Researchers from Seattle-based University of Washington have created a dental tool that can measure cavity-causing acidity built up by the bacteria in plaque.
The study researching the tool was published in February in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, the university reported March 8.
The tool is a prototype optical device called O-pH. It works by emitting LED light and measuring the reactions of the light using a chemical dye that is applied to the teeth. The device then comes up with a numerical reading of the plaque's pH.
"Plaque has a lot of bacteria that produce acid when they interact with the sugar in our food," Manuja Sharma, lead author and a doctoral student in the University of Washington department of electrical and computer engineering, said. "This acid is what causes the corrosion of the tooth surface and eventually cavities. So, if we can capture information about the acidic activity, we can get an idea of how bacteria are growing in the dental biofilm, or plaque."