Process and apparatus for killing skin or tissue surface bacteria

A device for sanitizing the mouth, the device including:

• an application anode plate having a silver surface, the application anode plate being formed into a generally “U”-shape adapted to be received within a human mouth adjacent the teeth, the application anode plate including a stem to form an anode, the stem protruding outwardly from the center of the anode application plate and including an electrically conductive interior portion and an electrically insulating exterior portion;
• an electrically conductive shell receiving the stem over the electrically insulating exterior portion, the shell being adapted to be contacted by the lips of the mouth, the shell including a cathodic surface layer;
• a source of direct electrical current adapted to provide an electrical potential between the silver surface and the cathodic surface layer sufficient to provide an electrical current,
• wherein the application anode plate and the cathode plate are optionally in electrical communication with the source of direct electrical current.

A process for sanitizing an epithelial surface, the process comprising:

• providing an application anode plate having a silver surface, the application anode plate being adapted for contact with a first epithelial surface;
• providing a cathode plate having an electrically conductive cathodic surface layer, the cathode plate being adapted for contact of the surface layer with a second epithelial surface;
• providing a source of direct electrical current adapted to provide an electrical potential between the silver surface and the cathodic surface layer sufficient to provide an electrical current;
• placing the application anode plate and the cathode plate optionally in electrical communication with the source of direct electrical current such that silver ions are formed on the surface of the silver surface.