3D-printed toothbrush cleans teeth in six seconds

Originally published on October 11, 2013

The American Dental Association recommends that people brush their teeth at least three to four minutes a day, but now a company called Blizzident is marketing a device of the same name it says can achieve the same results in only six seconds.

The Blizzident is a 3D-printed mouthguard made from a custom impression of a person's mouth created using the same technique dentists use to mold braces. After applying a drop of toothpaste onto the tongue and moving it over the upper teeth, the user then bites and grinds on the mouthguard for 15 times in roughly six seconds, brushing their teeth and cleaning their tongue in the process.

To make a Blizzident, a dentist first makes a mold of a person's teeth. The mold is sent to a laboratory where it is used to generate a 3D model of the person's teeth. The model is used to print the device, which is mounted with 400 brushes set at a 45 degree angle.

By biting the brush using what dentists describe as a "sub gingival bass technique" technique, users clean the space underneath the gums as well as other hard-to-reach regions including the wisdom teeth, the company claims.

The Blizzident comes with an initial price tag of $299 and must be replaced once per year. Replacements cost less.

According to the Daily Telegraph, some dentists caution that six seconds is not long enough to allow fluoride in the toothpaste to sink into the teeth.