Sensors & Diagnostics: At-home test protects oral health

The journal Sensors & Diagnostics highlighted a University of Cincinnati research project in its quarterly newsletter.

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Andrew Steckl and his research partners developed a new device that can warn consumers about early risks of tooth decay from diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Steckl and UC Senior Research Associate Daewoo Han collaborated with Sancai Xie, a principal scientist at Procter & Gamble Co.

“There are good reasons to use saliva,” he said. “It’s relatively plentiful and easy to obtain through noninvasive methods. And saliva has a lot of important elements that can act as indicators of your health.”

Bacteria from gingivitis can travel through the bloodstream, leading to cardiovascular disease and other serious health problems, Steckl said.

At-home health testing has been available for generations for uses such as detecting pregnancy. But the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a wide audience of consumers to the concept of monitoring their health with new technology.

The at-home testing industry is expected to generate $45 billion annually by 2031, according to Allied Market Research.

Featured image at top: UC Senior Research Associate Daewoo Han holds up UC's gingivitis test. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand