Measurement of body temperature in the oral cavity with a temperature sensor integrated with a powered toothbrush

• Published in: SN applied sciences 2023-01, Vol.5 (1), p.1-11, Article 22
• Main Authors: Flyborg, Johan, Renvert, Stefan, Anderberg, Peter, Isaksson, Ulrika, Berglund, Johan Sanmartin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied and Technical Physics; Body measurements; Body temperature; Chemistry/Food Science; Clinical Medicine; Control solutions; Core body; Core body temperature; Data acquisition; Dentistry; Disease control; Disease monitoring; Earth Sciences; Engineering; Environment; Fertility; Fever; Gender; Klinisk medicin; Materials Science; Measurements of; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Odontologi; Older people; Oral cavity; Ovulation; Physiology; Powered toothbrush; Research Article; Security solutions; Sensors; Teeth; Temperature data; Temperature sensors; Thermometer; Thermometers; Thermometry; Toothbrushes
• ISSN: 2523-3963; 2523-3971; 2523-3971
• DOI: 10.1007/s42452-022-05250-2

This paper presents a method for collecting core body temperature data via a temperature sensor integrated into a powered toothbrush. The purpose is to facilitate the collection of temperature data without any extended effort from the user. Twelve participants use a powered toothbrush with a temperature sensor mounted on the brush head twice daily for two months. The obtained values are compared with those from a conventional fever thermometer approved for intraoral use. The results show that the temperature sensor–integrated powered toothbrush can measure the core body temperature and provide values comparable to those provided by a traditional oral thermometer. The use of the device can facilitate disease monitoring, fertility control, and security solutions for the elderly. Article highlights The body temperature can be measured using a powered toothbrush with an integrated temperature sensor. The values obtained from a temperature sensor–integrated powered toothbrush was comparable to those obtained from a traditional oral thermometer. The implication of the study is a way to facilitate the collection of temperature data, but the design of the temperature sensor’s integration in the brush head needs to be further developed, and the possibility of transferring the obtained data directly to a central server using WIFI must be explored.