When a group of dentists and engineers teamed up, they may have come up with a perfect toothbrush, reports USA Today.  The toothbrush, called Blizzident, is a 3-D printed toothbrush modeled after the user’s teeth. To snag one, users must get a dental impression, then have it sent to a dental lab for Blizzident to access and create the toothbrush.  In order to use the custom toothbrush, the user would place it in the mouth and bite and grind on it for six seconds.  Dental floss can be attached to the Blizzident so teeth get brushed and flossed.

The Blizzident website states that their product perfectly brushes teeth every single time, flossing and cleaning the tongue simultaneously.  The toothbrush uses the Fones toothbrushing technique and the Modified BASS toothbrushing technique.  Advantages of the Blizzident includes cleaning all parts of the mouth without missing any areas, gums are protected from unnecessary abrasion by only brushing the parts of the mouth that need to be brushed, and saved time.  In addition, for consumers that are interested in protecting the environment, this toothbrush involves no power use and is completely recyclable and made from biocompatible plastics.

To purchase a Blizzident, the dentist must first take an impression of all of a person’s teeth (with biting position) or the dentist can scan them directly (creating a digital 3D model directly).  If an impression is used, it is sent to a dental laboratory that has the capacity to create a digital 3D model.  The 3D model is then uploaded to the Blizzident server and Blizzident uses that to create the toothbrush.

Purchasing a Blizzident can be costly, approximately $300 for the initial toothbrush and replacements annually for $159 each.  Additionally, the price of a scan costs approximately $200 and impressions approximately $75.  The $500 initial price tag for getting the Blizzident may be too much for some people.  However, the improvement to dental health and time saved can be important enough to rationalize the purchase.

For those who wish to continue using a normal toothbrush, WebMD provides tips for proper brushing.  First, it is important to get a toothbrush that is the right size and firmness.  Bristles that do not have the right angle or are too stiff can irritate the gums.  Second, many people do not brush for long enough or often enough.  Two times a day for two minutes apiece is important, but three times a day for three minutes each time is ideal.