From the perspective of dental health, I spend every day reminding patients how important it is to preserve and protect their body’s delicate tissues—whether it’s gum tissue, enamel, or the interconnected pathways that allow the jaw, nerves, and craniofacial region to function properly. One aspect of our health that often goes overlooked in dental practice discussions is hearing. Your oral cavity and auditory system share unique nerve pathways, and disruptions in one can often influence the other. Over the course of my career, I’ve seen the frustration patients feel when they begin losing their hearing, or when tinnitus (ringing in the ears) starts interfering with quality of life.
That is why I pay attention not just to oral innovations, but also to safe, non-invasive solutions that might benefit hearing wellness. One product that has garnered consistent attention is the ReHears device, which uses targeted red light therapy to rejuvenate the inner ear. As a clinician familiar with light-based therapies for gum tissue regeneration, I see parallels in the mechanisms, and it prompts a closer look at whether something like this could realistically help patients. In today’s review, I’ll break down what ReHears is, how it works, who it seems most suited for, and why you might want to consider it as a complementary hearing support tool.
What is ReHears?
ReHears is an advanced hearing support device that delivers low-level laser therapy (sometimes called photobiomodulation) through gentle 650 nm red light aimed at the inner ear. Instead of addressing external earwax blockages or using sound amplification like a standard hearing aid, this therapy focuses on helping the biological functions of inner ear hair cells.
Your inner ear contains thousands of cochlear hair cells responsible for translating sound vibrations into electrical nerve signals the brain can recognize. Unfortunately, as we age or experience repeated exposure to loud noise, these fragile cells suffer cumulative oxidative stress and damage. Unlike teeth, which can often be repaired or reinforced with composite materials, cochlear hair cells do not easily regenerate on their own. Once they are lost, progressive hearing decline often sets in.
ReHears approaches this challenge by harnessing focused red light at a wavelength carefully studied for cellular energy benefits. Research into 650 nm light suggests it penetrates relatively deeply into tissue, energizing the mitochondria inside cells and stimulating better blood flow. In theory, this allows stressed cells—including those in the cochlea and surrounding auditory tissue—to regain function or at least resist further decline.
The practical use of ReHears is refreshingly simple: patients apply the comfortable laser earpiece for about 20 minutes daily. Rather than bulky external sound aids, the approach is more akin to a therapy session, encouraging the body to address underlying cellular stress.
How ReHears Works Mechanistically
As a dentist, I’m very familiar with laser light’s ability to influence tissue recovery. For instance, in dental practice we sometimes use low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to reduce inflammation after oral surgery or to stimulate gum cell healing in periodontal cases. The principle is nearly identical with ReHears:
- Mitochondrial activation: The red photons are absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase, a key enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. This helps cells generate more ATP (cellular energy). Cells under stress, whether gum fibroblasts or cochlear hair cells, often lack the energy reserves to conduct repairs.
- Microcirculation improvement: Just as gum laser therapy improves local blood flow, ReHears improves microvascular circulation in the inner ear, bringing crucial oxygen and nutrients.
- Reduction of oxidative stress: Chronic oxidative damage contributes to both gum disease progression and inner ear damage. Light therapy acts as a biological signal to reduce free radical overproduction.
- Neuroprotective signaling: Preliminary evidence shows low-level light can protect auditory nerve pathways from additional oxidative or inflammatory damage, making them less vulnerable long-term.
What this means practically is that ReHears is not just masking the problem—it is attempting to restore inner ear environment balance. Much like preventive dentistry, this is about sustaining the natural health of existing structures rather than relying solely on external prosthetics.
Who Might Benefit from ReHears?
In clinical observation, there are three main populations that seem especially relevant candidates for exploring ReHears:
- Age-related hearing decline: Just as gum tissue thins and becomes more susceptible to damage with age, cochlear hair cells undergo natural attrition. People in their 50s, 60s, and older frequently notice difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments. ReHears may help slow this progression.
- Noise-induced hearing challenges: Musicians, construction workers, industrial workers, or anyone with repeated loud sound exposure face greater risks of permanent damage. Inner ear cells, when repeatedly overstimulated, often fail early. Targeted light therapy may be protective.
- Tinnitus sufferers: Tooth grinding can set off tinnitus due to TMJ tension—a fact many of my dental patients don’t realize. Independent of jaw function, tinnitus often arises from irritation or dysfunction of auditory nerve cells. Anecdotally, ReHears users report reduced ringing, suggesting it settles down overexcited cochlear cells.
The Difference Between ReHears and Traditional Hearing Aids
From a dentist’s standpoint, there’s a useful analogy with dental crowns and gum grafts. Crowns can cover and compensate for tooth damage, but they don’t address the gum environment or jaw alignment causing the wear. In the same way, traditional hearing aids amplify sound but do not solve why the nerve endings and cells are struggling. ReHears instead tries to protect and restore at the source.
That said, hearing aids absolutely maintain an important role—particularly for profound loss. The distinction is that ReHears focuses more on prevention and biological rejuvenation, making it potentially best suited in earlier-stage hearing decline rather than late-stage profound deafness. Patients should not view ReHears as a one-size cure, but rather as an advanced form of self-care that complements routine audiological exams.
Real-World Use and Comfort
One of the features patients seem to appreciate is how non-intrusive the device is. The earpieces are lightweight, and using it feels much like applying earbuds. There’s no vibration, no loud signal generation, no residual irritation. For many patients accustomed to clunky nighttime oral appliances for jaw management or bruxism, this feels remarkably more comfortable.
Twenty minutes per day is comparable to the investment of time someone might spend flossing, doing an electric toothbrush cycle, and applying a fluoride rinse. In other words, simple, consistent, low-burden daily use.
Safety Considerations
Because the treatment involves low-level red light, the risks associated are minimal compared to traditional surgical procedures or even medication side-effects. Photobiomodulation has been studied for decades in medicine, including wound healing, gum regeneration, and nerve recovery. Most patients tolerate this form of therapy very well, with no known systemic complications.
However, as with any device, proper use according to manufacturer guidelines is critical. Patients with implanted hearing devices, unmanaged middle ear infections, or recent otologic surgery should always consult a healthcare professional before initiating therapy.
A Dentist’s Take
From my professional experience, light therapy represents one of the most promising areas for biological tissue support. We now appreciate how much oral illness is tied to systemic health—gum infections can influence cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In parallel, hearing loss is now increasingly linked to dementia risk, balance impairment, and reduced social engagement.
What impresses me about devices like ReHears is not just that they target the symptom, but that they attempt to intervene at the cellular stress level. If we can reduce oxidative stress in the auditory system as effectively as we sometimes do in the gum system, there’s potential to preserve quality of life well into later years.
Where to Buy ReHears
For patients who are considering trying ReHears, I always recommend purchasing directly from the official ReHears retail store. This guarantees you receive the authentic device, the proper user guide, and access to manufacturer support if needed. Just as I would urge patients to avoid counterfeit whitening trays or unlicensed oral devices purchased through third parties, your hearing health deserves authentic, properly quality-checked solutions.
If you are beginning to notice that conversations sound muffled, or if ringing in your ears is interfering with your concentration, ReHears might be a supportive option to consider. As with all healthcare choices, consult your audiologist or physician before making changes, but know there are safe, non-invasive options on the horizon.
