Y-Brush: Never brush your teeth again?

French company Y-Brush is working on tooth-cleaning solutions that will clean teeth fully automatically in just a few seconds, replacing tedious manual brushing.

Tooths are rarely brushed effectively

Y-Brush sees a key argument for its 10-second solution in the poor implementation of annoying manual tooth brushing. In its product presentation, for example, the company points to studies showing that few people adhere to the world’s very similar standards for good tooth brushing. A study by the American Dental Association, for example, shows that one-third of people in the U.S. brush their teeth less than twice a day. In addition, it was found that most people in the U.S. spend only about one minute per pass brushing their teeth. In Australia, the situation is even clearer: almost half of adults brush their teeth less than twice a day, and among children as many as a third. Most respondents spend only around 45 seconds per toothbrushing session. In most countries, however, it is recommended that teeth be brushed at least twice a day for two to three minutes using a special brushing technique. This is the only way that manual brushing can effectively remove all food residues and other harmful factors from the teeth and the spaces between them.

Y-Brush also points out that poor dental hygiene is not just an aesthetic problem. Dental diseases represent an economic problem and often occur together with cardiovascular diseases, throat cancer and numerous other diseases. However, Y-Brush does not point out in this context that, as a rule, these are not causal links. In most cases – such as diabetes – dental hygiene is not the problem; rather, dental problems and diabets are likely to be due to the common cause of a high-sugar diet. Nevertheless, it seems obvious that adequate dental hygiene is important for overall health – and that traditional brushing, even with electric toothbrushes, is often omitted or drastically shortened for convenience. So Y-Brush definitely has a point here.

35,000 nylon brushes operate automatically

The company’s own products are said to be the solution to this problem, maximizing the efficiency of the toothbrushing process while significantly shortening it. This is said to be made possible by 35,000 rotating nylon brushes suspended from a roughly Y-shaped device that is pushed into the mouth. The brush covers all the teeth at the same time and is dedicated to them all at the same time. Consequently, it does not need to be moved around in the mouth, thus reducing the active work of the user to a minimum. Each tooth is cleaned from all accessible sides for five seconds. The nylon brushes are thin enough to reach the interdental spaces, which are rarely reached with conventional brushes. During all this, the device vibrates, ensuring particularly thorough cleaning. Depending on the product selected, the vibration can be regulated in several stages and adapted to individual needs. The Y-Brush devices are also available in different sizes and can therefore be used by children and young people as well as adults.

The head of the brush, which is pushed into the mouth, is made of the thermoplastic terpolymer ABS, which is approved for use in medical products – even Lego bricks are made of it. The material is flexible, yet very durable. The device also has an LED indicator that provides information about the battery level and the selected vibration mode. In addition to the brush head, a holding piece and a charging station are included. Also included is an attachment for toothpaste tubes, which should make it possible to apply the optimal amount of toothpaste.

Six months of use

Y-Brush points out that one battery charge guarantees up to three months of use. It also states that the brush head (i.e., the mouthpiece) should be replaced after six months for hygienic reasons. The holding piece as well as the charging station, on the other hand, can be used indefinitely. According to Y-Brush, the latter two parts can furthermore be used by several people, who, however, naturally each need their own brush head for hygiene reasons.

Initial studies do indeed indicate that the technology used by Y-Brush, and in particular the use of nylon brushes, is better at removing plaque than both traditional and electric toothbrushes. Whether Y-Brush will be able to establish itself with its offer, however, remains to be seen. A very similar project from Austria failed some time ago; despite a successful round of financing, the company offering the Amabrush had to file for bankruptcy. Reviews for the Amabrush were consistently bad in the process: apparently, it barely served its purpose. The French Y-Brush, on the other hand, has been holding its own for some time: the first prototypes have already been presented at CES since 2020.

Price and Availability

Three models of the Y-Brush are available. In addition to the basic version, which costs 79.99 euros in the starter kit with holding piece and charging station, a children’s starter kit for 99.99 euros and a Black version with soft-touch holding piece, toothpaste applicator and optional add-on brush holder and optional add-on travel carrying bag are offered for 129.99 euros to 149.99 euros.