A Swedish dentist has created an innovative and intelligence-based electric toothbrush, with the aim of improving the oral health and quality of life for older people. The toothbrush has many built in features and provides useful insights. Improving the oral health and quality of life for the elderly continues to be a high priority for health professionals.
A dentist from Sweden has created an innovative and intelligence-based electric toothbrush which has the potential to make a big difference in the oral health and quality of life of older people [1].
As humans age, their quality of life tends to deteriorate. This coincides with declining health, including oral, mental and physical health.
Therefore, finding ways of improving quality of life is always an aim for scientists. Now, this new toothbrush may be able to contribute towards this objective.
About Johan Flyborg
The research comes in the form of a dissertation published by Johan Flyborg – who has worked as a dentist for over 30 years [1].
Flyborg noted that the oral health of many of his older patients deteriorates drastically – and at an alarming pace. Therefore, he wanted to do something about this.
Flyborg has said “the deterioration in the mouth surprised both me and the patients” [2]. Moreover, he says that while “research shows that early and mild cognitive decline” is linked to a “deterioration in oral health and quality of life”, he was unable to find what the solution to this could be [2].
Continuing, Flyborg says that the lack of solution was why he “decided to take a closer look at this particular issue” [2].
Flyborg’s assertions are correct, with research consistently showing that as we get older, both oral health and quality of life decline, with research linking the two together directly [3].
The Research
Flyborg’s creation of the new toothbrush has been the culmination of five years of research in applied health technology. He completed this at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden [1].
Flyborg has pointed out that the starting point for his research was the knowledge and acknowledgment of how oral health plays a crucial role in the process of aging healthily [1].
Flyborg was able to create an intelligence-based electric toothbrush that can communicate with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth [1]. Furthermore, the toothbrush is capable of storing, transmitting and then receiving data from sensors integrated into the toothbrush [1].
Flyborg explained that we can see in real-time where the brush is in the mouth, which teeth have been cleaned, how long each tooth has been cleaned for, and how hard the toothbrush has been pressed [1].
The toothbrush works so that when it is switched off, the feedback becomes available immediately. This provides excellent insights into how the person is brushing.
It can highlight strengths, weaknesses, and areas to improve upon. For someone with limited knowledge of oral health and brushing techniques, this data can be very useful.
Flyborg says that it can be “an eye-opener” for many people, but some groups will specifically benefit. For example, he says that “stroke patients who can’t feel where the brush is in their mouth and which tooth surfaces it hits” will be among those to benefit the most [2].
Additionally, the toothbrush has sensors that can measure body temperature and detect early signs of infection [1]. Therefore, it has the potential to help elderly people in many ways.
The idea is that these various insights and tools can combat the cognitive decline that is experienced by many elderly people. Therefore, their oral health should remain strong, which can boost their overall health.
The next steps
Flyborg is very pleased with the creation. These insights could have a very positive impact on the elderly, and keep their oral health strong. Therefore, this can boost their overall health too.
Flyborg is aiming to integrate further functions into the toothbrush in the future. He also wishes to make relatives and caregivers aware of the toothbrush, as this could help enhance its chances of success [1].
The aim is for the toothbrush to become a natural part of care, and help the elderly. As Flyborg concludes – “such a simple solution can have a huge impact” [2].
With quality of life and oral health commonly deteriorating as people age, finding ways of improving these areas is important. This toothbrush is an example of a way that this could be achieved.
Thinking points…
[1] This article is mainly about the elderly. However, it is important for everyone to look after their oral health. As discussed earlier, having strong oral health can boost your overall health. Therefore, we recommend that you attend regular dental appointments, as check-ups help to ensure that your oral health remains strong and allows for any problems to be addressed. Why not book now?!
[2] Do you have an elderly parent or friend? If so, you could take this article as a reminder of how important it is for them to look after their oral health. Oral health is linked to physical health, so it is vital that the elderly focus on their oral health. You could show this article to them and remind them of the importance of oral health!
What we offer at Taradale Dental
Taradale Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At our Calgary dental clinic, we provide a range of services for our patients.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary dental clinic at least twice per year for a regular dental check-up. At these check-ups, we provide a comprehensive review of a patient’s oral health. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For example, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To strengthen your oral health, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly.
Here at Taradale Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, teeth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
Moreover, the fees of our treatments at our Calgary dental clinic Taradale Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures transparent and fair pricing, with no hidden costs.
We hope to see you soon at our Taradale Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://taradaledental.ca/!
References
[1] Flyborg, J. (2024). Improving Oral Health Assisted by Smart Powered Toothbrushes and Exploring Their Role in Innovative Health Technology. Available: https://bth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1892133/FULLTEXT01.pdf. Last accessed: 11th December 2024.
[2] Blekinge Institute of Technology. (2024). Innovative toothbrush can improve the quality of life for older people. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-toothbrush-quality-life-older-people.html. Last accessed: 11th December 2024.
[3] Block, C., Konig, H-H., & Hajek, A. (2022). Oral health and quality of life: findings from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. BMC Oral Health. 22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-022-02599-z.
Leave A Comment