Cool New Device Uses Blue Light to Kill Oral Bacteria

Could you help fight oral bacteria while watching television at night?

While some already do, flossing while catching up with their favorite shows, many more might be willing to do so if the company, PhotOral has anything to say about it.

Their new product, which is still in the testing phase, has many people excited about the future of oral health.

The device, looking much like something out of an episode of Star Trek glows with a blue light. The wavelength of that light has been shown to restore homeostasis (internal stability; equilibrium) in the mouth, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial infection and decay.

The light specifically targets harmful bacteria in the plaque buildup on teeth, eliminating it before it can cause complications in the mouth.

The company hopes that, one day, this device will be as commonplace in American homes as the toothbrush and floss dispenser. For now, the goal is to develop a rechargeable form of the device that will make home use practical and affordable.

There are two design options on the table.

The first is shaped much like a lollipop, where the latter is more like a mouth guard. Simply applying pressure to the device, within the mouth, would turn the specialized light on and start an oral hygiene treatment unlike any other.

First patented in September 2011, there is hope that the device will be available to the general public within a year and a half, selling for approximately ninety dollars. It will be portable enough to be taken along on car rides, flights, or to any destination a person could imagine.

To learn more about how this device works and the science behind the blue light, keep reading the full article.