbrush.

This has a number of advantages, chiefly on the price of the device — Kolibree costs $199 up front, and then it’s $19 for a pack of three brush heads. And Grush costs $65 on preorder.

PlayBrush will also cost $65 when it goes to market, but it can also be easily passed around the family and you don’t have to rely on the brushes provided by the companies themselves — you can use whatever style of brush you’re already accustomed to.

VentureBeat was given a brief demo of a PlayBrush prototype in London last week and, despite a few initial teething problems (pun intended), it seemed to work well.

PlayBrush is a little blue holder with a motion-sensing chip in it — it’s this that tracks the movement of your brush while connecting to a game on your phone via Bluetooth. Just stick the handle of your toothbrush into the dongle and start playing.

PlayBrush creates both the hardware and the software, which focuses on tracking brushing regularity (twice a day), duration (2-3 minutes), and accuracy (brushing in every corner of the mouth). The accuracy element is key here as it’s the hardest part to track. The PlayBrush mobile app tackles that challenge through games.

To date, PlayBrush has tested with 250 kids and says the feedback has been “encouraging.” It’s also seen support from University College London, the Eastman Dental Hospital, and a number of dental practices across the U.K. and Austria.

The project has raised £12,500 ($18,000) of its £35,000 ($50,000) crowdfunding goal, with 25 days remaining. You can check out the official PlayBrush promo video below.

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