scientists are using light therapy to prevent gum disease

researchers at the metropolia university of applied sciences in finland have the results from the first three months of a three-year study investigating the effectiveness of a new dental care device for at-home care that will level-up your defence against the buildup of dangerous plaque.

the three-month report from metropolia university, available at preprints and soon to be published in dentistry journal, shows that eliminating the bacteria contained by dental plaque should be as vital a part of dental hygiene as brushing your teeth and flossing.

what is gingivitis?

gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease that causes redness, swelling and overall irritation of your gingiva, which is the part of your gum around the base of your teeth, according to the mayo clinic . when there is an accumulation of plaque, the bacteria can cause an infection.

the study, soon to be published in dentistry journal , shows that eliminating the bacteria contained by dental plaque should be as vital a part of dental hygiene as brushing your teeth and flossing, and light therapy is an effective way to do this.

for the study, 200 patients are randomized to receive either non-surgical periodontal treatment (nspt) — basically, regular dental cleaning — or, nspt along with the use of an antibacterial light therapy device called lumoral, which targets and eliminates microscopic plaque.

the method is based on an antibacterial process that is part of the immune function of plants, according to the company’s website , when light-sensitive molecules are exposed to certain wavelengths of light, they produce a form of oxygen that targets and eliminates harmful bacterial cells. more than half of the study participants achieved healthy gums after only three months of antibacterial treatment.