What is soft laser (photobiomodulation) and how does it work in the mouth?

Low-level red or near-infrared light is absorbed by cell mitochondria, boosting ATP production to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and speed oral tissue healing.

Which oral problems can be treated at home with soft laser devices?

Common indications include aphthous ulcers, adjunctive treatment for gingivitis/periodontitis, TMD/TMJ pain, wound healing after extractions and, with doctor approval, oral mucositis.

Are there side effects or contraindications for dental soft laser therapy?

Therapy is very safe with no major adverse effects reported. Contraindications: never point at the eyes, malignant tumor near the area, active oral bleeding, photosensitizing drugs; consult physician for mucositis.

Which devices and treatment settings are recommended for home dental use?

For intraoral use: Energy-Laser L500 Pro with dental optic (808 nm). For external TMJ treatment: Personal Laser L400 (808 nm). Typical doses: aphthae 5-8 J/point, gingiva 5 J/point, TMJ 8-10 J/point.

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Soft laser in dentistry: home treatment of oral complaints

Gingivitis, aphthous ulcers, temporomandibular joint pain, or a tooth-extraction site that won’t heal — familiar situations? Soft laser therapy (photobiomodulation) is becoming increasingly popular in dentistry, and good news: it can be used not only in the clinic but also at home. In this article I’ll show which oral complaints you can treat effectively and what the scientific research says.

What is the soft laser and how does it act in the oral cavity?

The soft laser — scientifically called photobiomodulation (PBM) — delivers low-energy light into tissues. Red and near-infrared wavelengths are absorbed in the mitochondria of cells, where they enhance ATP production. This process can support inflammation reduction, pain relief and wound healing.

The oral cavity responds particularly well to laser therapy because:

The mucosa is thin, so light penetrates easily
Rich blood supply accelerates regeneration
The treatment is painless and free of side effects

What can you use dental soft laser treatment for?

1. Treatment of aphthous ulcers (canker sores)

If you regularly suffer from recurrent aphthous ulcers, you know how painful they are and how much they make eating and drinking difficult. Soft laser therapy is one of the best-documented application areas.

What do the studies say?

A 2025 meta-analysis examined 21 randomized clinical trials (810 patients). The results showed that soft laser treatment significantly reduces pain already after the first treatment and speeds up healing. The researchers found that even a single treatment can be clinically effective.¹

Another systematic review (2024, 14 trials, 664 patients) confirmed: in 13 out of 13 trials pain decreased after soft laser treatment.²

How to treat?

Direct the laser at the aphthous ulcer, delivering 5–8 Joules per point. One treatment per day is recommended until the ulcer heals (usually 2–4 days).

2. Adjunctive treatment for gingivitis/periodontitis

Periodontitis is chronic inflammation of the tooth-supporting tissues and can lead to tooth loss if untreated. In addition to professional scaling (root planing), soft laser therapy can be used as an adjunctive treatment.

What do the studies say?

A systematic review found that adding soft laser therapy to conventional scaling significantly reduced pocket depth (WMD = -0.95 mm, p = 0.009) compared to scaling alone.³

Important: soft laser therapy does not replace professional dental treatment, but it can complement it.

How to treat?

With a device equipped with a dental optic, treat along the gingival margin, delivering 5 Joules per point to the inflamed areas. 2–3 times per week, for 4–6 weeks.

3. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD/TMJ)

Clicking during chewing, pain when moving the jaw, morning facial stiffness — these are characteristic symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Soft laser therapy also shows promising results here.

What do the studies say?

The most recent 2025 systematic review analyzed 44 randomized clinical trials (1,816 patients). The results showed that soft laser therapy reduces pain by 60–70% (measured on the VAS scale) and improves mouth opening by 10–20%. The therapy proved more effective than conventional treatments (occlusal splints, NSAIDs).⁴

A 2018 meta-analysis (31 RCTs) also found positive effects on pain reduction and functional improvement.⁵

Research indicates that wavelengths between 910–1100 nm are most effective for TMD treatment.⁶

How to treat?

Treat the temporomandibular joint from the outside, on the side of the face. Over the preauricular area, deliver 8–10 Joules per point to the joint. Also treat the masticatory muscles (masseter). Once a day, for 2–4 weeks.

4. Oral mucositis (inflammation of the oral mucosa after chemotherapy/radiation)

If you receive chemotherapy or head-and-neck radiation for cancer, severe inflammation of the oral mucosa (mucositis) is one of the most common side effects. This is one of the application areas with the strongest evidence.

What do the studies say?

A 2020 meta-analysis (30 randomized trials) found that prophylactic soft laser treatment reduces the risk of severe mucositis by 60% (RR = 0.40; p < 0.01). Therapeutic use also significantly shortens the duration of severe mucositis.⁷

An earlier meta-analysis (18 RCTs, 1,144 patients) reached similar conclusions: soft laser reduced the risk of severe mucositis by 63% and severe pain occurrence by 74%.⁸

Important: In cases of mucositis, always consult your treating physician before using soft laser therapy!

5. Wound healing after tooth extraction or implantation

After dental procedures, soft laser can support wound healing and reduce postoperative pain.

What do the studies say?

A 2021 meta-analysis (13 RCTs) found that adjunctive soft laser use after periodontal surgeries significantly reduced pain on postoperative day 3 and accelerated epithelialization at palatal donor sites after free gingival grafting.⁹

How to treat?

Begin treating the wound area immediately after the procedure (if your doctor permits). 5 Joules per point, once daily, until the wound heals.

Before you start treatment

To use devices safely, know the contraindications.

When NOT to use it?

Never shine into the eyes! The laser beam can cause permanent eye damage
Malignant tumor in or near the treatment area
Active bleeding in the oral cavity
If the cause of the pain is unclear — seek medical evaluation first
If you are taking photosensitizing medications (e.g., certain antibiotics, retinoids)

Increased caution

During pregnancy it is forbidden to treat the abdomen and uterus, but oral application is generally considered safe — consult your physician
In epilepsy avoid flashing modes

Possible side effects

Soft laser therapy is extremely safe; the scientific literature reports no significant adverse effects. Occasionally you may experience:

Mild, transient warming sensation in the treated area
Rarely erythema (if you keep the device in one place for too long)

These symptoms disappear quickly and are harmless.

Recommended devices for dental application

For intraoral treatments

For intraoral treatments (aphthous ulcers, gingivitis, mucositis, wound healing) a special thin optic is required that can be comfortably introduced into the mouth.

Energy-Laser L500 Pro + dental optic

808 nm infrared wavelength — ideal for treating the oral mucosa
500 mW output — fast, efficient energy delivery
Class 3 laser — the most effective category approved for home use
The dental optic lets you precisely reach hard-to-access areas

For external treatments (TMJ, face)

Temporomandibular complaints, trigeminal neuralgia and other facial area treatments can be performed externally without a special optic.

Personal Laser L400

808 nm infrared wavelength
400 mW output
Compact size, easy to handle
Ideal for external treatment of the temporomandibular joint

More soft laser devices in the Medimarket range →

Practical tips for treatment

Indication	Treatment area	Energy/point	Frequency	Duration
Aphthous ulcer	Directly on the ulcer	5–8 J	Once daily	Until healing (2–4 days)
Gingivitis	Along the gingival margin, point-by-point	5 J	2–3× per week	4–6 weeks
TMD/TMJ	Joint + masticatory muscles externally	8–10 J	Once daily	2–4 weeks
Wound healing	Wound area	5 J	Once daily	Until healing
Mucositis	Affected mucosa	4–6 J	Once daily	Based on medical consultation

General rule: With the Energy-Laser L500 Pro, 10 seconds = 5 Joules. With the Personal Laser L400, 12.5 seconds = 5 Joules.

Summary — Quick overview

What is this article? A comprehensive guide to soft laser therapy in dentistry, with scientific evidence.

Who is it for? For anyone suffering from aphthous ulcers, gingivitis, temporomandibular complaints, or who wants to support wound healing after dental procedures.

Main message: Soft laser therapy is a safe, side-effect–free method that can help relieve pain and accelerate healing in many oral complaints. The evidence is particularly strong for aphthous ulcers, temporomandibular disorders and chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

Recommended devices: For intraoral treatments the Energy-Laser L500 Pro with dental optic, and for external treatments the Personal Laser L400.

References

Ma Y et al. (2025). The effectiveness of lower-level laser therapy on the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous ulcers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. PubMed: 41286369
Radithia D et al. (2024). Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in reducing pain score and healing time of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. PubMed: 39039581
Mokeem S et al. (2018). Efficacy of adjunctive low-level laser therapy in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis: A systematic review. J Investig Clin Dent. PubMed: 30198204
Systematic review (2025). Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. J Oral Rehabil. PubMed: 40096874
Xu GZ et al. (2018). Low-Level Laser Therapy for Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Pain Res Manag. PubMed: 29861802
Ren H et al. (2022). Comparative effectiveness of low-level laser therapy with different wavelengths and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in the treatment of pain caused by temporomandibular disorders. J Oral Rehabil. PubMed: 34289157
Peng J et al. (2020). Low-level laser therapy in the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. PubMed: 32624448
Oberoi S et al. (2014). Effect of prophylactic low level laser therapy on oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. PubMed: 25198431
Zhao H et al. (2021). The effect of low-level laser therapy as an adjunct to periodontal surgery in the management of postoperative pain and wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. PubMed: 32613416

The information in this article is for guidance only. Home therapeutic devices are intended to complement medical treatment and do not replace specialist care. For dental complaints, always consult a dentist first!

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