TAMU-CC researchers develop interactive toothbrush and remote-controlled toothpaste

A group of researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) are utilizing cutting-edge nanotechnology to develop an interactive toothbrush and remote-controlled toothpaste that could revolutionize the field of dental care. Leisha Armijo-Martin, a nanotoxicologist at TAMU-CC, is leading a team that has developed minuscule nanoparticles that can reach and treat plaque and germs in challenging tooth locations.

“Your consumer has a smart phone, they don’t want a manual toothbrush, and the same toothpaste their grandparents used,” said Armijo-Martin. “These particles are very small nanoparticles, a billionth of a meter, so I could fit a quarter of a million on the tip of one of my hairs.”

Remote mechanical flossing

With the help of the team’s technology, mechanical flossing can be performed remotely. A $256,000 grant from the National Science Foundation is helping to pay for the study.

“The fact that you can get them to move where you want to, mechanical scrubbing remotely, you can pull them between the teeth, and avoid the traumatic flossing experience,” said Armijo-Martin.

“In the past seven months, gone from bench top, producing these particles from atoms, functionalizing them, characterizing them into the preclinical phase.”

Removes infections quickly

The team has completed testing on mice, with results showing that infections were wiped out with just one treatment. Before requesting permission from the Food and Drug Administration for human clinical trials, they will now do one more round of testing. If approved, the product could be available on store shelves within the next two years.

Notably, the research team is entirely made up of women, with a broad mix of researchers who are Black and Hispanic.

“I think too as a group of women in science we really understand each other, we communicate really well, no one works on one thing, we help each other,” said Kayla Simpson, second year marine biology masters student.