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Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

penntoday.upenn.edu

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Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#31

Post by DoingIsLearning »

rusticpenn wrote: post #19
Silica6149 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good idea, it's just I never thought twice about the cleanliness of a toothbrush. I guess it's been ingrained in me to think it's normal to run a toothbrush under water to "clean" it.

You are supposed to change the brush every few months precisely for this reason.

I thought it was because the hairs on the brush get 'blunt' from erosion on your teeth. The 'applied science' guy had an electron microscope capture of new and old toothbrushes and it was the differences between needle sharp edges and worn out clubs.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#32

Post by liotier »

DoingIsLearning wrote: post #27
Silica6149 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good idea, it's just I never thought twice about the cleanliness of a toothbrush. I guess it's been ingrained in me to think it's normal to run a toothbrush under water to "clean" it.

I remember a myth busters episode where they demonstrated that toothbrushes left in open air will easily get fecal matter on the brush hairs due to aerosolized poop from when you flush an open lid toilet. Definitely a great conversation ice-breaker.

Are toilets in the bathroom common in your country ? Here, in France, they are a separate room - which also helps with multiple simultaneous uses.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#33

Post by latchkey »

bamboozled wrote: post #14
Silica6149 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sponge you put in your mouth made me think for the first time about how much bacteria is potentially on a normal toothbrush. I'm betting this product is even less hygienic since it's a sponge instead of only bristles.

Why not leave your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide overnight?

My wife uses those denture cleaner pills. They work amazingly well.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#34

Post by unsupp0rted »

dmcgee wrote: post #22
unsupp0rted wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree there's too little innovation in this field. I hadn't heard of the Buzz Brush and it's fascinating to me, although it does look half-baked and too indie at the moment for me to trust it with my dental health. Also it's too expensive to try as a throwaway test. Any other cool innovative products that replace standard brushing?

Not that replace standard brushing, but I worked with a company in Denmark called Novozymes. They produce enzymes for a variety of applications including dental care. They have a set of enzymes that they license to Unilever for a toothpaste called Zendium, which has some market share in Northern Europe. The enzymes break down microfilm that develops on teeth, making brushing more effective. There was RCT done on it I…

Any concern those enzymes would get swallowed and break down membranes in the digestive tract?

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#35

Post by afterburner »

LeonM wrote: post #30
svantana wrote: post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

There is quite some innovation, but consumers are slow to adopt IMO. Last year, my dentist warned me I have quite severe receded gums. This was due to me pushing my toothbrush too hard. So, after doing some research I bought an ultrasonic toothbrush. These have a static head (it does not oscillate/rotate) which emits ultrasonic waves to clean your teeth. Same principle of an ultrasonic parts cleaner. The head is stil…

Interesting. I've also had success using a Sonicare but always moving from the gums to the tooth (instead of along the gumline as the manual suggests).

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#36

Post by Forgeties79 »

f6v wrote: post #25
svantana wrote: post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

Have you seen how much it costs to get crowns or implants? There’s zero incentive for innovation, people keep bringing their money.

I would like to think that most dentists like their patients to have healthy, cared for teeth and that they play in important role in it. I would not like to think that most of them actually work to our detriment so that they can do more expensive, painful procedures on our mouths and teeth. That’s a pretty cynical outlook I’d need to see evidence for.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#37

Post by 2Gkashmiri »

macinjosh wrote: post #9
svantana wrote: post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

If you are in the US, like me, you might not be aware of Novamin toothpastes. They are available in other countries. It is my understanding that it can enclose dentin tubules exposed by enamel loss. This article provides some background: https://medium.com/@ravenstine/the-curious-history-of-novami...

I have, after years of deliberatng, decided to use an electric toothbrush. Its been 2 years and I want to know what I should be expecting. Maybe I am sleepy when I a brushing so I don't notice but asking still.

Novamin sounds interesting. Its available here on amazon so I might splurge on it but again, what I am to expect out of it as opposed to regular Colgate ?

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#38

Post by afterburner »

liotier wrote: post #32
DoingIsLearning wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember a myth busters episode where they demonstrated that toothbrushes left in open air will easily get fecal matter on the brush hairs due to aerosolized poop from when you flush an open lid toilet. Definitely a great conversation ice-breaker.

Are toilets in the bathroom common in your country ? Here, in France, they are a separate room - which also helps with multiple simultaneous uses.

They're common in North America, maybe because having bigger houses and therefore having multiple bathrooms is also more common.

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#39

Post by d1sxeyes »

LeonM wrote: post #30
svantana wrote: post #3

I find it strange that there is so little innovation in the field of everyday tooth care. Particularly the inefficiency of brushing one tooth at a time. I like the idea of https://blizzbrush.com/ , has anyone tried it? It's a bit suspicious that the single-pack is "sold out", but the 5 and 10-packs are not.

There is quite some innovation, but consumers are slow to adopt IMO. Last year, my dentist warned me I have quite severe receded gums. This was due to me pushing my toothbrush too hard. So, after doing some research I bought an ultrasonic toothbrush. These have a static head (it does not oscillate/rotate) which emits ultrasonic waves to clean your teeth. Same principle of an ultrasonic parts cleaner. The head is stil…

Looks like 250 EUR on their website?

Re: Microrobots can brush and floss teeth in a proof-of-concept study

#40

Post by upsidesinclude »

Silica6149 wrote: post #18
LewisVerstappen wrote: post #12

Wait so, what do these microrobots actually look like? Are they just small black bristles that you put in your mouth?

Iron nanoparticles controlled by a magnetic field it seems like. The thing I'm curious about though is, how do they remove all the iron particles afterward? Would I just get a month's dose of iron each time this thing brushes my teeth?

Suck on a big bar magnet!

Really, that would do. Better still would be an electro magnetic retainer. Then the particles cloud be captured and returned to a container.

I doubt iron nano particles would be reusable, but you wouldn't want them down the sink as they would likely be nucleation points for rust

Is anyone familiar with the health consequences of inhaling or otherwise ingesting nano iron?

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