PENANG, 1 Jun - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has successfully produced a uniquely designed toothbrush that can help users learn the correct technique of brushing their teeth and help prevent the formation of cavities.
The innovation was the result of the collaboration between Assoc. Prof Dr. Tang Thean Hock, from the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, USM and his co-researchers, Prof. Abdel Hamid Zaki Abdel Hamid and Dr. Ashfaq Akram.
Dr.Tang said the tooth brush, known as Pro-revolution is unique because the two brush surfaces form a 45 degree angle, in line with the recommendation of the Dentist Association for effective tooth brushing.
He said that other than being the first of its kind in this country, the brush surface is tapered thereby making this toothbrush superior to those currently in the market.
“The design is user-friendly as there are no complicated steps as to its use. It promotes the cleaning of the teeth without requiring the toothbrush head to be canted during brushing as would be required with the conventional toothbrush.
“The tapered shape improves interproximal cleaning without increasing gum irritation. It is very practical and can be used by everyone, including children,” he said at a press conference today, to introduce the product.
He added that based on his experience, dental problems such as caries, cavities and others are caused by incorrect techniques of dental care, including incorrect methods of brushing teeth..
“Most people do not know the correct method of brushing teeth and are not aware of the correct way to use a toothbrush. This is compounded by the fact that there are various techniques of using a toothbrush to ensure proper cleaning of the teeth.
“Pro-revolution is easy to use because the bristles in the toothbrush have three different heights to help users in brushing their teeth,” he said.
He stressed that the toothbrush can be used by children and helps to educate them from young about the correct method of brushing their teeth.
Dr. Tang also said that he and his team conducted a research on user satisfaction with regard to the product and the results showed 74 percent of the respondents said that it is better than the toothbrushes currently available in the market.
He added that research for this product, developed without any special allocations has been carried out in four countries, including Germany, Japan, Pakistan and Malaysia.
The unique toothbrush, which has been patented, won a gold medal at the 22ndInternational Invention, Innovation and Technology (ITEX) exhibition at Kuala Lumpur recently.
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