Skip to main content

This virtual brushing simulator may help us make better toothbrushes

We take for granted that four out of five dentists agree when it comes to best toothpastes or superior toothbrushes (and that the fifth dentist is just asleep at the wheel, or something), but how much do we really know about what those recommendations are grounded upon? As it turns out, not much.

That’s mostly because it’s actually really hard to test the effectiveness of our dental hygiene tools. But now, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg, Germany have developed a virtual brushing simulator which may change how we look at our toothbrushes, and may help doctors really test out the effectiveness of our brushing tools.

Recommended Videos

The secret, the Institute says, is a novel simulation that actually allows researchers to determine just how much of that nasty film you’re getting off your teeth in the morning and at night. “With our procedure, manufacturers of dental hygiene products can determine the cleaning effectiveness of each individual parameter in a fast, economical and reliable manner,” says IWM scientist Dr. Christian Nutto. “Unlike in real-world experiments, the individual parameters in the simulation can be easily modified — be it the size, shape, and quantity of abrasive particles in a toothpaste, or the material from which they are made, or the shape and elasticity of the bristles.”

For the first time, researchers will have an efficient way to determine how shape, stiffness, abrasiveness, and even toothpaste viscosity affect our teeth’s enamel, and more importantly, the germs sitting atop our teeth. “We can increase the scope of the experiments far beyond what is possible in real-world testing, and that makes a noticeable difference in the quality of the products,” the Institute claims.

To conduct their simulations, Nutto says, “We specify the characteristics for the abrasive particles such as density, shape and fill factor.” Then, the team virtually rubs a toothbrush bristle over the tooth, and scientists are able to visualize and quantify “cleaning effectiveness, as well as the aggressiveness of the abrasives against the tooth enamel.” And according to their tests, this new simulation “can precisely predict how the toothpaste and bristles will affect the tooth enamel. At a later stage, it will also be able to predict the effectiveness of the toothpaste and brush at removing the biofilm from teeth.”

So if you’re looking for a way to test your toothbrush (or want researchers to just do a better job of it), thank the folks at the Fraunhofer Institute and their fancy toothbrush simulator.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
For peace of mind: Anker Solix portable power stations up to 46% off for Prime Day
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Portable Power Station in the kitchen.

Amazon's Prime Day is a great time to look for portable power station deals, as these devices can get pretty expensive. They're a necessity for every home though, and if you don't have one yet, you should check out these two offers for Anker Solix portable power stations. The Anker Solix C1000, originally sold for $799, is down to $429 for a $370 discount, while the Anker Solix F3800 Plus, originally sold for $4,799, is down to $2,699 for a $2,100 discount. However, if you're interested in taking advantage of either of these bargains, we highly recommend moving fast because we're not sure if they'll remain on sale through to the end of the shopping event.

Anker Solix C1000 -- $429 $799 46% off

Read more
Aiper robotic pool cleaners and bundles on sale for Prime Day — up to $750 off
The Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max cordless robotic pool cleaner at the side of a swimming pool.

Keeping your swimming pool clean is tough work, but you can say goodbye to manual cleaning by taking advantage of Aiper's discounts on its robotic pool cleaners for Prime Day. Up to $800 in savings are up for grabs, and you'll get an additional 5% off these lowered prices by using the code DGTRENDS5OFF during the checkout process. We're going to say it — these Prime Day deals on Aiper robotic pool cleaners are simply amazing.

These offers are scheduled to last until Prime Day ends, but you shouldn't wait until the final minutes of the shopping holiday before you finalize your purchase. That's because there's no assurance that these Aiper robotic pool cleaners and the bundles featuring them will still be available by then. If any of these bargains catch your eye, we highly recommend proceeding with your transaction immediately to make sure that you pocket the savings — just don't forget that checkout code for the extra 5% discount!

Read more
Tineco carpet cleaner at lowest-ever price for Prime Day — here’s how to save more
A man using the Tineco Carpet One Cruiser Smart Carpet Cleaner.

Not all vacuum deals will be able to provide in-depth cleaning for your carpet. You're going to need something more specialized, and we highly recommend the Tineco Carpet One Cruiser. From its original price of $699, it's available from Amazon's Prime Day for its lowest-ever price of $489, but you can get an additional 5% off with the checkout code TIN25PDPR. That means you'll only have to pay $465 for this smart carpet cleaner, for total savings of $234, but you'll need to act fast as we're not sure if the stocks that are up for sale will last until the final minutes of the shopping holiday.

BUY NOW

Read more