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Gamification could be the (expensive) way to get your kids to brush their teeth properly

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If you’ve ever despaired of getting your kids to brush their teeth properly without close parental supervision, Kolibree may have the solution: a smartphone-linked toothbrush that reports back to an iPhone or Android app how well they did, and creates family league tables to turn tooth-brushing into a competitive sport.

Engadget reports that the Bluetooth-connected toothbrush is equipped with an accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope. You calibrate it to the shape of your mouth first, and it uses this model – together with data supplied by dentists – to get a percentage score of how well each Kolibree user in the family cleaned their teeth.

It won’t, however, be cheap: each toothbrush will cost between $100 and $200, though family packs may make it a little cheaper. It’s expected to be launched in the summer.