Don't you mind the smell of your mouth? September 20, 18:49
It is said that it actually costs 70% of Japanese people, and periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss than caries. Not only is it a dental infection, but it is also said to cause diabetes and heart disease. In January, there was a paper pointing out the relationship with Alzheimer's disease. Business is now moving against the background of people who want to be aware of the signs of periodontal disease as soon as possible. (Osaka Broadcasting Station reporter Tomokazu Koki)
The Japanese mouth ...
“In Japan, it is said that there are more dental clinics than convenience stores, but the mouth is not much different from people living in developing countries overseas,” says Osaka dental dentist Asahi Takeyama.
In Japan, most people go to a dental clinic for the first time after a decayed tooth, and dental care for prevention is delayed. Mr. Takeyama, who has participated in volunteer work in Myanmar, strengthened his feelings every time he contacted patients during daily medical care.
Can this situation be changed by the power of business? Takeyama started a venture company “NOVENINE” with Tomoichi Hirose, a developer of a pharmaceutical manufacturer, and focused on periodontal disease.
The focus was on the smell of the mouth
The company is currently developing a toothbrush to detect signs of periodontal disease. In early September, a prototype using a 3D printer was completed.
The most important feature of this toothbrush is that it incorporates a sensor that detects odors.
Periodontal disease is devised so that a special gas that shows its symptoms is emitted so that you can notice anomalies after brushing your teeth.
In addition, IOT can be linked to the application to display the detection result on the screen.
The higher the number up to 100, the greater the risk of periodontal disease. The unit is named after the odor, and it is “wrinkled”.
“I want to pioneer business by cutting the front line toward early detection of periodontal disease, and I would like you to use the toothbrush as if it were fun” (Mr. Hirose)
Toothbrushes are scheduled to be sold for 5,000 to 8000 yen each, after improving for summer next year.
Established toothbrush manufacturer
Long-established toothbrush manufacturers are also launching businesses that can detect the signs of periodontal disease.
“Yamato Eslon”, founded in Yao City, Osaka, has been developing a device for investigating the risk of periodontal disease for dental clinics.
In fact, Osaka is a region where toothbrush production is thriving, and this company also receives orders from about 100 companies such as major brands nationwide, and they are making consignment production.
If you remove plaque with an interdental brush, apply a special liquid, and set it in the device, it will estimate how many bacteria of periodontal disease are in the mouth in 40 minutes and show the color in advance.
He seems to have realized the need to grasp the signs of periodontal disease, considering what kind of business can be supplemented when toothbrush orders are reduced in the future, such as fierce competition with Chinese manufacturers.
“I thought it was a business opportunity because almost no periodontal disease was examined at the dental clinic. I would like to aim to reduce the patient's cost burden to about one-third compared to precise examinations.”
Major manufacturers introduced AI
A major daily necessities manufacturer, Lion, is also trying to seize business opportunities related to periodontal disease. AI = A service that utilizes image diagnosis with artificial intelligence, introduced in July.
I also used it, but just by entering the age and shooting the inside of the mouth with a smartphone, AI is a mechanism that evaluates the elasticity and lowering of the gums in three stages.
The company aims to expand sales by introducing optimal toothpaste and toothbrushes based on the results of each.
In addition to age, we are studying ways to further improve the accuracy of the analysis by combining information such as whether or not smoking or drinking.
“It is very important not only to develop products (for preventing periodontal disease) but also to create an environment where customers can easily select products.”
Whether the business covered this time is on track will continue, but it is said that there are over 100 systemic diseases related to periodontal disease, and scientific evidence has been found one after another in the latest research.
How do you know the signs of periodontal disease that affect your overall health? I feel that the business is likely to overheat in the future.
Reporter from Osaka Broadcasting Station
Tomokazu Koki
Joined in 2007
Osaka station from this summer after Otsu station and economic department