Unilever has signed a deal with Playbrush to develop and launch a co-branded smart kids toothbrush for the French market this year, according to a report published by The Mail on Sunday.

Founder Paul Varga launched Playbrush August 2014. The innovative toothbrush is aimed at children aged 4 to 11 and uses Bluetooth and motion sensors to connect to an app that allows the child to power a game as he or she brushes, simultaneously measuring the duration and regularity of brushing.

Prices for the original Playbrush, which has sold 60,000 units to date, start at 26.99 for the device, plus £6 for an annual subscription of toothbrushes.