Method and system for improved motion robustness during measurement of localized oral inflammation

Abstract

A method for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device, comprising: emitting (520) light by one or more light emitters (42) of the oral care device; obtaining (530), at a first rate by one or more light detectors (40), reflectance measurements for a plurality of locations to generate first reflectance data; determining (540), by a controller (30) of the oral care device using thefirst reflectance data, whether the location comprises gingiva; obtaining (550), at a second rate by the one or more light detectors, reflectance measurements for each location determined to comprisegingiva to generate gingiva reflectance data, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate; and determining (560), by the controller using the gingiva reflectance data, whether gingiva at that location is inflamed.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for improving detection of localized gingivitis using oral care devices. Background technique [0002] Proper brushing, including how long and how often you brush, can help promote long-term dental health. People who don't brush their teeth regularly or don't brush enough can experience many dental problems, especially in specific areas or parts of the mouth. In people who brush their teeth on a regular basis, incorrect brushing habits can lead to low brushing coverage, resulting in insufficiently cleaned surfaces during cleaning, even when following standard brushing practices, such as brushing for 2 minutes twice daily . [0003] In fact, an estimated 50 percent of adults in the United States suffer from periodontal disease, which can range in severity from gingivitis to periodontitis. However, consumers often fail to detect the early signs of periodontal disease. Therefore, this typ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, existing methods and devices do not adequately identify or quantify tissue inflammation, especially localized inflammation

For example, poor detection of gingivitis can be achieved with handheld devices because they either analyze large regions of the mouth, resulting in a large signal-to-noise ratio that interferes with detection, or require so many measurements that they are not user friendly.

Additionally, movement of the user's hand can cause artifacts and poor readings from handheld devices

Therefore, periodontal disease is often undetectable

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