The Pokémon Company has released a mobile app to encourage children to brush their teeth.
In 2016, the release of Pokémon Go took the world by storm with more than 500 million users downloading the app across the globe.
But in its newest venture, the company has released an app to promote dental hygiene among youngsters.
Pokémon Smile allows children to watch themselves brush their teeth with the help of some popular Pokémon characters.
Augmented reality
In the augmented reality game, users complete a two-minute task where they brush their teeth to protect characters from ‘cavity-causing bacteria’.
If they are successful, they get to rescue a Pokémon once the game is finished.
The game tracks the user’s brush movements using a phone’s front-facing camera. It is now available for free on iOS and Android devices.
But this is not the first time the company has attempted to springboard the brand into promoting healthy living.
Last year, it announced it is planning to release Pokémon Sleep, where a good night’s rest will have an influence over gameplay.
Lockdown snacking
This comes as statistics show there has been a significant spike in snacking by UK families.
Seven in 10 families with children under the age of five reported an increase in household snacking. This figure is twice that of households who do not live with children.
Additionally, 61% of under 35s reveal they are eating more in between meals.
The research was carried out by the Oral Health Foundation, which warns of the possible repercussions.
Sugar-free gum
Dr Ben Atkins, president of the Oral Health Foundation, urged the nation to use sugar-free chewing gum.
‘It is important we are mindful of the harm snacking can do for our health and take actions to prevent any potential damage,’ he said.
‘By helping us make more saliva, chewing sugar-free gum can help reduce acid attacks in the mouth.’
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
