{
  "id": 9078032,
  "title": "The rise of Big Toothbrush: how did our mouths become such a lucrative market?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/the-rise-of-big-toothbrush-how-did-our-mouths-become-such-a-lucrative",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T04:00:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Health",
    "slug": "guardian-health",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/22/the-rise-of-big-toothbrush"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the United Kingdom, an increasing focus on oral health has led to the market for prebiotic toothpastes and brushes soaring, with some costing up to £600. Despite this, the country still grapples with a significant dental crisis. A 1969 report from the consumer magazine Which? highlighted an emerging trend that would soon become a popular Christmas gift: the electric toothbrush. The magazine described this device as similar to a conventional brush, with the key difference being the electric motor that moves the brush head. Over half a century later, electric toothbrushes offer more advanced features, such as multiple speeds, movement sensors, real-time tracking, gum-massage, and tongue-cleaning modes. These devices range in price from around £25 for a basic Oral B model to upwards of £599.99 for high-end models like the Philips Sonicare, which provides \"smart coverage feedback.\" The latest innovation, priced at £419.99, is a super-toothbrush featuring a camera and built-in water jet to clean between teeth, employing AI to identify gaps. Crafted by Dyson, this device essentially remains a stick with a brush attached, although there exists another toothbrush in the market shaped like a mouthguard, with individual brushes that claim to clean teeth in just 20 seconds.",
  "summary": "People in the UK are more interested in oral health than ever - and you can now buy prebiotic toothpastes and brushes that cost up to £600. Yet we remain in the midst of a serious dental crisis A December 1969 report from the consumer magazine Which? explored a relatively new gadget that, it predicted, many people would be giving as Christmas presents: the electric toothbrush. For those who…",
  "key_points": [
    "Prebiotic toothpastes and brushes market surges in UK.",
    "Electric toothbrushes feature advanced functions like multiple speeds.",
    "Dyson's £419.99 super-toothbrush includes camera and water jet."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The soaring market for high-end toothbrushes and prebiotic toothpastes in the UK highlights a disconnect between the country's growing focus on oral health and its ongoing dental crisis.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "The rise of Big Toothbrush: how did our mouths become such a lucrative market?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/the-rise-of-big-toothbrush-how-did-our-mouths-become-such-a-lucrative-9079519",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:00:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}