We are facing a new evolution of something as usual for everyone as the toothbrush. Because believe it or not, this essential element for our oral hygiene is one of those that has evolved the least over the years. From the brush with attached bristles, to the electric brush and now to the programmable toothbrush with nanoparticles.
Yes, something so basic to use can also become a small smart device capable of being manufactured with the latest technology, capable of surprising us in absolutely every aspect of our day to day life. These new brushes have been made by the University of Pennsylvania, in the USA, and although we still cannot buy them in our trusted hypermarket, Who knows if it will be marking the future of such an everyday product?
This is the programmable toothbrush
In the research process prior to programming this 3.0 toothbrush, researchers were able to see how nanoparticles can help successfully clean teeth by replacing manual labor with nanoscale robotic motion. That is, these particles can have antimicrobial effects that destroy the bacteria that cause plaque.
It all came about a bit by chance. When Professor Hyun Koo’s students at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine, They took advantage of the catalytic activity of the nanoparticles to release the free radicals that kill the microbes on the teeth. For his part, researcher Edward Steagar of Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences was working on a project on the assembly of nanoparticles in robots. The union of these two projects led to the creation of this peculiar toothbrush more typical of science fiction.
For its manufacture, magnetic fields capable of manipulating iron oxide nanoparticles were used, first testing it on a material similar to a tooth. Next, the team moved 3D-printed copies of teeth. And finally, they tested the nanoparticle brushes on real teeth realistically mounted to simulate a human mouth.
As a result, these nanoparticles were able to form brush-like shapes and be able to remove biofilms that lead to dental caries. While the nanoparticles promoted the production of free radicals capable of further eliminating bacteria.
Laboratory tests show that nanoparticles can be programmed to do almost anything. They can simulate longer or shorter bristles, as well as varying degrees of stiffness. So it is possible to customize the system for each person’s individual oral health needs. An ideal choice for those who simply neglect oral hygiene, as well as those who lack the strength or manual dexterity to manage their own brushing.
Currently, the team is still studying ways to optimize the movement of the nanoparticles and, of course, to test it 100% in real mouths.
