BOIE your breath stinks!!
How often do you
brush your teeth? It’s a rhetorical question but I will literally walk away if
you don’t say often. Something nearly everyone owns yet is completely
overlooked is a toothbrush. The developers of the BOIE Brush seized on this
opportunity to create a revolutionary toothbrush that, they hope, will
transform the way we brush our teeth. Rather than the typical rough nylon
bristles, the BOIE Brush comes equipped with a single-piece thermoplastic-elastomer bristle, which is both BPA and phthalate-free. This design is not only soft on the gums, but it also cleans your teeth effectively. In addition to this, it also features
embedded silver particles that kill bacteria in your mouth. Not only is this
insanely cool, it’s great for your oral hygiene too! The silver particles keep
your mouth clean and keep your toothbrush clean when you are not using it,
which extends the life of the brush for nearly twice as long as a standard
toothbrush. Another perk of the BOIE Brush is that it is manufactured and assembled
in the United States, for those patriots who are curious.
The source of
motivation for the BOIE Brush appears to be a combination of intrinsic and
extrinsic factors. The BOIE website claims that they created this toothbrush to
solve the chaos that is being caused by the 50 million pounds of discarded
toothbrushes being added to landfills every year. Wanting to save the
environment can be both intrinsic and extrinsic. Depends who you are saving it
for: yourself or for others so they may recognize you? The BOIE team also cited
their willingness to challenge the status quo, something Csikszentmihalyi
writes about in his book on creative people. Even the color scheme of the Brush
is unique, as they come in solid colors. It is hard to find a toothbrush that is
uniform in color from the handle to the bristles. This invention is extremely
creative because it has never been done before, imagine never having
to buy another toothbrush, only replacement heads every half year or so.
Two major motivators
for the BOIE team are to help the planet and to give back to the community.
This is why the bristles are 100% recyclable and the company’s very existence
creates American jobs. They additionally share a margin of their profits with charities
that provide healthcare to people with disabilities. While it is hard to deny
the capitalist agenda behind any for-profit business, it is fair to say that
BOIE is committed to creating a better world, and a cleaner mouth, for all.
Sources:
This is super cool! I really like how this is a product that can be applicable to a big audience, and can prove itself to be beneficial. Yet, simultaneously, it is also doing good things for the environment. It really deems itself to be a long lasting and effective product. One thing in particular that I found to be really interesting is the fact that it has properties that do really great things for overall dental hygiene, as well as when you're not using it. The fact that it stays clean and has antibacterial properties is something that isn't always found. The creators of this product really pushed the envelope here in regards to creativity, yet also made it a really practical product! They did a great job at striking the perfect balance :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting application of the silver. There has ben quite a lot of research on the beneficial affects of silver ions and particles. However, this is one of the safest ways I've seen silver being integrated into a consumer's daily dental hygiene. Although having TPE for the bristles is a revolutionary idea, there have been other brushed that include other rubber-like substitutes for some of their bristles. However, I hadn't seen a full replacement of the nylon bristles with the TPE bristles. It is a very creative concept, which is why it makes me wonder about how effective this idea is in reality? Does the sole integration of silver in TPE actually help with preventing plaque and other serious diseases? How have dentists reacted this product?
ReplyDeleteWow! I always have issues with my toothbrushes - most are too hard on my gums. This BOIE brush seems perfect for me.
ReplyDeleteWe learn about many creatives in class that mix something old with something new to create groundbreaking work. In this case, BOIE is mixing component of old, classic toothbrush with new developments in materials and technology. Their minimalist design mixed with classic oldschool toothbrush elements is definitely intriguing.