Video games inspire girl to design award-winning toothbrush

on Tuesday,February 09,2010 20:02

A California girl has applied the competitive and animated qualities of video games to oral hygiene by designing a toothbrush that is directed at children.

Ambria Schneringer, 9, recently won the Dr. Fresh Be a Dental Inventor Toothbrush Design Contest for her flashy creation, which lights up to encourage children to thoroughly clean their teeth.

The device features color-coded lighting that represents different levels of brushing time. Schenringer''s invention also includes a digital scorekeeper on its handle, which could encourage children to compete against one another.

Scherginer''s design earned her a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a trip to the Disneyland Resort for her and her family.

Dr. Fresh, which manufactures oral care products for children, launched the contest in celebration of National Children''s Dental Health Month. Competitors were asked to describe and draw an original toothbrush design that they felt would inspire their peers to brush longer.

Other notable designs included Critter Brushes that made animal noises after two minutes of brushing and an electric guitar-shaped brush that allowed children to make their own music while they cleaned their teeth.