Could the selfie finally be useful to us? It looks good… This photographic or video self-portrait recorded from a smartphone, very popular among teenagers, could be used as a prevention and follow-up tool. Until now, in the medical field, regular photographic and video portraits made it possible to follow the progress of diseases or to check the effectiveness of treatments. However, little research had focused on the educational aspect of the selfie, it is now done.
This pilot studypublished in theIndian Journal of Dental Researchwas conducted by researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. “Toothbrushing is often learned and practiced the wrong way,” said study co-author Lance Vernon. “Changing these bad habits – stored in muscle memory – takes a lot of work.”
Thus, their results show that the action of recording themselves on video would allow the person to realize that they are brushing their teeth badly and would encourage them to make efforts to improve. According to the researchers, this process would serve to create a new muscle memory, which would then replace the previous one.
The smartphone, the dentist’s best friend?
Researchers are already seeing the usefulness of a smartphone application that would allow anyone to check their toothbrush practice. Lance Vernon imagines that, in the near future, the recorded video could be directly “transmitted to a professional who will be responsible for evaluating the patient.”
Tooth brushing has a big part in effectively preventing many dental conditions such as cavities or periodontal disease.
“Dental health can sometimes be inaccessible because of its cost. It is possible that “dental selfies” or other means developed around the smartphone will become an important part of oral prevention” concludes Lance Vernon.
In France, nearly one in three people only brush their teeth once a day!
So while waiting for the application, we remind you that a good tooth brushing lasts at least two minutes, that it should be done after each meal and that it should not be pressed too much in order to preserve the enamel. We give you more advice here.
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