I Tried Dyson's $500 Camera Toothbrush and Watched It Spot Hidden Crevices in Real Time

BERLIN—I floss daily, but if you don't, you might want to consider Dyson's new camera- and water-jet-equipped toothbrush. 

At $499, the Dyson CameraJet is wildly expensive, yes, but this isn't your average toothbrush. I got to try it out at IFA (on a fake set of teeth, not my own), and it's easily the most advanced oral hygiene product I've ever experienced. It uses the camera and a water jet to automatically blast plaque, food, and debris from the gaps in your teeth, and also dispenses mouthwash. Moreover, it gives you a close look at all the nooks and crannies inside your mouth, and works with an app to teach you how to brush properly.

Dyson engineer Guy Turner tells me it's designed for the "9 out of 10 people" who don't floss as much as they need to.

During my demo, I saw how the tiny camera on the toothbrush sends a real-time view of your teeth to an app on your phone. As I slowly moved the brush over the fake set of teeth, tiny gaps I could barely notice with my eyes were suddenly magnified on the phone screen. The demo unit I tried didn't actually have any liquid inside, but Turner explained that when the camera detects a gap between your teeth, it shoots out a conical (cone-shaped) burst to clean out any debris, and it all happens within milliseconds.

A charging base holds water for the flossing feature and mouthwash, and automatically refills the liquid tanks as needed. The toothbrush features three oscillation modes and a light on the end so you can look deep into crevices, which I think could come in handy if you're afflicted by tonsil stones.

Some Dyson long shots turn out to be little more than a gimmick (ahem, the Zone ), but the CameraJet appears truly useful. And considering the cost of dental work, it definitely seems like a justifiable purchase.

You can buy the Dyson CameraJet now for $499 .

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