Jennifer Matthews: A funny thing happened on the way to whiter teeth in dentist Max Goodson's office. He wanted to know if the intense halogen light he used to whiten teeth irritated the gums of his patients. What he found instead surprised him.
Dr. Max Goodson: I found in analyzing the data at the end of the experiment that, in fact, the gums were apparently getting healthier.
Jennifer Matthews: Goodson took his findings to photomedicine expert Nikos Soukos. They discovered the blue light could selectively kill the bacteria that causes periodontal disease. Eliminating that bad bacteria led to a healthier balance in the mouth.
Dr. Nikos Soukos: We strongly believe that this research establishes new principles for prevention, control, and treatment of periodontal disease.
Jennifer Matthews: The research is still ongoing in clinical studies. In the meantime, the dentists are developing a handheld version of the blue light that conusmers could eventually use to fight gum disease daily.
Dr. Max Goodson: There have not been a lot of novel developments in the area of oral hygiene since the toothbrush, but in this case, we're talking about something that can do things that the toothbrush may not be able to.
Jennifer Matthews: Researchers say, since gum disease has been linked to heart attacks and strokes, this little light could even be a lifesaver.
This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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