Dyson CameraJet Toothbrush Review: In a Word, Disappointing

I switched the product on and confirmed it was in auto mode, which is designed to spray water into my mouth when it detects a gap between teeth. The toothbrush began working, vibrating and spraying water as I moved it around my mouth. The combination of vibrations and water sprays felt almost ticklish on the gums, but it was not unpleasant. Because water was accumulating in my mouth, that process was a bit messier than usual. Just 30 seconds later, one final, especially aggressive spray of water was released, and the toothbrush stopped moving. 

I was able to get the brush working again, but after only a few seconds it stopped. I thought it might need charging, so I placed it on the charging base and walked away.

The next day, after letting the toothbrush charge overnight, I was ready to brush my teeth again. This time, I started by trying to connect the device to the myDyson app on my phone. After six failed attempts to connect, I gave up, because by this point I was running out of time to finish my morning routine. I clicked the power button, waited for the toothbrush to start, and ... nothing. A few LED lights turned on and off, and the toothbrush beeped at me, but no brushing. 

I tried again, and this time the brush’s lights lit up in a way I had not seen before. According to the manual, this new light pattern indicated that the brush head was attached to the unit. I removed and reattached the brush head several times before this error stopped appearing. That was not the end of my problems, though.

After trying every combination of button presses I could think of, I wondered whether, during my attempts to connect the brush to the myDyson app, its battery had been depleted. I again placed the product on the charging base and brushed my teeth with my everyday electric toothbrush. 

Later that day, when I was ready to brush my teeth before bed, I picked up the toothbrush and pressed the power button. This time, nothing happened. There were no beeps, lights, or vibrations at all. I placed the device back on the charging base, but still, nothing. I moved the base through each outlet in my home, and still, nothing. My $499 smart toothbrush was dead. 

I wasn’t sure what I had done wrong, so I turned to Google to see if there were any answers on the internet. Instead, I found two Reddit threads of Dyson CameraJet users who had the same unpleasant experience: shortly after receiving their toothbrush, the device died.

I contacted Dyson for comment on my experience and to ask whether the company was aware of other users who had faced similar issues with their toothbrush. “We have had a very positive reaction to the new Dyson CameraJet and are experiencing strong demand globally," a Dyson spokesperson said. "We are seeing some shortages of supply, as we are in the process of scaling up production. Additionally, we are aware that a small number of early batches of Dyson CameraJet products may have experienced a component issue. We are isolating those batches and are taking all the necessary steps to support our customers. Anyone who has concerns about their product should contact Dyson customer service.”

I suspect the model I received was among the batches affected by a component issue, but I can’t be certain without Dyson’s confirmation (I sent an email to the company, but did not receive a reply as of publication). The company did let us know that it would send another model when it had more in stock.

Now that we’ve received a new model from the brand, we’ve updated our review with information from our second experience with the device.

I’ve never had a problem getting a toothbrush to work. In fact, few products have stumped me the way this one has. Brushing teeth is, for most, a simple, everyday task. Do we really need to make it more complicated? 

Here are the challenges–big and small–that I experienced:

It’s hard to get started: Right out of the box, I had difficulty figuring out how to get the toothbrush going. There are only three buttons on the device–power, jet, and brush intensity–but the instruction manual is lengthy. There are several LED lights on the brush, and their colors and durations have different meanings. Even after I read the instructions thoroughly, I kept the manual in the bathroom to go over the instructions again as I got ready to brush my teeth. 

The second CameraJet toothbrush I tried slightly improved my initial experience. I was able to connect it to the myDyson app in just a few minutes. From there, seeing what setting the brush was set to was easy–much easier than trying to decipher the LED lights on the toothbrush.

Dyson has a recommended brushing method: The lengthy list of LED indicators is not the only thing that makes using this toothbrush confusing. The usual toothbrushing method won’t work with the CameraJet. Most electric toothbrushes I’ve used work in four, 30-second intervals. Instead of dividing the teeth into four equal quadrants, Dyson instructs users to divide them into three sections–left, right, and center. This isn’t too significant in the grand scheme of things, but it is certainly something that could take some time to get used to if you’ve been brushing your teeth using the quadrant method.

Here again, the app helped improve my experience with the CameraJet. Using the guided cleaning mode, which showed model teeth on my phone’s screen and highlighted different areas of the mouth in 13-second intervals, helped ensure that I was brushing every section of my teeth within the allotted time. The sounds the toothbrush made to alert me when it was time to switch areas of my mouth were very low, so a visual reminder was helpful. Still, I don’t want to have to hold my phone in one hand while I’m brushing my teeth. The bathroom is one place in my home I like to keep screen-free.

Ineffective flossing: I own a water flosser, and the CameraJet does not feel like that product at all. The sprays of water are so quick that they didn’t feel as if they were making contact with interdental gaps for more than just a moment, if at all. I flossed with string after each cleaning session, and still had food stuck between my teeth every time.

Live viewing seemed insignificant: I used this feature just once. Water and toothpaste quickly blocked the camera’s view, so what you’re actually able to see is very limited–even when you spit often. Aside from the difficulty in viewing, I found that this feature added very little to my brushing experience. For me, there was no benefit to seeing my teeth this close up.

That leads me to another displeasing feature of the CameraJet. The charging base serves as a reservoir for non-foaming mouth rinse (in my case, tap water) and occupies a significant amount of counter space. It measures 12.4x4.13x1.97 inches (HxLxW). Thankfully, because the water tank on the brush can be filled manually, the CameraJet includes a second charger that takes up no space and connects directly to the toothbrush. You should not brush your teeth while the brush is connected to the charger.

The travel case is a clear plastic shield that locks onto the charging base, allowing you to travel with the toothbrush without exposing the brush head to other items in your bag. While the idea of including a travel case with the pricey toothbrush is a good one, the case is large and inflexible. It requires much more space than any other electric toothbrush I’ve traveled with before. 

My bathroom is the last place I want a camera, but I was intrigued by the concept of the CameraJet. Unfortunately, my excitement was short-lived. The product has a steep learning curve, takes up too much counter space, and doesn’t offer enough to warrant its $499 price. I appreciate a two-in-one product if it can perform both functions well, but the water flosser leaves a lot to be desired.