In my line of work, poor oral cavity
conditions negatively affect the patient’s general
health and create obstacles for
rehabilitation potential. Back in 2015 I came across a
discussion from an SLP blog regarding
oral care for medically-fragile populations. The
discussion was frank and filled with
more questions than answers. It left me with many
unresolved inquiries about why universal
oral-hygiene assessment and treatment
methods for medically-fragile
populations and the healthcare professional entrusted in
their care was
primarily unsuccessful.
Another question I had was why my
profession (Speech Language Pathologist) was mostly an ancillary participant in
this area, as our ASHA bylaws also list SLP's as agents of preventative services. Last, I was stunned to learn that global health for
medically-fragile populations was due to a multitude of factors. I was
motivated to learn more, specifically with health care policy. I began a
personal quest to become educated on oral cavity tissue and structures, academic
literature accounts on the interplay between poor oral cavity conditions and global
health, and present methods of assessment and treatment.
I worked with professionals certified in the use of photobiomodulation to learn how a device could be made. I consulted with a mobile dental clinic in Phoenix to learn more about billing methods and other tactics being used to improve oral health conditions for elder adults that were home bound. The outcome of this lead to my development of the Bacteria Elimination using Light Therapy (“B.E.L.T.”) proof of concept.
The BELT consists of clinical assessment tool called The BELT 4 and a photobiomodulation, non-bristle treatment device using blue/red LEDs (light-emitting diodes) called The LightBrush®. The B.E.L.T. 4 is not intended to “diagnose aspiration pneumonia”. Instead it is designed to objectively characterize four categories (Level of Care, Cognitive/Health Status, pH of the oral cavity, and Oral/Dental status) with 24
signs and symptoms associated with
aspiration pneumonia. The 24 chosen indicators are not all inclusive, nor specific to
discrete components (e.g., types of oral bacteria) however incorporate signs
and symptoms cited in the literature as “risk factors” that contribute to aspiration
pneumonia. This information can then be used to
establish areas of healthcare provider
programming to improve or reduce items of concern.
The LightBrush® https://lightbrushdental.com/
I recently reached out to Dr. Gary Sharpe regarding my
device. Here is his response on using LLLT for oral cavity health:
ORAL LIGHT THERAPY!!!
Judee
Macias-Harris sent me this invention she is developing
yesterday: https://lightbrushdental.com/,
which I got very excited by, due to my own researches into light therapy,
especially low level (red/near infrared) and blue light therapies. The near
miraculous benefits of such therapies, especially in regard to the skin, collagen,
connective tissue, hair and epithelial layers, is now well established both in
the scientific literature and clinically.
Judee proposes to deliver the light therapy orally through LEDs built into a toothbrush! A very smart and cool idea! Especially when studies indicate that short bursts of light (a few minutes at a time, a couple of times a day) can provide best results, but also consistent, routine use too - so delivery while we brush our teeth, already part of a daily routine, seems ideal!
Judee proposes to deliver the light therapy orally through LEDs built into a toothbrush! A very smart and cool idea! Especially when studies indicate that short bursts of light (a few minutes at a time, a couple of times a day) can provide best results, but also consistent, routine use too - so delivery while we brush our teeth, already part of a daily routine, seems ideal!
A major gain here is oral health. We know that both red and blue
light have pronounced anti-bacterial benefits. So gum and dental health seems a
very natural application - a bit o a "Doh!" moment in fact, since we
spend so much on flouride chemicals (which do have serious negative health
impacts) and dental gadgets to keep the bad mouth bacteria at bay, surely
keeping the bacteria down with light is much more effective and safer?
Indeed, moreover, both red and blue light have significant
effects on fungal infections, especially candida. If you've got white or yellow
patches on your tongue, this could signify oral thrush, in which case, the
candida has got dangerous close to the brain, where it can cause all sorts of
neurological mischief... www.outthinkingparkinsons.com/articles/candida. A lightbrush
like this a great way to keep candida at bay too.
I have also been thinking a lot lately about Prof Gerald
Pollock's work on the liquid crystalline nature of water and its profound
implications for health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2933784/.
In particular that one of the reasons that light therapy works so well is that
indeed light is the major factor for energizing water and thus the cells of the
body. So delivering the light via the moist oral cavity and tongue may be a
superhighway for this too!
The fact that the light is so close to the tongue during its
application may also actually have even more profound implications. Anyone who
has read the book "The Brain's Way of Healing", will have heard of
the PoNS device which also electromagnetically stimulates of the tongue
(translingual neurostimulation – TLNS) http://heliusmedical.com/…/neurohabilitation/the-pons-device,
and the amazing documented symptom reductions that people with all sorts of
chronic conditions have gained from this (the PoNS now seeking FDA approval as
a product for market, apparently). It makes sense that a lightbrush could
therefore have similar neuroprotective benefits if used daily long term.
Currently, I am moving forward with FDA approval and further research into my product! Looking forward to reading your comments!! Best, Judee
Disclaimer of Liability and Warranty
Information presented in this blog is designed to promote ideas and stimulate discussion. The goal of this blog is to provide a safe and friendly place to share stories or experiences, build an understanding of various teaching and treatment styles, and to network with each other.
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