A “tooth tattoo” that could save your life

Would you ever get a ‘tattoo’ on your tooth? What if we told you that it could save your life and that there are no needles involved? It’s virtually painless. Would you change your mind?

The Daily Mail reports that scientists have unveiled a revolutionary way to keep track of your health. Yes a team of scientists at Princeton University have developed a special ‘tooth tattoo’ that can let you know if you’re getting sick. Clever. So what exactly is it?

Well basically it’s a tiny, paper-thin sensor made from grapheme that is stuck onto your tooth and works as a very-sensitive ‘early warning system’ for any diseases you might pick up.

The sensor detects changes in the bacteria in your mouth and then transmits the information to medical staff. It’s like an active medical record that sends updates about your health to a doctor.

But would normal people actually use something like this? Who knows?

Michael McAlpine, the man in charge of the team at Princeton University, believes that the sensor could be used for military personnel who are out on active duty in the field.

He hopes that the sensor could pick up information such as whether a wound has become infected, or if patients already in hospital are extra vulnerable to picking up bacteria due to their weakened immune systems.

Mr McAlpine is currently planning to license and then sell the device in the hopes that it will be bought by mainstream medical companies.

What do you think? Would you wear a ‘tooth tattoo’?