When the photographer says cheese, do you instead zip your lips, afraid that what lies behind might end up on a photo and be a source of embarrassment forever? Well, as they say, it is never too late to pick up a few good habits. Or teach them to those around — especially the young ones. Here is a round-up of apps that educate, track, and promote good oral hygiene and dental care.
The Plaque Attack
Mydentist claims to be Europe’s largest dental care provider and the organisation wants to defend your teeth “from the attacking nasties” with this “fun and educational” dental hygiene app. The weapons at your disposal are the usual suspects — toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash. And apart from fighting off the nasties, children can check out the colouring book feature that helps reinforce tooth care tips. For parents, the app has interactive and essential information that helps them look after a child’s smile during their early years. It also provides details on diet, common problems and a guide to fluorides.
Brush DJ
Welcome to the brush party. The DJ for the morning will be Brush DJ, an app that hopes to make brushing a fun experience by providing the background music. This free app, developed by a dentist, aims to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, while helping you discover its music collection. Plus, you can go through a bunch of how-to videos and brushing info for various age groups. Brush DJ lets you set reminders to change the toothbrush head, brush twice a day, floss and set up the
next visit to the dentist and other recurring dental needs.
Baby Hazel Dental Care
The story goes that Baby Hazel has eaten too many candies and has ended up with a toothache. And it is your fault because you are the one who gave her those candies! Her mum is out shopping, and here she is, crying — the tears she sheds could water an entire garden! Anyway, now it’s your job to rush her to the dentist and watch her during the treatment. While you are at it, don’t forget to note down the dentist’s advice on oral hygiene — it is very important to live a healthy life. This game covers advice for teeth, tongue and gums. And finally, when you return Baby Hazel home, don’t forget to hide those candies!
Disney Magic Timer by Oral-B
Do you know where the likes of Iron Man, Hulk, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Yoda and others go when they have some spare time? Well, it seems they help children brush teeth properly! The Disney Magic Timer app by Oral-B is brimming with more than two dozen popular characters that goad you to brush longer. Apparently, it works. Oral-B claims that 98 per cent of children brush longer when they use the app. And if they reach the two-minute milestone every day, the app rewards them with new stickers. Children can also stack up stars and badges on a Brushing Calendar. The app is free, but comes with a caveat — you need a compatible Oral-B brush to use it.
BoneBox — Dental Lite
For those interested in going deeper into dentistry, the BoneBox Dental Lite provides “incredibly detailed models of the human dental anatomy”. This is achieved through the use of true real-time 3D — you can zoom in, turn, twist, rotate and explore each tooth in detail. And if think you have learnt enough, you can test your new-found knowledge with a quiz. Well, before taking the quiz, we had no idea what a cuspid or a bicuspid was. After taking the quiz, we still don’t know, but it sure was good fun tapping through the questions.
