Japanese designer Kosho Ueshima has, in collaboration with Osaka based company Yumeshokunin, designed a toothbrush that undermines conventional dental advice by supplanting the need for toothpaste.

Named Misoka, they’ve achieved this by coating its bristles with nano-sized ions measuring at one billionth of a meter in diameter. Not only do these treated bristles remove common staining, they also successfully transfer a protective coating directly onto the users enamel.

The toothbrush’s fluid design is based upon a stream of water and is manufactured from translucent PET, (polyethylene terephthalate), an excellent moisture barrier material. The bristles themselves are minute, measuring in at 0.178mm. They also taper at the ends, allowing you to reach the tricky to reach gaps between your teeth.

The word ‘Misoka’ means ‘last day of the month’ in Japanese, referencing the product’s expiration date after four weeks. At this point the bristles become ineffective and the product will need to be replaced.

The Misoka toothbrush is another example of the lines between innovative science and striking design blurring in order to contribute to a simplification of our lives.

Though the toothbrush has been available since 2007 in different incarnations, it was recently awarded a prestigious 2016 design award by London-based design magazine Wallpaper*. This could increase the awareness of the product from western markets.