Is Dyson bringing an electric toothbrush to market? The rumour has come from an unlikely source: gossip newsletter Popbitch, as spotted by Stuff.
But although the rumour’s source is a bit out there, the concept itself isn’t. An electric toothbrush would fit in with Dyson’s growing lineup of beauty tech products, the first of which was the game-changing Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Although that was a leap in terms of product categories (from vacuums and fans to hair styling), it wasn’t in terms of tech. It was just Dyson applying to a new market its expertise in moving air around. Since then, the brand has produced more hair dryers, stylers (including the viral Airwrap) and straighteners.
We’ve reached out to Dyson for comment but until the brand confirms it, its electric toothbrush is nothing more than a rumour and we’re merely speculating. However, if Dyson does announce one, we have some predictions on what to expect.
1. It’ll have a distinctive design
Yes, it’ll have a luxury build. Yes, it’ll have all the features that rivals have (a two-minute brushing timer and pressure sensor, for example). And given our experience of other Dyson beauty tech, it could be pretty heavy.
But whenever Dyson launches a new product, it tends to look somewhat different – or strikingly different – from existing models on the market. Dyson’s approach tends to be to start with the problem the product should solve and then find a way to do it, rather than start with a standard hair dryer body, for example, and see what they can cram into it.
The brand’s tagline could easily be: “Never knowingly under-engineered”.
This has led to some design reinventions, such as its distinctive loop-shaped fans, or the (now much-copied) whacking great doughnut hole in the middle of the Supersonic.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
If the Dyson patent application that Gizmodo spotted way back in 2021 and Stuff recently resurfaced is a clue, the big difference between the Dyson electric toothbrush and rivals could well be an inbuilt water flosser that expels water right through the middle of the brush head.
Dyson
Brushes with inbuilt water flossers do exist (the Soocas Neos, for example) but they’re pretty niche and a Dyson brush with inbuilt water pick would constitute something new if Dyson is competing with big brands such as Oral-B.
Plus, as Dyson now has more than one wet vacuum – models include the WashG1 and the V15s Detect Submarine – we know that the brand has been experimenting with products that move water around.
Looking at the patent again, there’s also the distinctive ball shape in the middle of the brush, which we don’t doubt would be intrinsic to the brush’s functioning and which echoes the designs of the Big Ball vacuum cleaners and the Big+Quiet air purifier.
2. We’ll learn a new fun science fact
The best thing about new Dyson products is the explanation of the science that underpins the way they work.
We all know about the cyclone technology that helps to ensure that Dyson vacuums retain suction while the dustbin fills up. But the Airwrap and the Flyaway Supersonic attachment both use the Coandă effect to tame hair.
Hannah Cowton & Henry Burrell / Foundry
The Coandă effect is the phenomenon by which a jet or air or fluid will follow a nearby curved surface – and it’s the reason that, if you’ve ever tried to pour coffee from one mug to another, it’ll run down the side of the mug and all over your kitchen counter, making you wish you’d never got out of bed.
If Dyson launches an electric toothbrush with a water flosser, we can expect another interesting lesson in fluid dynamics.
3. It’ll have an absurd colour scheme
Did I say absurd? I meant bold: a colour scheme that sits somewhere between Duplo and a migraine. It’s part of the brand identity that you could spot a Dyson appliance from outer space.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Because if there’s one last prediction I’d make about a potential electric toothbrush, is that it’ll be pricey. And if you’ve just spent an arm and a leg on your new electric toothbrush, you’ll want everyone to know it’s a Dyson.
In the meantime, have a look at our round-up of the best electric toothbrushes and the best Oral-B brushes for our top recommendations.
You can see the original rumour on Popbitch, and read the Stuff article that first spotted it.