Can Red Light Therapy Regrow Gums? These Studies Say “Yes”
You can ask your dentist or Google whether it’s possible to regrow the gums. They might not yet know that the answer is “yes, it is possible to use light to regrow gums.” It started in 1990 when researchers Gregg and McCarthy perfected the PerioLase MVP7 laser created for their “laser-assisted new attachment procedure” (LANAP).
By 1996, they had established that “regeneration of the periodontally compromised root could be achieved” (in other words, they regenerated the gums!).
The treatment created new tissues out of the old supporting structures. The authors reported that the unhealthy root surfaces grew “pristine attachments in human beings.”
Red light therapy for teeth and gums is the natural progression of LANAP therapy for home use. It can help with periodontal disease, receding gums, unwanted bacteria, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, and wound healing.
Key Takeaways:
- Red light therapy can reduce gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, and sensitivity.
- The home therapy uses infrared, red, and blue light.
- Red and infrared light stimulates mitochondria to produce ATP, which powers cell repair.
- They also reduce inflammation and pain.
- Blue light kills harmful bacteria.
What is Red Light Therapy for the Teeth and Gums?
Red light therapy for teeth and gums uses wavelengths of infrared, red, and blue light to stimulate cell health. The light regenerates gum tissue and bone to reverse receding gums and help with tooth sensitivity. Combining the benefits of blue and red light therapy can significantly improve your dental hygiene routine.
Red light therapy for the mouth is pain-free, has no side effects, and is available without a prescription.
How It Works
Red and infrared light stimulate cell health by energizing the mitochondria. Blue light kills bad bacteria. Oral red light therapy works by:
- stimulating the mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
- signaling the cell to reduce chronic inflammation
- promoting transcription factors that rebuild tissue
- suppressing pain signals to reduce the feeling of pain
Red and Infrared Light
Red and infrared light stimulates collagen and elastin production, two essential proteins for maintaining healthy, youthful tissue. They improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and increase the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy source for all cells in the body. This can help prevent plaque buildup and reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Red light therapy has analgesic effects, which can help alleviate pain associated with dental procedures or oral conditions. The therapy can whiten teeth by increasing circulation and promoting collagen production, which can remove stains and discoloration.
Blue Light
Blue light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that has been proven to offer numerous benefits for oral health. One key advantage of this therapy is its ability to fight bacteria and effectively reduce the risk of infections. This makes it a valuable tool in preventing and treating oral infections such as gum disease and dental caries. In thousands of studies, blue light also reduces inflammation and has been proven to promote wound healing.
Benefits
The use of home therapy has multiple benefits, including these:
- Helps to restore receding gums
- Reduces the severity of periodontal gum disease
- Eliminates unpleasant breath
- Reduces unwanted oral bacteria
- Brightens teeth
- Reduces tooth sensitivity
- Reduces discomfort and post-surgery pain
Scientific Results
Tooth Sensitivity Study
A study aimed to determine if fluoride and photobiomodulation (red light therapy) would reduce tooth sensitivity caused by bleaching. 50 participants were randomly divided into four groups: a placebo group, a red light therapy group, a fluoride paste group, and a group that received both paste and light.
This was a randomized, double-blind, split-mouth, placebo-controlled clinical trial. 50 participants aged 18-30 were selected and divided into two groups (n=25). The right and left quadrants of each participant received different treatments, forming four subgroups:
Table: Four Subject Subgroups
| Group | Paste | Red Light Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placebo | Placebo |
| 2 | Placebo | Red Light Therapy |
| 3 | Protein-fluoride-Peptide | Placebo |
| 4 | Protein-fluoride-Peptide | Red Light Therapy |
Researchers evaluated the subjects’ tooth sensitivity over the next four weeks. most tooth sensitivity. The groups that received either paste or red light therapy had less sensitivity. The group that received the paste plus red light therapy had no sensitivity.
Periodontal Implant Study
Another study showed that red light therapy helps gums grow to support periodontal implants. Researchers investigated the effects of red light therapy on the healing of peri-implant tissue. They tested the adhesion, viability, and protein synthesis of three types of cells: oral keratinocytes, gingival fibroblasts, and osteoblasts.
Red light therapy significantly increased adhesion, cell viability, protein synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase activity in distinct patterns according to the cell line. The study showed that red light therapy enhances cellular functions related to peri-implant tissue healing. The authors suggest using it to improve the success of oral implants.
Childhood Gingivitis Study
A 2008 study examined using a low-level laser to treat chronic gum inflammation (chronic gingivitis) in children. They divided100 children into two groups:
Group 1: 50 children who received basic treatment to remove the buildup on their teeth. Group 2: 50 children received the basic treatment plus red light therapy.
Both groups improved their gum health. However, the group that received the red light therapy and the basic treatment had even better results on the Sulcus Plaque Index (SPI) and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) scales.
SPI (Sulcus Plaque Index): The SPI measures the amount of plaque (sticky, bacteria-filled film) that builds up in the small spaces between the teeth and gums, called the sulcus. It gives a score from 0 to 3 to indicate how much plaque is present in these areas.
CPITN (Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs): Dentists use the CPITN to assess the health of a person’s gums and determine what kind of treatment they might need. It looks at things like bleeding, tartar buildup, and the depth of the spaces between the teeth and gums. Based on these factors, the CPITN gives a score from 0 to 4 to indicate the level of gum disease and the type of treatment that would be most helpful.
Both groups had statistically significant improvements in their SPI and CPITN scores.
Group 1’s SPI scores:
- SPI before therapy: 2.02
- SPI after therapy: 0.32
- A drop of 84%
While the red light therapy group’s scores were this:
- SPI before therapy: 1.90
- SPI after therapy: 0.08
- A drop of 95%
Group 1’s CPITN scores:
- CPITN before therapy: 1.66
- CPITN after therapy: 0.32
- A drop of 81%
Red light therapy group’s CPITN scores:
- CPITN before therapy: 1.60
- CPITN after therapy: 0.08
- A drop of 95%
Adding red light therapy to gingivitis treatment improved outcomes by 11-19% over treatment without light.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Oral Health Light
Be aware that you must give the light two to four weeks before expecting results. While many devices create healthy effects you can feel in just a few sessions; sometimes you need a week or more to feel the pain relief or see inflammation go down.
Be prepared to follow the instructions exactly as stated. I can’t tell you how important this is with light therapy, whether blue, red, or combined. The time you spend doing your red light therapy is vital to success. Neither do more nor less than the instructions state.
What to Look For in an Oral Light
Poor build quality is a common problem with oral lights. To increase your chances of getting a well-built device, look for devices with good return and warranty periods.
An oral light is a tray with lights powered by an external controller. The controller might have a timer for your convenience. To get maximum benefits, the tray lights should be red and blue. Session time should be about 5 minutes per day.
For example, the NovaaLab Novoral Care Pro has a USB rechargeable controller attached to a 2.2-inch mouth tray. The tray has 8 red (660 nm) and 8 blue (450 nm) lights. Treatment time is 5 minutes per day. NovaaLab has a 60-day return and a one-year warranty.
Conclusion
Red light therapy uses infrared, red, and blue light to improve oral health. The non-invasive therapy reduces bacteria, inflammation, bad breath, gum disease, and pain. It stimulates cellular energy production to promote tissue repair.
References
- Jha A, Gupta V, Adinarayan R. LANAP, Periodontics and Beyond: A Review. J Lasers Med Sci. 2018 Spring;9(2):76-81. doi: 10.15171/jlms.2018.16. Epub 2018 Mar 20. PMID: 30026890; PMCID: PMC6046393.
- Cardoso MEOP, Takeuchi EV, Alencar CM, de Mesquita RA, Alves EB, Silva CM. The effect of photobiomodulation therapy associated with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride paste on the treatment of posthome whitening tooth sensitivity and color change: A randomized clinical trial. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2024 Feb;10(1):e817. doi: 10.1002/cre2.817. PMID: 38345511; PMCID: PMC10828902.
- Rech CA, Pansani TN, Cardoso LM, Ribeiro IM, Silva-Sousa YTC, de Souza Costa CA, Basso FG. Photobiomodulation using LLLT and LED of cells involved in osseointegration and peri-implant soft tissue healing. Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Feb;37(1):573-580. doi: 10.1007/s10103-021-03299-w. Epub 2021 Apr 12. PMID: 33844114.
- Ebrahimi P, Hadilou M, Naserneysari F, Dolatabadi A, Tarzemany R, Vahed N, Nikniaz L, Fekrazad R, Gholami L. Effect of photobiomodulation in secondary intention gingival wound healing-a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2021 May 13;21(1):258. doi: 10.1186/s12903-021-01611-2. PMID: 33985492; PMCID: PMC8120828.
- Igic, Marija, et al. “Low-Level Laser Efficiency in the Therapy of Chronic Gingivitis in Children.” Vojnosanitetski Pregled, vol. 65, no. 10, National Library of Serbia, 2008, pp. 755–757. Crossref, doi:10.2298/vsp0810755i.
