We all need a little motivation to stick with healthy habits, and while it’s common to track health goals such as exercising regularly or getting better-quality sleep, another health goal you can track is your dental health. Tech companies are always releasing new ways to help us practise better oral hygiene.

“With the invention of the smartphone there are now apps for almost everything, and dental is no different,” says Dr Greg Thomas, a dentist at Bupa Dental in Rochedale, Queensland. 

Here, we walk you through some of the apps that can help you take better care of your and your family’s teeth. 

Timer apps for toothbrushing

We all know we need to brush our teeth twice a day, but are you doing it for long enough and using the correct technique? Or perhaps you’re not spending long enough on certain sections of your mouth. Using a timer-style app can help you brush better.

“Common features of these apps are timers with some playing music, videos and graphics on how to brush,” Dr Thomas says. “Or use the phone camera as a virtual mirror, at the same time a video teaches you how to brush, and rewards to keep you engaged and motivated. Some of these apps have AI (artificial intelligence) technology that can monitor and assess your brushing routine and give feedback to get the best results. Some even have a reminder function for when your next dental appointment is.”

Apps to try: Oral-B, Brush DJ, QuickBrush, Toothbrush Timer.

Kids’ timer apps for brushing

Toothbrush-timer apps are designed to help children brush their teeth regularly and for longer than they would often like. 

“To help parents out with their kids, there are apps to make brushing fun and develop the right brushing habits,” says Dr Thomas. 

They work by enticing kids to brush alongside their favourite characters such as Elmo or The Wiggles, and by getting them to brush for the duration of a song, which can make brushing feel less like a chore.

Apps to try: Disney Magic Timer, Brush Teeth With The Wiggles, Brush Up: Toothbrush Trainer.

Apps for helping dental anxiety

Dental anxiety, or dental fear, is estimated to affect approximately 36 per cent of the population, according to research published in the journal Medical Principles and Practice. While there are no apps to help specifically with fear of going to the dentist, there are plenty that target anxiety and work to calm your thoughts and slow your breathing. 

“Mindfulness, relaxation or meditation-style apps can be played on a phone with headphones during the dental procedure to help an individual cope and disassociate,” explains Dr Thomas. 

It’s a good idea to let your dentist know that you experience dental anxiety, too – they’ll do everything they can to help.

Apps to try: Headspace, Calm, Dare, Insight Timer.

Remote check-up apps

Since the pandemic, teledentistry  – where you consult your dentist remotely – has become a necessity for some people in isolation or quarantine. While teledentistry is still an emerging area and only appropriate in certain circumstances, a few apps have evolved that allow you to use your camera phone to monitor your teeth. 

“More recently, there has been the development of dental apps using AI technology as patient engagement tools,” says Dr Thomas. “These can screen for possible dental issues, share this information with your dentist or dental practice, and then consult virtually. They can also monitor a patient’s progress remotely for orthodontic treatment involving braces or aligners. These apps can be useful in a COVID world.” 

To find out more about remote check-up apps and to see if they’re suitable for you, speak to your dentist.

Apps that may be useful: Dental Monitoring, Smilo.ai.