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Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

lanternbioworks.com

181–190 of 312 posts

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#181
post #69

So within the existing population today there exist individuals who essentially never get cavities. The hypothesis for this has been 1. they don't eat sugar, or only fibrous foods, etc. 2. They have a genetic difference that builds stronger enamel or similar. I have never heard of anyone discussing bacteria in the mouth as a possible difference. Be interested to see if there is a natural strand that some people have…

I'm 40 years old. Never had cavities. I eat plenty of sugar.

Are you good about brushing your teeth and flossing on the regular? Having lots of sugar isn't what causes cavities, it's not keeping up your dental hygiene. So if you eat a lot of sugar but brush well on a regular basis, I would expect you to not get cavities.

Genetics play a role as well. My mom never got cavities despite never brushing her teeth, whereas my dad could brush pretty regularly and still have a cavity or two when he got checked up. Sadly I inherited my dad's genes, not my mom's.

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#183

A conversation with my friend who was a dentistry student, ~2013. > [The friend, let's call her L, trying to dissuade me from drinking some fizzy drink] > J: But I won't get a cavity if the liquid doesn't touch my teeth. > L: Cavities are caused by the ensuing low ph environment, not by contact with teeth > J: Does that mean I can drink as much of it as I want as long as I rinse my mouth with water afterwards? > L, w…

Yes! Rinsing your mouth REGULARLY after meals does a lot to prevent further cavities. Also a diet high in animal meat and fats (cheese, butter etc.) helps strengthen teeth https://www.healthygoods.com/blogs/news/dr-weston-prices-die...

And cutting out sugars - especially fructose - avoids diabetes. Some people who are lactose intolerant cut out lactose, and some people prone to celiac disease cut out gluten. Sometimes the simplest solutions, done consistently, are best:

https://aeon.co/essays/sugar-is-a-toxic-agent-that-creates-c...

As for toothbrushes — if you are worried about microplastics you can get this:

https://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Toothbrush-Adult-Size-Pack/dp/...

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ray Kurzweil will outlive us all, if taking 200 pills a day works: https://www.wired.com/2008/03/ff-kurzweil/#:~:text=He%20is%2... .

I just cant take this seriously. Why are Americans so afraid of death?

I honestly can’t think of a dumber take.

Longevity isn’t really about adding more years. No one wants to live another 10,20,30 more years how we currently do. But, if you can improve everyone’s health span, the amount of healthy, able bodies years, why wouldn’t you? It would be a great relief to our health care system. People can spend more time doing what they love without worrying about their body giving out on them.

Being someone who lost two immediate family members before 30, I’d do anything to have had them live longer and healthy instead of watching the slow and fast decline of the human body.

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems hard to believe the ethanol producing bacterial strain would dominate your oral microbione for life from one application. But I’m willing to have an open mind and see some data. They need to get the data off of the Google drive and presented in a better way. I don’t click unknown Google drive links if I can avoid it.

Brushing your teeth and using mouthwash wipes out the majority of the micro biome. Application of the new strain shortly after could totally replace it wholesale. That said, I can’t imagine there’s not other side effects that just aren’t known yet. The sample size and reporting (as far as we know) is just too small and meaningless.

This definitely can’t be true. There are too many spaces that cannot be reached mechanically.

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#186
post #112

This is certainly an interesting idea, but there's absolutely no way for anyone to judge whether the claim on this page is bulletproof true, something plausible worth researching more, or just total nonsense. But the fact that there isn't a single link to any scientific paper or evidence whatsoever, or even a single person's name linked to the site (or source of funding or anything ), makes me assume this is just spa…

I take very significant issue with the fact their appendix A and B do not link to the original literature. When I was skimming the pitch deck, I thought they had done the experiments themselves, but it just looks like they copy pasted the results without proper citation. At best this appears as miscommunication, at worst misrepresentation of the work they have accomplished. I work in medical startup space and the evi…

>I work in medical startup space and the evidence we develop to prove our technology works typically has a higher threshold than what I've seen presented.

Like what?

>I would want to see significantly more work done to demonstrate the scientific validity of this research.

Like what?

Educate the layman instead of saying this is no good, please.

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't want to get too conspiratorial, but dentists make their money on cavities, not cleanings.

If you want to more or less permanently stop gum bleeding pre-brush with a dilute (50 to 200 ppm) solution of hypochlorous acid generated from vinegar acidified salt water (0.8-2%) with salt concentration (saline is 0.8-0.9%) then hit it with a $5 Aliexpress USB electrolyzer for about 30 seconds. The biofilms come right off, your toothbrush ceases to accumulate biological matter, and hypochlorous acid does not begin…

Any thoughts on brushing with a concoction of peroxide and baking soda as recommended in this yt video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cow6wNRJqoo

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#188

A conversation with my friend who was a dentistry student, ~2013. > [The friend, let's call her L, trying to dissuade me from drinking some fizzy drink] > J: But I won't get a cavity if the liquid doesn't touch my teeth. > L: Cavities are caused by the ensuing low ph environment, not by contact with teeth > J: Does that mean I can drink as much of it as I want as long as I rinse my mouth with water afterwards? > L, w…

> I have yet to find interdental toothbrushes whose use doesn't lead to ingesting nylon. Use the interdental toothpicks made of wood.

Very bad advice, as the brushes need to have specific sizes suitable for the spaces and the bristles actually reach more spaces and remove plaque. However, someone could manufacture the brushes from natural hair, e.g. from pigs as with other kinds of brushes.

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#189
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The average time from scientific discovery to commercial success in biotech is measured in decades. Barry Werth's book The Antidote goes into why it's so slow and complicated: https://www.amazon.com/Antidote-Inside-World-New-Pharma/dp/1...

Ok its been just about 4 decades. There appears to be 0 progress on this front.

It costs a ton of money to bring a treatment to market, and this one has roughly zero commercial value. Presumably once in the world it would naturally spread just by people kissing or whatever.

I don't think it's totally impossible that this really works and everyone gave up on it.

But I'd probably still put my money on this not really working (or having unwelcome side effects) and people quietly shutting down the project without publicly documenting the issues.

Re: Gene-Engineered Mouth Bacteria

#190
post #69

So within the existing population today there exist individuals who essentially never get cavities. The hypothesis for this has been 1. they don't eat sugar, or only fibrous foods, etc. 2. They have a genetic difference that builds stronger enamel or similar. I have never heard of anyone discussing bacteria in the mouth as a possible difference. Be interested to see if there is a natural strand that some people have…

I'm 40 years old. Never had cavities. I eat plenty of sugar.

Yeah basically the same for me - I had a couple in my baby teeth, but I’ve never had a cavity as an adult.
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