Buzz
Maintaining oral hygiene is crucial, yet discussing or practicing it often feels mundane. How can we encourage people to brush their teeth more frequently? One approach is to make the experience more enjoyable. Researchers from Japan discovered that specific toothbrush sounds can enhance the satisfaction of brushing, potentially increasing the likelihood of people sticking to the habit.
Taku Hachisu and Hiroyuki Kajimoto from Japan’s University of Electro-Communications explain that the core issue lies in the lack of immediate gratification from brushing. In behavioral science, this is known as a negative reward: brushing prevents cavities but doesn’t offer a tangible benefit. Negative rewards are poor motivators. Both humans and animals are more inclined to repeat actions that yield positive rewards—something gained from the effort.
The psychology behind oral hygiene is surprisingly simple to influence. Toothpaste brands have mastered this for decades. Pepsodent, America’s first widely popular toothpaste, stood out because its formula included ingredients that produced a tingling sensation. Users associated this tingling with effective cleaning, believing toothpastes without it were inferior. In truth, the tingling was merely a side effect, but the perception became ingrained. Today, most toothpastes are designed to leave your mouth with that familiar tingle.
Several reward-driven toothbrush technologies are either in development or already available. For instance, Hasbro’s “Tooth Tunes” brush plays music when its bristles touch teeth. Researchers have also proposed connecting a toothbrush to a virtual aquarium, where diligent brushers are rewarded with thriving virtual fish. However, these rewards are somewhat abstract, as they don’t directly relate to the act of brushing.
Hachisu and Kajimoto aimed to enhance the brushing experience itself. They explored whether altering the tactile and auditory sensations of brushing could make it more satisfying, thereby encouraging people to brush more frequently.
In their study, volunteers used a modified toothbrush equipped with a microphone to record the sounds of brushing. The researchers then digitally altered these sounds, adjusting volume, pitch, and frequency. During subsequent brushing sessions, participants listened to the modified sounds through headphones. The results showed that even minor changes to the brushing noises made participants feel more satisfied and accomplished. Additionally, gradually increasing the frequency of the sounds led participants to believe their teeth were cleaner.
Hachisu and Kajimoto detailed their findings in a special edition of the International Journal of Arts and Technology.
The next phase involves eliminating the need for headphones. The researchers intend to integrate bone-conduction speakers, similar to those used in Tooth Tunes brushes, into their design.
