Smart teeth read saliva to detect more than a thousand diseases

Silicon Labs, a global technology company that designs and manufactures semiconductors, silicon devices and software, has developed the xG27, a chip small and energy-efficient enough to be placed in a tooth to create a saliva reader to detect oral diseases.

The company announced this technological revolution through its website and has received very good comments so far.

This low-power ARM processor has a small size that can be placed inside the tooth or the prosthesis itself.

The xG27 chip comes in two different models: the BG27, which focuses on Bluetooth; and MG27, compatible with the Zigbee protocol. Although these chips are not the smallest on the market, their size between 2 and 5 millimeters makes them ideal for use in oral health devices.

Lura Health, a medical device specialist, was among the first to adopt this technology in its products, allowing users to monitor their saliva’s diagnostic information in real time, via a mobile app.

According to Lura Health, saliva is “like new blood in health diagnostics,” but analyzing it is a complex process. Therefore, the company proposes to integrate saliva sensors into devices such as dentures, orthodontic appliances, dental caps and braces.

The creators of this new technological advancement ensure that these sensors can detect more than 1000 diseases, which is a very useful innovation in the medical sector.

Other companies have tried to incorporate these types of sensors, but many have not received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. However, Lura Health appears to have completed the patient testing phase, thanks to a collaboration with the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and is preparing to undergo the FDA’s regulatory process. If approved, in a year or two the first people using these sensors in their mouths could be seen on the streets.

Although it will take some time, according to its creators, the benefits of connected devices with saliva sensors could change the way oral health is diagnosed and treated.

On the other hand, in terms of other use cases, Silicon Labs says its chips are good candidates for medical patches, continuous glucose monitors and portable EKGs. A smart toothbrush isn’t the first time technology has focused on oral health.

A few years ago, a Swedish company caused a sensation by introducing a smart toothbrush called Issalexa. This device talks to its owner and gives advice by analyzing saliva, which will allow him to know what kind of emotional or personal support he needs.

The company then explained that they conducted tests with more than a hundred people over a period of five months, in which they discovered that since the mouth is the window to the body, important information can be determined by analyzing saliva. There are other brands of electric toothbrushes that have high ranges and have some related models. This option involves a Bluetooth connection to communicate with your phone or tablet, injecting certain information into your application.

Connected toothbrushes provide basic information about the time spent brushing, with a history that serves to identify brushing habits. This time is also useful at brushing time, with audible or visual alerts to let you know when the dentist-recommended brushing time is up.

In addition, they have sensors, and this information will be more complete and accurate, providing not only the time, but also how we brush our teeth, which areas we clean more (and which less), and even which we leave uncleaned. In this way, we can polish our technique and avoid possible problems.