Stockholm’s Be Lucent creates toothbrush case that kills 99.9% of germs

Be Lucent, a Swedish dental tech startup, has developed an advanced toothbrush case that can eliminate pathogens.

Called Aurora, the case kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses on toothbrushes in just five minutes using UV-C light, one of three kinds of ultraviolet light with a wavelength that spans between 200 and 280 nanometres. This technology has been used for years to purify water and has been proven safe to use.

Co-founder and CEO Anders Andréen — who previously founded the lifestyle audio company brand Urbanista — said he wanted Aurora to change the way people store their toothbrushes.

The bathroom hosts contaminants that can transfer to toothbrushes, with a wet brush being the “perfect” medium for these pathogens. By using dirty toothbrushes, people are introducing pathogens into their bodies.

Innovative solution combined with design

Although the immune system will fight most of the germs, some can still slip past the body’s natural defences and cause sickness.

“We believed that an innovative solution to toothbrush hygiene and combined with a cool Scandinavian design would be a great way to improve people’s dental health,” Andréen told Forbes.

“The Aurora case is meant to protect people from unnecessary germs, but I think it also makes the bathroom look nicer thanks to the range of fresh colours and the easy wall hanger design.”

Aurora is simple to use. Users only need to open the lid and place the toothbrush inside. Closing the lid activates the UV-C system, which will run for five minutes. The case’s air holes allow the damp toothbrush to dry.

The product has a built-in rechargeable battery that can last for about 60 uses between charges. It is compatible with most toothbrushes, be they electric or conventional.

With three colour options — mint green, lavender and steel blue — one set of Aurora retails for €34 ($35).