Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel • Hacker News Board

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#31

Post by Hamuko » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:55 PM UTC

>In addition, the researchers are investigating a gel or solution with the engineered peptide to treat hypersensitive teeth. This problem results from weakness in the enamel that makes the underlying dentin and nerves more vulnerable to heat or cold. Most common products currently on the market can put a layer of organic material on the tooth and numb nerve endings with potassium nitrate, but the relief is only temporary. The peptide, however, addresses the problem permanently at its source by strengthening the enamel.

I want this so badly.

I've never had a cavity despite my poor dental hygiene habits and lack of dental practice visits but apparently I suffer from bruxism that can make half of my teeth hurt whenever I bite on anything harder than a wet noodle. Just now I brushed my teeth with a pain-numbing toothpaste and just the act of brushing my teeth made them hurt. Although sometimes I can go for some time without pain, it's been pretty much a constant in my life for the last years.

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#32

Post by miles » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:57 PM UTC

VierScar wrote: post #17

Black101 wrote: post #2

Please get those crooked dentists out of work, as much as possible.

Crooked dentists? Is this some sort of conspiracy theory? Dentists are medical professionals, who have been needed since the dark ages, and nowadays have very complex equipment and technology to ensure the best long-term and life-like suitable treatments for people. What are you on about?

> Crooked dentists? ... What are you on about?

Like any profession, dentistry has it share of charlatans:

The Truth About Dentistry https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/05/the-tro...

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#33

Post by wyager » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

killermouse0 wrote: post #9

johnkpaul wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hah I felt this same way when I discovered you can change your diet to basically completely remove all dental problems. I doubt society can possible change quickly enough for us to see the downfall of the profession.

Would you care to elaborate on those diet changes?

Eliminate things bacteria can efficiently metabolize, consume things that humans can efficiently metabolize. Namely, eliminate saccharides (sugar, plant starches, etc.) and get your calories from fat instead. Improved dentition is only one of many benefits.

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#34

Post by sebmellen » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

sithadmin wrote: post #25

sebmellen wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Xylitol rinses are great too. Xylitol seems to function as a sort of “probiotic” for the mouth.

It's sort of the opposite of a probiotic. In many organisms, including many non-human mammals, it short-circuits normal metabolic processes. Xylitol-sweetened products will easily sicken, and frequently kill cats and dogs, for instance.

Yes, you’re right, it’s more of an antibiotic, but it seems to have a balancing effect on the oral microbiome.

The research is still nascent and inconclusive, though. Here’s an interesting study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17263856/.

> Conclusions: The results suggest that chewing gum with xylitol or sorbitol/maltitol can reduce the amount of dental plaque and acid production in saliva in schoolchildren, but only the xylitol-containing gum may also interfere with the microbial composition.

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#35

Post by windexh8er » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

endisneigh wrote: post #4

Assuming this works, isn't this pretty much game over for dentists? I'm aware that dentists do more than fillings, but it seems like there would be a serious contraction, even if this costed something like $1000 a tooth after insurance. That being said, even if this worked, it's not like it's instant, so you still have to be careful with your teeth. I wonder how this differs from novamin, which supposedly does the sa…

Mostly no. Keep in mind people are not born with perfect teeth by default. My SO is a DDS and has been practicing for about 15 years now. The bulk of her workday is definitely not fillings. Remember people break teeth, grind teeth, teeth die (trauma, health, etc), people want cosmetic work and the list goes on and on. She loves this type of thing to let people help themselves - but it often doesn't work. There's product on the market already that helps reverse caries before they need to be addressed - and people are lazy. They don't use it, don't follow through, and then come in to have the work done in the end.

So while this will be a great thing for a lot of people it will likely be another tool in a dental professional's belt more than anything.

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#36

Post by robocat » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

Hamuko wrote: post #31

> In addition, the researchers are investigating a gel or solution with the engineered peptide to treat hypersensitive teeth. This problem results from weakness in the enamel that makes the underlying dentin and nerves more vulnerable to heat or cold. Most common products currently on the market can put a layer of organic material on the tooth and numb nerve endings with potassium nitrate, but the relief is only temp…

For anybody that grinds their teeth, investigate getting a splint before you reach this stage.

https://www.coredental.com.au/splints-dentist-recommend-one/

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#37

Post by ChrisMarshallNY » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

kaybe wrote: post #19

joshuahughes wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Presumably no sugar being the primary factor. No carbs too?

I have a friend with extreme food restrictions, they can mostly only eat animal products (plus white rice and very few other things). They also cannot brush their teeth regularly due to disability - yet their teeth look fantastic!

I remember in Sub-Saharan Africa, they all chewed on this stem (can't remember what it was), and everyone I knew had incredible teeth. Their diet was probably also fairly simple. I wasn't really a fan of the local cuisine.

When I lived in Morocco, however, it was the opposite.

Moroccan food is some of the best in the world, but they have sugar in everything. Their mint tea is something that should come with an insulin injector. They buy these giant bricks of sugar, wrapped in blue paper, and just drop them in the pot.

When many Moroccans smile, it looks like a brown picket fence.

Did I mention that Moroccan food is awesome?

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#38

Post by acranox » Sat, May 29, 2021, 10:59 PM UTC

Hamuko wrote: post #31

> In addition, the researchers are investigating a gel or solution with the engineered peptide to treat hypersensitive teeth. This problem results from weakness in the enamel that makes the underlying dentin and nerves more vulnerable to heat or cold. Most common products currently on the market can put a layer of organic material on the tooth and numb nerve endings with potassium nitrate, but the relief is only temp…

Have you tried a toothpaste with Stannous Fluoride? Potassium nitrate never helped me any, but stannous fluoride has helped with my tooth sensitivity.

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#39

Post by bachmeier » Sat, May 29, 2021, 11:01 PM UTC

Black101 wrote: post #2

Please get those crooked dentists out of work, as much as possible.

You're a rabid anti-dentite. Next thing you know you're saying they should have their own schools.

Re: Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel

#40

Post by Hamuko » Sat, May 29, 2021, 11:02 PM UTC

acranox wrote: post #38

Hamuko wrote: post #31

> In addition, the researchers are investigating a gel or solution with the engineered peptide to treat hypersensitive teeth. This problem results from weakness in the enamel that makes the underlying dentin and nerves more vulnerable to heat or cold. Most common products currently on the market can put a layer of organic material on the tooth and numb nerve endings with potassium nitrate, but the relief is only temp…

Have you tried a toothpaste with Stannous Fluoride? Potassium nitrate never helped me any, but stannous fluoride has helped with my tooth sensitivity.

I'm currently using Elmex Sensitive Professional. It's apparently using arginine as its active ingredient. Although I don't know which ingredient in here it is that is actually in charge of numbing the pain. I know I've dabble with some other one as well but I have no idea what it had.

I did find Meridol and Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpastes listed on a national pharmacy's website that apparently contain stannous fluoride, so maybe I'll have to try those out at some point. I don't think I've ever tried either.