BRUSH UP
Red light therapy has officially entered the oral health space.
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Red light therapy masks, panels, and even hair growth caps have become a mainstay of wellness culture, used by athletes to speed muscle recovery and by the rest of us to stimulate collagen production and reduce inflammation. Now, the makers of these devices are targeting oral health, with sonic toothbrushes designed to reduce gum bleeding, lower inflammation, prevent cavities, and more. Can stacking our two-minute brush sessions with red light make for healthier teeth and gums?
According to Dr. Brian Kantor, a cosmetic dentist at New York City’s Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantor, the benefits of oral red light can extend well beyond the mouth. “Red light can decrease sensitivity in the teeth and can also help reduce inflammation of the gum tissue,” he says. “The decrease in sensitivity is extremely important because there is a proven link between having an inflammatory response in the mouth and having an inflammatory response in the rest of the body, such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disorders.”
Research links red light therapy (also known as photobiomodulation, or PBM) to reduced inflammation, improved oral wound healing, and minimizing bleeding in gums. “The underlying science of photobiomodulation reducing inflammatory markers, supporting circulation via nitric oxide release, and accelerating oral wound healing is real and reasonably well-established in the dental literature,” says Scott Froum, DDS, a board-certified periodontist, implant specialist, and naturopath doctor based in New York City.
But as the periodontist points out, these studies used handheld light therapy wands or intraoral LED devices that deliver a defined dose of stationary light in a clinical setting, not oscillating toothbrushes that emit red light during brushing. In other words, LED toothbrushes may deliver lower LED doses than listed on the box because motion can scatter light, and foam and saliva in the mouth can interfere.
Where the research most supports the benefits of a light therapy toothbrush is in the device’s ability to reduce bleeding in gums: A randomized controlled trial found that those who brushed with an electric toothbrush combined with 3-color LEDs didn’t see a difference in plaque or bleeding at three weeks of usage (when compared to a control group), but showed statistically significant improvement over the control group, specifically in bleeding, after six weeks of brushing.
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Though more research is needed to make red light for oral care a must-have, those who see red when flossing or wellness early adopters may benefit from investing in an LED toothbrush. The Bon Charge Red Light Toothbrush packs six LEDs at red light (660nm) and near-infrared (830nm) wavelengths into one brush, which size up to those used in studies cited above.
Energy density, or delivered light dose, is crucial to understanding whether brushers receive the kind of light exposure indicated in supporting research. “In my own writing on this topic, I’ve put the typical therapeutic dose for periodontal inflammation at approximately 5 J/cm² per site, drawn from a body of more than 100 published studies, roughly 75% of which show a positive effect,” Dr. Froum says. The Bon Charge toothbrush emits 1.2 J/cm² radiant exposure, which, as the brand acknowledges, may vary depending on brushing movement, positioning, distance, and contact time.
Consistent LED toothbrush use at lower irradiance may yield results similar to those shown in research conducted at higher irradiance levels: I used the Bon Charge toothbrush twice a day for six weeks. Even though the toothbrush was powered at half the irradiance of the brush used in the gum bleeding study, I noticed less gum bleeding while flossing after about five weeks of Bon Charge toothbrush use.
Bon Charge
$200
Bon Charge Red Light Therapy Toothbrush
Like other oscillating toothbrushes on the market, Bon Charge Red Light Toothbrush is also equipped with a 2-minute smart timer that pauses every 30 seconds to guide brushers through each quadrant of the mouth and automatically shuts off when it’s complete.
Unlike other oscillating brushes, however, it offers four cleaning modes (each with near-infrared and red light): gentle (315Hz), sensitive (310Hz), polishing (290Hz), and powerful (320Hz). An ongoing cost to consider when switching to any electric toothbrush: the ongoing cost of replacement heads, recommended every three months, which the brand sells for $30 a pair.
Aside from the cool crimson glow filtered through my skin while brushing, using the toothbrush felt like just about any other. Though my mouth didn’t feel as clean as it does with my trusty Sonicare toothbrush, it’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make if it means healthier gums in the long run. What’s more, and an all-time first, I’m actually excited for my next dental visit, where I hope to finally dodge the usual inquisition (“Have you been flossing enough? Brushing enough?”) and instead earn marks for improved gum health.
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