Chinese scientists make a toothbrush that uses mild electric shocks to reduce plaque
No matter how thoroughly you brush your teeth in the morning and evening, the battle against bacteria is almost certain to be lost. Within a few hours of brushing, it will return in force and rebuild a solid defence line on the surface of your teeth. From ancient times to now, humanity has essentially had only one way of dealing with it, whether it was using twigs and sticks or the first bristled…
Chinese scientists have developed a toothbrush that utilizes mild electric shocks to combat dental plaque, according to a groundbreaking study published in the journal Science Advances. Conventional toothbrushes, regardless of their complexity, have relied on physical friction to remove dental plaque for centuries. However, this new innovation introduces a unique mechanism by harnessing the power of electric currents generated by the toothbrush bristles themselves.
The research team, led by Zhang Xuehui from Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, ingeniously designed the bristles using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to produce a tiny electric current. This catalyzes the production of reactive oxygen species, which effectively disrupt the spread of bacteria in the mouth, offering a sustained antibacterial effect beyond the typical brushing session.
Clinical trials involving 115 volunteers with various oral health issues, such as periodontitis and dental caries, revealed that those using the new electric toothbrushes experienced significantly greater reductions in dental plaque, gum inflammation, and bleeding compared to those using traditional nylon toothbrushes. The study highlighted the potential of self-charged materials in revolutionizing oral healthcare.
The self-charging bristles demonstrated a remarkable cleaning efficacy of over 99 percent in laboratory and animal experiments, maintaining good biocompatibility. After three months of using either the new or regular toothbrushes, all volunteers reported significant decreases in dental plaque levels, gingival inflammation, and bleeding, suggesting that the removal of more dental plaque contributed to reducing inflammation and bleeding.
Notably, the new toothbrushes proved to be safe for use, with no volunteers reporting pain, numbness, or electric shocks. Zhang Xuehui emphasized the need for further comparisons with existing technology to fully establish the advantages of this innovative approach.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
