Researchers from the University of Washington have created a tool that identifies acidity on our teeth, which could therefore prevent cavities from developing.

The team have created the O-pH system, which is a prototype device that uses both LED light and chemical dye to gage the amount of acidity built up by plaque that leads to the forming of cavities.

The dye is applied to the patient’s teeth and the LED light is shone onto the plaque. A pH reading is eventually calculated from this to show the levels of acidity, with a higher level of acidity meaning that a cavity could well develop down the line.

“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,” said Manuja Sharma, a lead author and a doctoral student in the UW Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Improvements to the device will be made in due course, which include being able to consistently measure the exact location of high acidity on a tooth. Images that show the exact whereabouts of the potential cavity will be provided to a dentist to alleviate this issue.

“We do need more results to show how effective it is for diagnosis, but it can definitely help us understand some of your oral health quantitatively. It can also help educate patients about the effects of sugar on the chemistry of plaque,” says Sharma.

“We can show them, live, what happens, and that is an experience they’ll remember and say, OK, fine, I need to cut down on sugar!”