Dental Asia March/April 2023

IN DEPTH WITH
“
Lumoral Junior improves children’s
self-care of teeth when traditional
methods are not enough or when an
existing oral disease requires more
than just mechanical brushing and
flossing.”
Dr Tommi Pätilä, Lumoral Junior’s developer
The main responsibility for keeping children’s
teeth clean always lies with the adults; at least
until the third grade of primary school, he
added.
oral health in the future. Studies show that
this protects the child also from developing
many chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular
disease in adulthood 2 .
cleaned thoroughly enough,” he said. “Poor
oral hygiene in childhood can be a step to
serious gum disease in adulthood, known as
periodontitis.”
As children’s hand motor skills develop,
the responsibility for cleaning their teeth
can gradually be transferred to them. But
the child’s oral hygiene must be monitored
throughout primary school, right up to ages
of 12-13.
ANTIBACTERIAL TREATMENT HELPS
Lumoral Junior reduces plaque formation
and can be used to prevent oral bacterial
diseases such as tooth decay and gingivitis. It
is recommended to use the device to prevent
tooth decay at least twice a week for children
over three to 12 years of age.
“Lumoral Junior improves children’s selfcare
of teeth when traditional methods are
not enough or when an existing oral disease
requires more than just mechanical brushing
and flossing,” said one of its developers,
Dr Tommi Pätilä, who is also a HUS New
Children’s Hospital surgeon.
While mechanical teeth cleaning methods
are key to good oral health, brushing only
removes 50-60% of plaque at best. This
antibacterial method is a gentle way of
removing plaque and slowing down the
formation of new plaque, he added.
GOOD ORAL HEALTH PROTECTS THE
HEART
If permanent teeth of a child develop without
having been infected by caries, it is likely
that the child will continue to have good
“The importance of good oral health in
managing the risk of heart disease cannot be
overemphasised,” said Dr Pätilä.
Dr Alapulli also added that many long-term
illnesses are associated with an increased risk
of oral diseases, and that most oral diseases
originate in dental biofilms. Dental biofilm
is where the antibacterial effect of Lumoral
Junior targets.
“In addition to tooth decay, gingivitis is
also common in children if teeth are not
Lumoral Junior is intended to be used in
combination with the light-activated Lumorinse
mouth rinse that attaches to the plaque of the teeth
Habits learnt early in life are more likely to
be maintained during adulthood. It is vital
to prevent dental diseases for children with
underlying health conditions. Children
with heart conditions are at a higher risk of
developing caries. Good oral hygiene is also
one of the most important steps in preventing
endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner
lining of the heart’s chambers and valves.
One of the advantages of antibacterial
treatment is that it is selective. Lumoral
Junior targets hidden plaque on the teeth
without disrupting normal oral flora
which differs from oral anti-inflammatory
antimicrobials such as chlorhexidine,
according to Dr Alapulli.
“Chemical mouthwashes also kill the good
bacteria in the mouth, and with prolonged
use, the mouth gets used to them,” he said.
The use of Lumoral Junior facilitates the
mechanical removal of biofilm in the child’s
mouth. It is thus a key component of a
thorough oral self-care routine to maintain
children’s oral health. DA
REFERENCES
1.
Streptococcus Mutans Adhesin biotypes that
match and predict individual caries development.
eBioMedicine.
2.
Association of childhood oral infections with
cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical
atherosclerosis in adulthood. JAMA Network.
DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2023 53