GERM CAMERA(BUG CAMERA)
A camera app that makes toothbrushing and hand washing playful for families
Make brushing time a moment to share.
GERM CAMERA adds pretend germ characters to photos of a child's mouth, hands or face, giving families a playful way to talk about toothbrushing and hand washing. Show the germs before brushing to spark a "let's clean them up" feeling, then take a sparkly photo afterwards to celebrate the effort.
First released in 2014 and renewed in 2021, the app was completely rebuilt as version 2.0 in September 2026. It has been downloaded 25,000 times (as of September 2026, Japanese App Store). The app is distributed as BUG CAMERA on the Japanese App Store and as GERM CAMERA in the rest of the world.
*The germs shown on screen are fictional characters created for this app. Characters and sparkles are visual effects. The app does not detect or diagnose real germs, plaque, cavities or missed areas, and does not assess how well teeth have been brushed.
Free. All features are available. *Contains optional in-app purchases (tips to support development).
How it flows
What's New in Version 2.0
Released September 2026
Automatic mouth, hand and face detection
Using iOS image recognition, the app automatically detects the mouth, hands or face in the camera view. The detected area is outlined before you take the photo, and the germ characters are placed within that area afterwards. Because the germs appear only where they were detected, children get a stronger sense that "they're in my mouth."
- Mouth: germs appear inside the mouth
- Hand: detects palms and fingertips, both hands supported
- Face: germs appear across the face
- Whole picture: germs appear anywhere in the photo
17 languages, available in 175 countries and regions
Language support has grown from two languages (English and Japanese) to 17, and distribution has expanded from Japan only to 175 countries and regions. The language follows your device settings automatically and can also be chosen manually in the app.
English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), French, German, Italian, Hindi, Indonesian, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai
Two new characters
Round, bouncy Poyococcus and fluffy, marching Mocobacter join the cast, bringing the total to six germ characters. All of them are fictional and not modeled on real bacteria.
- Ballococcus
- Dirtonas
- Amebacter
- Devilobacter
- Poyococcus (new)
- Mocobacter (new)
- Clean (sparkles shown after a good brushing)
Wording for children and for adults
Choose who operates the app. The child setting uses simple wording that younger readers can choose from on their own. The adult setting uses everyday wording and is intended for parents and teachers who set up and operate the app themselves.
In the adult setting you can adjust the type, number, size and movement of the germs to suit the child. Parents can use it at home, and teachers in nurseries and kindergartens. Since some accounts purchased the app for several devices at once, version 2.0 was designed with group settings such as childcare centers in mind.
Other improvements
- Reworked flash (off / auto / on) and front / rear camera switching
- Choose from multiple app icon designs
- Save photos or take them again
- New interface designed for iOS 15 and later
How families use it
1. Before brushing
Show the germs
Take a photo in mouth mode and germ characters appear inside the mouth. Looking at the picture together is a friendly invitation to say "let's brush them away."
2. After brushing
A sparkly photo to celebrate
Once brushing is done, an adult selects the sparkles and takes a "well done" picture. Photos can be saved and looked at together later.
3. Hand washing too
Hands and faces as well
Hand mode supports both hands, and face and whole-picture modes are also available, so the app works for hand washing and face washing as well. You choose the effects yourself to suit your family's conversation.
What users say
App Store reviews include comments such as "my child, who used to hate washing hands, looked at the screen, understood, and washed them" and "thanks to the app, my child brushes their teeth now." Two things come up most often: children who used to resist started doing it on their own, and showing something on screen gets the message across better than words. Version 2.0 reworked the flash and rebuilt the whole interface based on this feedback.
Price and tips
The app is free and all features are available. The adult settings include optional in-app purchases (individual and organizational tips) to support development. Tips are entirely optional; the app works the same whether or not you purchase one.
Update History
| April 2014 | Initial release (Japan) |
| November 2021 | Renewed version |
| September 2026 | Version 2.0. Automatic mouth, hand and face detection, 17 languages, worldwide distribution, new characters, child / adult wording, optional tips |
Requirements
- iPhone with iOS 15 or later
Languages
- 17 languages (English, Japanese and more)
App name
- GERM CAMERA (outside Japan)
- BUG CAMERA (Japan)
For questions about the app, please use our contact form. See also the privacy policy for our apps.