Oral health initiative may provide indicators for health conditions
Posted: June 15, 2015
A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) Global Oral Health program is excited to be involved with a new technology for pH saliva testing. The PH2OH initiative was launched originally in 2013 to determine the alkalinity or acidity of an individual’s saliva. ATSU-ASDOH in partnership with GC America showcased booths about PH2OH at the 2015 American Dental Hygienists Association. “The goal of bringing together ATSU-ASDOH’s technology and GC America’s innovative oral health products is to continue to support the vitality and well-being of people all over the world,” said Tony Hashemian, DDS, associate dean for Global Oral Health, ATSU-ASDOH.
Studies indicate that saliva may be useful for detecting various cancers, heart disease, diabetes, periodontal diseases, and other conditions. “And the National Institutes of Health supports research in technologies that use saliva to look for indicators of health conditions or diseases,” added Dr. Hashemian.
Through test strips made of litmus paper, which are used to distinguish between acids and bases, PH2OH integrates a free mobile phone application to capture time-sensitive data to communicate with the server in compliance with HIPPA regulations. Tested strips turn a specific color depending on the pH of the subject’s saliva. Saliva that is more acidic may bring about dental disease, cavities and erosion. Saliva-testing examination tools will be used by ATSU-ASDOH dental teams to educate patients, assist in preventive treatment planning and properly select dental materials in order to initiate changes in the patient’s oral hygiene. The app for pH2OH is available for download on both android and iOS devices.