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Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

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Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#21

Post by Heinleinian »

earl wrote: post #18
Heinleinian wrote: post #9

Random observation -- my family seems to have a gene that makes us basically immune from cavities. My father has, to my knowledge, never had a cavity, despite being born in the 1930's, when health care, hygiene and regular dentist check-ups were not what they are today. 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…

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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#22

Post by Heinleinian »

citricsquid wrote: post #11
Heinleinian wrote: post #9

Random observation -- my family seems to have a gene that makes us basically immune from cavities. My father has, to my knowledge, never had a cavity, despite being born in the 1930's, when health care, hygiene and regular dentist check-ups were not what they are today. 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've gone months without brushing my teeth Why?

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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#23

Post by Vivtek »

geuis wrote: post #12
citricsquid wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've gone months without brushing my teeth 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 asc…

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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#24

Post by adventureful »

danmaz74 wrote: post #7

If everybody starts using this molecule, isn't the bacterium going to adapt, like with antibiotics?

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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#25

Post by delinka »

Heinleinian wrote: post #9

Random observation -- my family seems to have a gene that makes us basically immune from cavities. My father has, to my knowledge, never had a cavity, despite being born in the 1930's, when health care, hygiene and regular dentist check-ups were not what they are today. 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'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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#26

Post by MrFoof »

Heinleinian wrote: post #21
earl wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#28

Post by zitterbewegung »

Heinleinian wrote: post #9

Random observation -- my family seems to have a gene that makes us basically immune from cavities. My father has, to my knowledge, never had a cavity, despite being born in the 1930's, when health care, hygiene and regular dentist check-ups were not what they are today. 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 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.

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#29

Post by [deleted] »

earl wrote: post #18
Heinleinian wrote: post #9

Random observation -- my family seems to have a gene that makes us basically immune from cavities. My father has, to my knowledge, never had a cavity, despite being born in the 1930's, when health care, hygiene and regular dentist check-ups were not what they are today. 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…

it's diet too; how much refined sugar do you eat?

[deleted]

Re: Chilean scientists discover molecule that kills bacteria that cause cavities

#30

Post by mikecane »

abecedarius wrote: post #20
earl wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's diet too; how much refined sugar do you eat?

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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