Fresh Beats for Fresher Mornings
Case Study
How AI music transformed toothbrushing into a two-minute ritual. Can music and colour turn a routine into a ritual? This case study explores how six AI-generated songs and a simple visual timer reimagined toothbrushing as a focused, feel-good daily habit.
TL;DR - At a Glance
- Challenge: Adults often rush through toothbrushing, treating it as a mindless task.
- Solution: A set of 2-minute, AI-generated songs-paired with a visual colour-shift timer-to guide, structure and elevate the experience.
- Outcome: More consistent brushing, better engagement, and a mood shift from chore to micro-ritual.
- Explore samples of all versions in the interactive sample grid
Project Snapshot: From Routine to Ritual
Brushing your teeth is a near-universal behaviour-but for many, it's done on autopilot. We saw a missed opportunity in those two minutes: what if brushing became a space for rhythm, reflection, and mood-setting?
We created six original AI-generated songs-each precisely two minutes long-tailored to match different musical tastes and emotional tones. Alongside the audio, we added a colour-shifting visual timer: a screen that fades smoothly from red to green, gently indicating progress without pressure.
Together, these sensory cues helped redefine brushing as a small daily win-not just a box to tick.
The Challenge & Context
Despite best intentions, most adults brush for less than the recommended 2 minutes, often while distracted. Common patterns include:
- Rushing or skipping altogether
- Scrolling during brushing
- Using no structure or rhythm
Rather than designing another app or reminder system, we took a different approach: Could music and light visuals create a shift in experience, without requiring extra effort?
By combining mood-based tracks with soft visual cues, we aimed to make brushing feel intentional-whether calm, quirky, or absurd.
Our Approach: Where AI Meets Habit Design
We used a mix of generative AI tools to craft the brushing experience:
Technology Stack
- ChatGPT: Lyrics, scripts, tone-matching
- Suno / Udio: Music generation by style, emotion and duration
Design Principles
- All songs are exactly 2 minutes (natural pacing aid)
- Each track fits a distinct mood-calm, dramatic, funny, focused
- Brushing cues are built in-explicitly or through rhythm
- The timer subtly shifts from red > orange > green over 120 seconds
- No app, no login - just hit play on your smartphone and brush
Meet the Songs
| Title | Genre & vibe | Cue structure |
|---|---|---|
| Mirror Pep Talk | Lo-fi hip hop / uplifting lyrics | Zone-based, mellow |
| 2-Minute Toothbrush | Groovy spoken word / playful | 30s countdowns |
| Mint on the Beat | Chill trap / smooth | Free-flow rhythm |
| Two Minutes of Quiet | Lo-fi chillhop / meditative | Zone-by-zone guidance |
| The Tooth Trials | Musical parody / dramatic | Courtroom-style quadrant structure |
| Meeting with the Gums | Spoken word jazz / satirical | Structured by quadrant |
Each track guides you through brushing with a different emotional flavour-grounding, comedic, stylish, or soothing.
Results: Ritual, Not Routine
What changed? Users reported brushing for the full 2 minutes-without checking clocks, zoning out, or skipping steps.
Key Shifts Observed
| Without music | With music + visual timer |
|---|---|
| Often rushed or skipped | Full 2-minute engagement |
| Distracted or multitasking | Immersive, mood-setting audio |
| No timing awareness | Gentle pacing via colour shift |
| Mechanical routine | Intentional, sensory ritual |
“That was the first time brushing felt like something I wanted to do, not just had to.”
What We Learnt
💡 Lessons from the Project
- Rituals > Reminders: Mood and narrative shift behaviour more than instructions
- Simplicity wins: No app = no barrier
- Timing is fragile: AI tools often drift ~5 seconds-visual feedback helped smooth this
- Humour connects: Songs like The Tooth Trials made brushing surprisingly enjoyable
Symbio6: Human-Centred AI in Action
This case study reflects our broader mission at Symbio6: designing light-touch, meaningful tools that combine AI with human insight.
We work with educators, designers, and professionals to prototype and deploy interventions that improve daily life-without overengineering or complexity.
Our Services Include:
- Creative AI workshops and co-design sessions
- Behavioural prototyping for micro-interventions
- Ethical implementation support
- Generative design for habit, health, and education
Whether you're building a brushing ritual or a classroom habit tracker-we can help you design with intention.
Try It or Create Your Own
- Explore the AI Tooth Brushing Playlist
- Choose your soundtrack in the interactive sample grid
Let's collaborate on your next micro-ritual:
- ✅ Book a discovery call
- ✅ Run an AI-for-habits workshop
- ✅ Co-create your own behavioural intervention with our coaching
Because two minutes shouldn't feel like a rush-it can be a rhythm.