The First Robotic Toothbrush Is A Game-Changer For The Disabled

The odds, apparently, of being born are around one in 400 trillion.

How that’s calculated is a little vague; although thanks to a TED talk and the ‘net, it’s a popular number to bandy about when the probabilities of existence come up. It’s rather different to the chances of being who you are: for that you have to account for every person you’ve ever interacted with having been born at the right time and place to be part of the individual experience that we each define as our life.

That the topic of how it is that we end up being who we are, could arguably happen more now than at any time over the last fifty years. We’re prone to chronic self-obsession in a way that could never have been predicted in the 1960s when self-transformation was fused with the idea of creating revolutions in education the body politic, not contrived and flawless selfies for Instagram and knock-off TikToks.

All good fodder for dinner table discussion.

Only the likelihood of eating a meal at a table with other people instead of in front of a screen, either with a bowl and one utensil, or on a plate balanced on knees (who has trays anymore?) will one day almost outstrip the chances of being born. The possibility of a future with nutrients rather than meals, direct projection and 3D display technology rather than a room fixture, and little, if any face-to-face interaction are pretty high.

For all its infantilism and radical posturing and murderous violence, the 1960s was the last time of the critical masses wanting to create a more inclusive, expansive and fairer society; in comparison to just trying to emotionally survive another chaotic era where idiocy is applauded, and wealth and status outweigh felony convictions.

It’s no wonder that one of every two people worldwide, will develop some kind of mental health disorder in their lifetime. A massive 2023 international collaboration, involving more than 150,000 face-to-face surveys across 29 countries told us that. In 2021 it was 13.9% of the global population.

Disability is part of being human. An estimated 1.3 billion people – about 16% of the world population – currently experience that in some significance. Being born, being born with physical impairment, and dealing with a psychological disorder sometime in your life are odds that many are in the position of having to deal with.

For those with physical and/or mental disabilities, for decades there have been only two options in the realm of trying to maintain good oral health. There was only the reliance on a caregiver or family member whose heartfelt intention may exceed their skill; or having to persist on their own with all the likely deficiencies of dexterity. Studies show an unsatisfactory 88% of disabled people suffer dental issues. Dentists agree there has been an urgent need for a better solution than contemporary brushes, whether manual or electric.

Regardless of ability, everyone deserves the opportunity to have a healthy mouth; it’s imperative for general wellbeing.

Parent company Curaprox has had Curaden the go-to provider for premium Swiss oral care products since 1972. Founded on the principle that oral health is much more than white teeth and fresh breath, it supports global prevention education, and works closely with dental professionals to develop exceptional products.

Over eight years of development, the Curaprox Samba Robotic Toothbrush pioneers a combination of low and high-frequency oscillations with a dynamic brushing motion. 12,900 soft bristles simultaneously cover 36 surfaces to thoroughly remove plaque and debris from teeth and gums, eliminating the need for manual hand movements. It’s much larger handle gives easier grip.

The brush head adapts to any mouth by having a 6-degree adjusting flexibility. What makes it almost impossible for regular brushes to clean between teeth is the 20mm width; bristles in the Samba are grouped in 1.8 mm-wide columns, in a configuration of 17 microbrushes. Each consists of 790 soft bristles designed to meticulously apply the optimum pressure for precision cleaning.

Small dots of toothpaste are applied in the middle, and at the end of each side. It spreads as the brush moves along the teeth. After 30-seconds per arch, all surfaces are clean. As with all toothbrushes, it’s recommended that the head be changed every three months, it’s waterproof and its recharge lasts almost 30 days.

It gives newfound independence to those who’ve had difficulty with their oral care routine; and with an aging population and the dexterity loss that often accompanies that, it’s technology that could find its way into more homes than the demographic that is finding this product life-changing.

Samba was originally created for oral care to be effortless, and decidedly more effective. It didn’t specifically target those with disabilities, although after a few thousand units were market tested, there was overwhelming response from the disabled, which then had the device designers focus on that sector of the community.

While there are already toothbrushes designed for the disabled, they don’t address the main issues of motor movement, fatigue, and lack of grip, control, and pressure. Samba is the first to deal with these core problems.

Part of the inability of efficiently brushing their own teeth, whether it’s physically or psychologically based, is the challenge of maneuverability. When you’re unable to control brushing pressure, there can be irreparable damage caused to the gums.The Samba Robotic Toothbrush requires nothing other than holding it.

Even the average able-bodied person removes only about 40% of plaque; lack of motivation, brushing skills, infrequency, insufficient timing and a combination of all four are huge contributors. Most oral care is done because it has to be, rather than a twice-daily highlight.

The efficacy of this new style of robotic toothbrush means the recommended 2-3 minute routine is reduced to sixty seconds; which is hugely appealing to most people.

A robotic oral care aid not only offers previously challenging solutions, it also alleviates the burden on caregivers struggling to have their loved ones or charges maintain a decent level of dental hygiene. This new robotic toothbrush development reduces that stress, and heightens confidence for users with the knowledge that this simple to use device brings only positive results.

What are the odds of that?

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