An app twice a day keeps the dentist away

Research published in the British Dental Journal shows that Brush DJ, an app designed to encourage youngsters to adopt and maintain an effective oral health care routine using evidence based techniques, is effective in its aims.

Brush DJ was launched on the Apple App Store at the end of 2011, and in 2013 it was accepted into the NHS Choices Health Apps Library. By February 2015, Brush DJ, which is free with no advertisements or in-app purchases, had been downloaded on more than 197,000 devices in 188 countries. It can be used with any type of toothbrush.

The app plays music for two minutes – the optimum time for brushing teeth – taken from a playlist or randomly from the user’s own device or cloud. As well as encouraging tooth brushing for two minutes, it also reminds users to spit out after brushing but not to rinse, sets reminders to brush twice a day, use a mouthwash at other non-brushing times of the day, sets alerts for dental appointments and reminders to change toothbrushes once every three months. Fundamentally, it makes brushing teeth fun for youngsters.