Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities(translate.google.com)
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Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.df.cl%2Fcientificos-chilenos-patentan-molecula-que-elimina-las-caries%2Fprontus_df%2F2012-06-29%2F195432.html
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One of the theories behind cavity formation has to do with the pH in a persons mouth being perfect for the bacteria to grow and break down your teeth.
However some people seem to have a pH in their mouths that is not appropriate to bacterial growth and therefore they get less cavities. You probably fall within this group and therefore have a smaller chance of getting cavities.
However some people seem to have a pH in their mouths that is not appropriate to bacterial growth and therefore they get less cavities. You probably fall within this group and therefore have a smaller chance of getting cavities.
I have the same thing actually (a part of my family have perfect teeth even being over 60; i'm not there yet, but almost 40 and my teeth are still perfect in every way), but I do brush my gums (and teeth lightly) daily for hygiene and it just feels better :). I have plaque removed (which I don't have much) every few years as well.
I do think that obsessive brushing 3x / day which people do (after every meal besides breakfast and every morning when getting up) is crazy; I have seem more people ruin their teeth with that than forgetting to brush once in a while.
I do think that obsessive brushing 3x / day which people do (after every meal besides breakfast and every morning when getting up) is crazy; I have seem more people ruin their teeth with that than forgetting to brush once in a while.
I think it really is genetic or at least individual to each person. I brush my teeth twice a day. I floss and/or brush lightly after eating. I have very healthy gums and almost no plaque buildup. My dentist told me I don't need to get the professional cleaning that she tries to sell everyone because my teeth are clean and my gums healthy.
But then I get all these cavities and I can't do anything against them and my dentist is as frustrated as I am! My Mom has the same problem. And my Dad never had a cavity. It's all very unfair.
But then I get all these cavities and I can't do anything against them and my dentist is as frustrated as I am! My Mom has the same problem. And my Dad never had a cavity. It's all very unfair.
I've said things about genes and cavities to the few dentists I've seen in my life. They get so pissy when you do that. And I understand - it's in their interest to have you in their office regularly.
At any rate, I've also known people with nary a cavity. One was a heavy candy eater. It absolutely must be genetic. The dentist can stick his little scraping tool someplace else. I've also known people that seem to do everything right but can't keep from having cavities no matter what. I'm somewhere in the middle: Keep them clean and scrubbed and flossed and I can pretty much stay out of the dentist's chair.
At any rate, I've also known people with nary a cavity. One was a heavy candy eater. It absolutely must be genetic. The dentist can stick his little scraping tool someplace else. I've also known people that seem to do everything right but can't keep from having cavities no matter what. I'm somewhere in the middle: Keep them clean and scrubbed and flossed and I can pretty much stay out of the dentist's chair.
If you don't get cavities, by not brushing your teeth you will have perfect teeth, on the floor, because your gums went bye bye
Of course, depends on your diet, but for anything resembling modern diet...
Oral health is not about only teeth, you know
Of course, depends on your diet, but for anything resembling modern diet...
Oral health is not about only teeth, you know
Gum disease.
Brush your teeth.
Brush your teeth.
And, if they bleed, that's a sign you haven't been brushing them enough.
> I've gone months without brushing my teeth
Why?
Why?
If you never get cavities, the principal reason for brushing goes out the window. Humans survived for tens of thousands of years with plaque and yesterday's kill stuck in the teeth, even when poor dental was predominant.
The primary reasons to brush your teeth are to prevent cavities, plaque buildup, and smell. If you don't get the first problem, the others are easy to ignore. Pleasant smelling breath is a modern ascetic, so it's easy to imagine a scenario where a young man that hasn't had regular intimate contact yet ignores the bad breath. It's only afterword that the positive social benefits become understood.
The primary reasons to brush your teeth are to prevent cavities, plaque buildup, and smell. If you don't get the first problem, the others are easy to ignore. Pleasant smelling breath is a modern ascetic, so it's easy to imagine a scenario where a young man that hasn't had regular intimate contact yet ignores the bad breath. It's only afterword that the positive social benefits become understood.
Humans survived with poor dental care by dying before their teeth were completely rotted. If you plan to live longer than about 50, you'd better brush.
This is a very strong claim, and is not backed by the evidence.
Studies of surviving hunting-gathering societies suggest that their lives were much lower stress and life spans (barring violent accident) much longer than early agricultural societies. Even with accident included, their lifespans were better comparatively recently. (For instance the eskimos, despite living in one of the harshest environments on Earth, had about a 25% chance of surviving to 60.)
Whether or not they would lose their teeth varied by diet. Our diets have lots of sugar and grains in them which promotes tooth decay. Other diets differ. Early surveys of eskimos that had never eaten Western food showed that most never have had a cavity in their lives. The immunity was not genetic - those exposed to Western food had plenty of cavities.
See http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2008/07/mortality-and-... for a reference to the lifespan of eskimos. See http://www.journeytoforever.org/farm_library/price/price5.ht... for some evidence about their lack of tooth decay.
Studies of surviving hunting-gathering societies suggest that their lives were much lower stress and life spans (barring violent accident) much longer than early agricultural societies. Even with accident included, their lifespans were better comparatively recently. (For instance the eskimos, despite living in one of the harshest environments on Earth, had about a 25% chance of surviving to 60.)
Whether or not they would lose their teeth varied by diet. Our diets have lots of sugar and grains in them which promotes tooth decay. Other diets differ. Early surveys of eskimos that had never eaten Western food showed that most never have had a cavity in their lives. The immunity was not genetic - those exposed to Western food had plenty of cavities.
See http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2008/07/mortality-and-... for a reference to the lifespan of eskimos. See http://www.journeytoforever.org/farm_library/price/price5.ht... for some evidence about their lack of tooth decay.
Ah, but strong claims are a good tactic for eliciting fascinating responses like this one - thanks!
As someone with the same habits as the poster, I would say negative reinforcement.
Every time I brush my teeth -- EVERY TIME! -- they hurt for about two days, and I get nasty bad breath. But if I go without brushing for weeks on end, things are fine.
I brush anyway, when I want to look nice for something, but usually I skip it.
I've always wondered if, when I brush, I wipe out whatever bacteria are taking up the niche the teeth-eating bad-breath-causing ones usually fill. I haven't thought of a test for that, but my continued experience with teeth that only don't hurt if I haven't brushed for a while doesn't seem to align with the conventional idea of how it works...
Every time I brush my teeth -- EVERY TIME! -- they hurt for about two days, and I get nasty bad breath. But if I go without brushing for weeks on end, things are fine.
I brush anyway, when I want to look nice for something, but usually I skip it.
I've always wondered if, when I brush, I wipe out whatever bacteria are taking up the niche the teeth-eating bad-breath-causing ones usually fill. I haven't thought of a test for that, but my continued experience with teeth that only don't hurt if I haven't brushed for a while doesn't seem to align with the conventional idea of how it works...
As I said above, I started brushing my teeth in the mornings in college for breath reasons, so this was when I was a teenager. That was a long time ago, so I don't know. I was staying up absurdly late, passing out, and then having to get up at 7am to catch the bus, so that probably had something to do with it.
I had the same benefit until I started getting sicker and my immunity stopped. So, you can keep on doing this if your immune system keeps up with you.
it's diet too; how much refined sugar do you eat?
I do think this is key. My Dad drinks no sugary drinks of any kind, including not just soda but fruit juice, etc. And I've basically stuck to that. Not big on sweets either. That stuff is killing us, seriously.
The thing about soda isn't just the liquid sugar in the soda, but also the acids in the soda itself.
For example, most colas contain phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is the same thing your dentist will swab on your tooth during a basic reconstructive filling procedure, because it softens the enamel a wee bit, ensuring a better bond to the filling.
For example, most colas contain phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is the same thing your dentist will swab on your tooth during a basic reconstructive filling procedure, because it softens the enamel a wee bit, ensuring a better bond to the filling.
More in that vein: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2010/12/dr-mellanbys-t...
Also more, Dr. Weston Price: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html
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There's a mouthwash that aims to do the same thing, and is conducting clinical trials in the US.
The link I found says that they were starting in March, but I can't seem to find anything about the results or if they actually started the expanded trials.
http://www.dentistry.ucla.edu/news/new-mouthwash-targeting-h...
The link I found says that they were starting in March, but I can't seem to find anything about the results or if they actually started the expanded trials.
http://www.dentistry.ucla.edu/news/new-mouthwash-targeting-h...
If everybody starts using this molecule, isn't the bacterium going to adapt, like with antibiotics?
It is quite possible. Bacteria do all sorts of weird and wonderful things to have high genetic diffusion. One of the most interesting is that bacteria will sometimes link up to other bacteria to upload a copy of their genetic codes. (!)
There is a little bit of hope that it could last for a reasonable amount of time, if properly handled. The issue is that organisms can't adapt if the dosage is too high. Usually adapting to a new threat requires, say, a dozen little changes which each improve survival by 5-10%, rather than one monolithic change which improves survival to 100%. Those combinatorics can only work out if most of the bacteria are being destroyed, not if all of them are.
Antibiotics are used this way today. Many people cancel an antibiotic regimen when they feel better, and it's a medical disaster when they do: the antibiotics need to be continued to the point of Total Destruction of all bacteria in your body, which will make you feel weaker, simply so that none of them are naturally selected to have one or two of these 5%-resistance genes.
The same thing happened with DDT and insects. There was a use of DDT -- spraying inside your house -- which had low environmental impact and which insects could not develop resistance to, because the concentrations stay high. This made it amazing as an antimalarial: mosquitoes just always perch on walls and wait until the night comes before they attack, and we could use this to always give them a lethal dosage.
Unfortunately, someone gave DDT to the farmers and then two things happened: (1) DDT got into the food supply for birds, posing serious environmental risks; and (2) insects could now receive a "partial dose" of DDT and develop those sorts of immunities, so now there are DDT-resistant insect populations.
There is a little bit of hope that it could last for a reasonable amount of time, if properly handled. The issue is that organisms can't adapt if the dosage is too high. Usually adapting to a new threat requires, say, a dozen little changes which each improve survival by 5-10%, rather than one monolithic change which improves survival to 100%. Those combinatorics can only work out if most of the bacteria are being destroyed, not if all of them are.
Antibiotics are used this way today. Many people cancel an antibiotic regimen when they feel better, and it's a medical disaster when they do: the antibiotics need to be continued to the point of Total Destruction of all bacteria in your body, which will make you feel weaker, simply so that none of them are naturally selected to have one or two of these 5%-resistance genes.
The same thing happened with DDT and insects. There was a use of DDT -- spraying inside your house -- which had low environmental impact and which insects could not develop resistance to, because the concentrations stay high. This made it amazing as an antimalarial: mosquitoes just always perch on walls and wait until the night comes before they attack, and we could use this to always give them a lethal dosage.
Unfortunately, someone gave DDT to the farmers and then two things happened: (1) DDT got into the food supply for birds, posing serious environmental risks; and (2) insects could now receive a "partial dose" of DDT and develop those sorts of immunities, so now there are DDT-resistant insect populations.
That depends entirely on how it works, and how hard it is to adapt to.
Quinine was used to combat malaria for two centuries, and it's still pretty effective. It isn't used as much today because of its side effects, but the fact that it held up as effective for so long is impressive. Some of the modern antimalarial drugs have seen better resistance develop much faster.
It's at least partly a question of how much the bacteria would have to change itself to adapt. I would expect something really targeted -- that kills only that one type of bacteria and not other things (such as you) -- to be more likely to have an exploitable weakness than something that kills everything (e.g., mouthwash).
Quinine was used to combat malaria for two centuries, and it's still pretty effective. It isn't used as much today because of its side effects, but the fact that it held up as effective for so long is impressive. Some of the modern antimalarial drugs have seen better resistance develop much faster.
It's at least partly a question of how much the bacteria would have to change itself to adapt. I would expect something really targeted -- that kills only that one type of bacteria and not other things (such as you) -- to be more likely to have an exploitable weakness than something that kills everything (e.g., mouthwash).
Worse, people exchange mouth bacteria regularly. Provides the perfect rapid evolution landscape to build super bacteria.
So even if perhaps a few % start using it, it might be enough to set off a situation where people that didn't use it get harmed by people that did by acquiring super bacteria that they then have to treat / fight.
So even if perhaps a few % start using it, it might be enough to set off a situation where people that didn't use it get harmed by people that did by acquiring super bacteria that they then have to treat / fight.
An exceptional book about cavities and health in general:
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration - A Comparison of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their Effects
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/price/pricetoc.html
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration - A Comparison of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their Effects
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/price/pricetoc.html
DOH! I also linked to that book, above, but from Australia Gutenberg.
I've heard such things promised for years, but somehow they never arrive. Not sure if they are being blocked by the industry (curing diseases is bad business), or if there are other issues. But I am not holding my breath.
Interesting given I read this recently http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18686179
Which outlines how seaweed contains a enzyme which kills this very bacteria.
Now unless he is Apple, he may find it hard to get a patent Worldwide on this as toothpastes with seaweed in already exist. Seaweed contains this magic molecule so in many ways he is trying to patent what is already in use! :(.
Which outlines how seaweed contains a enzyme which kills this very bacteria.
Now unless he is Apple, he may find it hard to get a patent Worldwide on this as toothpastes with seaweed in already exist. Seaweed contains this magic molecule so in many ways he is trying to patent what is already in use! :(.
While this is interesting for those who still have very good teeth, I'm still hoping for a scientific method to provoke the growth of a third set of teeth: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=457467
I'm sure everyone would rather have their own rather than implants or even caps.
I'm sure everyone would rather have their own rather than implants or even caps.
Original in spanish http://www.df.cl/cientificos-chilenos-patentan-molecula-que-...
Doesn't Xylitol do something similar by starving them?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol#Dental_care
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol#Dental_care
Reminds me of the "replacement therapy" with GMO bacteria I read about several years ago:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caries_vaccine#Attempts_using_R...
http://www.oragenics.com/?q=cavity-prevention
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caries_vaccine#Attempts_using_R...
http://www.oragenics.com/?q=cavity-prevention
This sounds too good to be true. But if it's true I'll submit to the trials ;p
Does anyone have more details and could comment on the validity?
Does anyone have more details and could comment on the validity?
Ha! They'll get a horses head in the bed from the toothpaste companies.
I've gone months without brushing my teeth. Been to the dentist twice in the last 10 years - no cavities. (Of course, starting in college I realized I should probably brush in the mornings for breath reasons...)
I've often wondered if some clever bio hacker could figure out what protein my genes are telling me to include in my saliva and reverse engineer it. Perhaps these guys did something similar.