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While red light therapy is known for its ability to improve skin health, muscle recovery, and energy levels, emerging studies suggest that red light therapy can extend to oral health as well – particularly in treating tooth sensitivity and managing dental pain.
This is a significant finding as in the US, one in eight Americans suffers from dentinal hypersensitivity, and here in the UK, about 3.8% suffer from this exact condition.
In this article, join the Rojo Light Therapy team to explore some of these peer-reviewed studies and see the potential red light therapy benefits for oral health.
Tooth sensitivity, or dentin hypersensitivity in medical terms, is a sharp pain or discomfort in either one or more teeth when exposed to hot/cold temperatures. This is mainly due to eating certain foods and beverages, or over-brushing as an influence on gum recession, which can directly affect one's quality of life.
However, ongoing research suggests that red light therapy may have a positive effect on dentin hypersensitivity. This is possible as the dentin, the part of our tooth beneath the enamel, can regenerate, unlike the enamel itself.
Researchers theorise that red light therapy may possibly speed up its regeneration through specific infrared wavelengths, as it can improve our cellular processes by enhancing mitochondrial function.
Red light therapy, or low-level laser light therapy (LLLT), stimulates the mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Improving ATP production can mean more energy to power cellular processes, which include tissue regeneration and repair.
According to a 1994 comparative double-blind study published in the Australian Dental Journal, red light therapy can be an effective method to treat tooth sensitivity without any adverse reactions.
In this study, subjects with this condition were treated for one minute in both the apex and cervical areas of the tooth. These were re-applied and rated at one-week, two-week, and eight-week intervals.
By the eighth week, researchers discovered that the sensitivity from the tactile group decreased by 65% in the laser group, compared to a 21% decrease in the placebo group.
In the thermal group, sensitivity decreased by 67% in the laser group, compared to a 17% decrease in the placebo group.
Using red light therapy for pain-related problems is also well explored, and dentists have even begun to employ LLLTs in clinics to manage their patient’s pain.Â
According to a 2014 review of the developments in low-level light therapy for dentistry, about 130 out of 153 studies saw signs of positive effects in terms of pain relief.
In another study published earlier in 2012, researchers investigated the effect of LLLT on reducing orthodontic pain and found positive results.
The study found that LLLT can significantly reduce and help manage pain from tightening braces, especially noticeable after 24 hours.
Whether it’s to improve tooth sensitivity or help reduce pain, red light therapy is an already-established way to treat these conditions, and there’s a mountain of evidence that backs up this claim.
However, we highly recommend pairing this alternative treatment option with the following oral health best practices:
If you’re convinced that these red light therapy benefits may help you out, we invite you to browse our shop and explore our range of Rojo products.Â
Our red light therapy devices have an ultra-low electromagnetic field (EMF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation technology, which helps keep our electric and biochemical responses from getting more oxidative stress. Reach out to us today to get started.
