A breakthrough in the field of mouth sensors, scientists and engineers at Tufts University School of Engineering have created a wearable mouth sensor that’s small and unobtrusive. Previous devices had bulky wiring or required wearing a mouth guard, so this device is a game changer.
The tooth-mounted device contains bioresponsive materials that can sense chemicals like salt, alcohol, and glucose intake. As the sensor detects these chemicals, they are then transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device.
There are many applications for such a device. For example, a person may be able to monitor the pH levels of their mouths and notice if their mouth is to acidic, a risk for dental carries (cavities). People may also be able to use it to monitor nutrients in their food and be able to see if they are eating too much salt.
As innovations like these keep cropping up, dentists and dental patients will find themselves having an easier time monitoring oral health and caring for it.