Red light therapy, or phototherapy as it is often called by many dentists, has become very popular over the past decade. Many dentists have seen a significant increase in patients seeking laser tooth whitening and veneers. In an age where health conscious people want to go the “green” route, they often turn to a natural alternative to medicine such as the use of home remedies. And while many people do enjoy the effects that these treatments can have on the aesthetic appearance of a tooth, few are aware of how they work and whether or not red light treatment is right for their particular needs.
The short answer: Yes, red light therapy does work. While it might not make sense from a purely scientific standpoint, the human body has its own mechanisms in place that allow different wavelengths of light to reach the exact same parts of the skin at different times. That is why the human body can respond so strongly to different types of light. For example, the eyes tend to respond most strongly to red light. The human body can also be responsive to blue light.
But how do different wavelengths affect the human body at a cellular level? Each wavelength has its own threshold that it can pass through before being absorbed. Most red lights will only be partially absorbed by the dermis. But some blue lights will have full translucency. And some green lights will have a completely different impact. This means that you can have a certain intensity of light that is beneficial when you want to whiten teeth, but when it is important to keep the skin healthy, you want to use a different wavelength to balance the effects.
When the goal is to reduce pain, you can use a wavelength that helps to block nerve impulses. The type of light therapy devices used in this case would include light emitting diodes or LEDs. These are very versatile and can be used for any number of things.
For example, you can use these specific wavelength devices to treat sun damaged skin. You can also use these types of products to help relieve muscle spasms in various types of pain management situations. For chronic skin conditions, you might want to use a wavelength device that can help to improve blood flow.
When people ask ” Does red light therapy work? “, they might wonder if there is a way to find these unique devices. There are many companies that make and sell these specific blue and red light therapy devices. But finding a quality device can sometimes take a bit of effort. If you are able to find a good distributor of these devices, you should be able to find exactly what you need at a reasonable price.