THE VIRAL $500 DYSON CAMERAJET ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
Dyson Just Entered the Dental Chat: What I Think About the $500 Dyson CameraJet Electric Toothbrush
As an orthodontist, I’m obsessed with teeth.
As a human, I’m obsessed with my Dyson vacuums and my Dyson Airwrap.
So when Dyson decided to enter the dental world, my interest was PEAKED.
A Dyson toothbrush?
Honestly… I had questions.
Because I'm a realist. I’m not particularly interested in buying something just because it has a fancy name, a lot of technology, or looks cool on your bathroom counter.
If something is going to earn a spot in my routine—and especially in my patients’ routines—I want to know:
Does it actually do something useful?
So when I got to see what Dyson was doing with its new CameraJet toothbrush, I was genuinely intrigued.
And here's why.
So… What Is the Dyson CameraJet Electric Toothbrush?
At its core, it is an electric toothbrush designed to do something most toothbrushes can't: actually see what's happening between your teeth while you're brushing.
The brush head contains a tiny, high-resolution camera designed to capture what's happening around your teeth in real time.
Dyson's technology uses those images to identify interdental spaces—those little areas between your teeth that can be notoriously difficult to clean.
And then it can direct a targeted jet of mouth rinse toward those areas.
Basically, the toothbrush is trying to answer a question we ask our patients all the time:
“Did you actually clean everywhere?”
And instead of simply hoping the answer is yes…
It can actually look.
The Part That Really Caught My Attention
As an orthodontist, I'm constantly looking at tiny details. Tooth position, bite relationships, gum health, plaque accumulation, those little spaces that are easy to miss.
And one of the biggest challenges with oral hygiene is that you can't always see what you're missing.
You can brush your teeth for two minutes and still miss certain areas.
That's what makes the idea behind CameraJet interesting to me.
It's not just another electric toothbrush trying to brush harder.
It's attempting to use vision and feedback to help you understand where you're actually cleaning.
What About the “AI” Part?
This is where things get really interesting.
Dyson says its Gap Optical Targeting™ technology uses machine learning to analyze live images from the camera and identify interdental gaps.
The system can then help target those areas with what Dyson calls Precision Floss—a directed jet of mouth rinse.
There's also a connected app that provides a live view and feedback about your brushing.
And as someone who spends a lot of time trying to teach patients where and how to brush, I really like the concept of giving people visual feedback.
Because sometimes you don't know what you're missing until someone—or something—shows you.
But Is It Actually Better?
Here's where my orthodontist brain kicks in.
Dyson makes some pretty impressive claims about plaque removal, including a claim that the toothbrush removes up to 69% more plaque than a leading premium electric toothbrush in hard-to-reach areas.
That's interesting.
But it's important to understand what that number actually means.
It's a manufacturer-reported comparison, and it doesn't mean that the Dyson is removing 69% more plaque than a complete oral-hygiene routine that includes brushing and traditional flossing or water flossing.
Those are very different comparisons.
So if you're asking me:
“Is this better than brushing, flossing AND water flossing?”
I'm not sold on that.
But if you're asking:
“Could this be an upgrade from brushing alone, particularly for people who struggle to clean between their teeth?”
I think there's a pretty compelling argument that it could be.
And that's the distinction I care about.
Does This Replace Flossing? No.
And I think that's really important to say.
Technology shouldn't make us think we can stop doing the fundamentals.
A great toothbrush doesn't eliminate the importance of good oral hygiene.
And a fancy piece of technology doesn't replace regular dental exams and professional cleanings.
Think of it as another tool.
And honestly, I love tools.
Especially tools that make it easier for people to actually do the things they're supposed to be doing.
Why I Think This Could Be Especially Interesting for Orthodontic Patients
If you're wearing braces, keeping your teeth clean can be more challenging because brackets and wires create additional surfaces and areas where plaque can accumulate.
If you're wearing Invisalign or another removable appliance, you're putting that appliance back over your teeth for much of the day.
So your oral hygiene matters. A LOT.
Anything that can help patients better understand where they're missing plaque or where they're struggling to clean has the potential to be useful.
And that's really what I like about the CameraJet concept.
It's not just:
“Brush your teeth better.”
It's:
“Here's what you're missing. Let's help you see it.”
And as an orthodontist, I think that's pretty cool.
My Verdict?
Do I think everyone needs a $500 toothbrush?
No.
Absolutely not.
If you're brushing twice a day with a good electric toothbrush, cleaning between your teeth, seeing your dentist regularly, and taking excellent care of your oral health, you're already doing a lot right.
But do I think this technology is really interesting and potentially the smile care hack of the century?
100%.
Because I'm always interested in technology that can make oral hygiene more effective, more intuitive, and more engaging.
And I especially love technology that gives patients information instead of simply telling them what to do.
That's one of the things I love most about digital technology in orthodontics, too.
When patients can see what's happening, they understand it differently.
And when people understand why something matters, they're much more likely to take ownership of it.
So Dyson… welcome to smile care.
I, for one, am glad you're here.
And yes… I will absolutely be watching to see where this goes next.
-Dr. Erin
