Researchers develop mouthpiece-type LED oral cleaning device capable of alleviating gum inflammation

[Courtesy of the Korea Photonics Technology Institute]

SEOUL -- Researchers developed a mouthguard-like light-emitting diode-based oral care device to provide personalized care services depending on the oral structure. The smart care device is capable of controlling the amount of light required to remove harmful bacteria in the mouth and reduce the inflammation of gums caused by bacterial infection.

It is difficult to completely remove germs just by using a toothbrush. Excessive toothbrushing can also generate side effects such as gum injuries and periodontitis, a severe gum infection that damages the bone supporting the teeth and eventually leads to tooth loss. It usually costs more than $1,700 to treat periodontitis.

The Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI) said the pre-clinic-tested LED-based oral cleaning device provides customized care services using software that contains personal oral treatment data. Dental costs can be significantly reduced by preventing early periodontal diseases.

"We will expand the technology that we secured by developing the LED oral care device for home usage to carry out follow-up studies to alleviate chronic inflammation or pain in other body parts," KOPRI's senior researcher Shin In-hee said in a statement on November 2. KOPTI will transfer the technology to related industries and commercialize it after obtaining approval as a medical device.

Kim Joo-heon jhkim123@ajunews.com

Researchers develop mouthpiece-type LED oral cleaning device capable of alleviating gum inflammation

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