Brushing your teeth often and regularly is the best way to prevent dental disease. Even so, sometimes, it’s not enough because microscopic plaque gets left behind after brushing. Hence why almost every person in the world gets cavities in their teeth at some point during their lifetime, and around 70% experience gingivitis.
Researcher Tommi Pätilä, who is a cardiac surgeon at New Children’s Hospital, said:
“Dental diseases are caused by the combined effect of the bacterial community, and streptococcus mutans plays a key role in dental caries. For plaque, mutans is a bit like the first violin that starts a concert. It adheres to the tooth first and opens the door for other bacteria.”
And the problems don’t end in the mouth either. Undetected chronic oral infections can contribute to the onset of several other serious diseases elsewhere in the body, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and it can even increase the chances of premature delivery among expectant mothers.
Sakari Nikinmaa, an Aalto University researcher, said:
“Although dental care is generally better than earlier, the cost of oral diseases is around 442 billion dollars globally.”
Pätilä and Nikinmaa teamed up and envisioned a way for people to efficiently eliminate harmful bacteria in the mouth while leaving the beneficial bacteria unharmed. What’s more, it also doesn’t cause bacterial resistance. The new method is based on dual-light photodynamic therapy – which is the process of shining two different kinds of light simultaneously onto the teeth to kill bacteria.
The pair of Finnish researchers founded Koite Health in September 2018 and eventually launched a device called the Lumoral system that people can use at home. Now that device is almost ready to be commercially released. The treatment has been scientifically proven to kill the streptococcus mutans bacteria and the bacteria that cause gingivitis. Testing showed it effectively reduces the markers indicating early gingivitis and plaque formation.
How It Works
- Treatment requires the user to first swish the system’s Lumorinse mouthwash around in their mouth for 30 seconds. The mouthwash contains a light-absorbing compound that remains bonded to the plaque-producing streptococcus mutans bacteria after the rinse has been spat out.
- Then, the user inserts a light-emitting mouthpiece between their teeth. This device is the activator that administers the dual-light therapy to the entire dental area.
- The device has to be worn for 10 minutes. During that time, the substance from the mouthwash stuck to the plaque absorbs red light, which causes a chain reaction that kills the bacteria. At the same time, there’s a blue light that shines to boost the antibacterial effect.
- After the ten minutes have passed, the user brushes their teeth to remove the plaque.
Pätilä explained:
The photosensitive substance in the effervescent tablet adheres to the surface structures of the bacteria. Red light activates the substance and initiates a chain-reaction that kills the bacteria. Antibacterial blue light administered at the same time significantly enhances the effect.
Oral Hygiene For All
The Lumoral system will be available for consumers in early 2020. The researchers envision it being particularly beneficial to people with aggressive strains of dental bacteria, chronic diseases, or problems handling dental hygiene due to, for example, arthritis or cancer.
Nikinmaa said:
“We especially hope that the product we’ve developed will help maintain the oral health of cancer patients who are undergoing intensive treatments and prevent gingivitis in diabetics. Diabetes causes a tenfold increase in the risk of gingivitis. The product is also suitable for daily tooth cleaning and maintenance of oral health.”
Everyone can benefit from using the Lumoral device as part of their regular oral hygiene routine to prevent dental diseases. Check out the dentist in Huntington park if you want to maintain good oral health and hygiene.
