BrushBuds: Using Earphones to Help Manual Toothbrush Users Track and Improve Their Brushing Habits

What is it about?

Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial, but many people struggle with knowing if they are brushing their teeth properly. Often, people miss certain areas or over-focus on others, which can lead to tooth decay and other oral health issues. While some electric toothbrushes can help with this, many people still prefer manual toothbrushes because they are affordable and easy to use. To help improve the brushing habits of manual toothbrush users, we developed BrushBuds—a system that uses common earphones to monitor toothbrushing. The earphones detect small head movements made during brushing, allowing the system to track which areas of the mouth are being brushed. Our tests show that BrushBuds can identify different areas of the mouth with over 84% accuracy. This simple system could help people brush more effectively, improving their overall oral health without the need for expensive toothbrushes.

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Photo by Carlos Magno on Unsplash

Photo by Carlos Magno on Unsplash