Toothie
Toothie is a creative initiative designed to encourage children to develop healthy and enjoyable tooth-brushing habits. The project includes engaging packaging and a specially designed calendar that make brushing teeth fun and interactive for kids. By turning daily routines into exciting activities, Toothie aims to foster long-term dental hygiene practices among young children.
Categories: Healthcare | Kids
Tools: Photoshop | Illustrator | Figma
Roles: User research, UI/UX design, Research Analysis, Prototyping, User Testing
User Research
To gain a deeper understanding of the users, I interviewed the parents of three children to explore the challenges they encounter and identify areas for potential improvement. The interviews focused on the teeth brushing routine, their children’s experiences, and the level of assistance needed, offering detailed insights into user expectations and attitudes toward dental health.
5 years old
watches cartoon to learn hygiene knowledges
parents help brush the teeth in the molars
parents didn't know when baby teeth would fall out
7 years old
watches cartoon to learn hygiene knowledges
like to "act" like parents, brushing teeth when parents do so
gets bored and gives up after a while
12 years old
relies on watching teeth burshing cartoon
has 6-8 cavities
cannot remember which side of teeth has been brushed
Pain Points
For many kids, brushing their teeth feels like a boring chore, leading to resistance and rushed routines. Often, children don’t brush for the recommended amount of time, which can result in poor dental hygiene habits.
The challenge lies in creating a solution that not only grabs their attention but also encourages them to brush properly and consistently, establishing lifelong healthy habits.
Toothie was designed to tackle this challenge by making brushing fun, engaging, and rewarding.
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Youtubekids-YouTube Kids attracts kids with bright visuals, fun characters, and endless videos tailored to their interests—from cartoons to songs and DIY crafts. Its easy-to-use interface and autoplay feature keep kids engaged and coming back for more.
Research Synthesis
Gamified experience
kids motivated to brush teeth to “win”or “collect” certain prizes
Establish guidlines
formulate daily habits and time length of brushing teeth
Informational guides
build understanding on dental health: baby teeth/cavity/etc
Informational Architecture
When I began the design phase of this project, I divided the app into four big sections:
1. Home Screen to assist brushing teeth
2. Calendar to visually track streaks and collections of Toothie
3. Guide of videos or articles on dental health
4. Setting page to change profile information and purchase brand products
Execution
User Flow ( Full Video)
Day/ Night Mode
To help kids stay engaged and develop a consistent brushing routine, Toothie features a playful day and night mode that gently reminds children to brush their teeth at the right times—morning and evening—making the habit both fun and easy to remember.
AR Filter
By integrating an AR facial filter and connecting to a Bluetooth-enabled electronic toothbrush, Toothie allows kids to visualize how much time they spend brushing each zone of their teeth in real time.
The AR filter gamifies the toothbrushing experience, transforming it into an engaging and interactive activity that makes brushing not only effective but also genuinely fun for kids.
Streak/ Calendar
To encourage consistency and motivate kids to maintain their brushing habits, Toothie includes a calendar screen that tracks daily brushing streaks.
As kids brush on consecutive days, they unlock fun badges and collect unique Toothie mascots, turning the routine into a rewarding experience that builds a sense of achievement and excitement.
Video/ Article Guide
To support both kids and parents, I designed a guide screen with video tutorials and written articles. The videos help younger kids who can’t read or focus easily, using animations and voiceovers to teach brushing in a fun way. The articles offer parents expert tips from dentists, making oral care a shared learning experience.
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