Earlier quoted context omitted.
People aren't tested for any contagious illnesses when entering the country.
Not since SARS anyway when they did take temps on entry.
I forgot about that.
A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
131–140 of 158 posts
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#132Swap spit/kiss someone who gets this. Cheaper than dental insurance. Time to bring back the kissing booth.
See section 5.2, "Can’t people transfer the bacterium among themselves without paying Lantern?"
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#133This story has been around for far too long and evidence is unbelievably weak, and the claims border on fraudulent. 1. The claim that this strain outcompetes the same S mutans from occupying the same niche cannot be true unless this strain is also capable of creating and tolerating environments with low pH. By definition if it creates acid to the same degree it will also cause cavities. 2. Single applications are ins…
I'll take your remark into account but you are a competitor and also biased. Doesn't mean what you say isn't true, but it's definitely misaligned incentives. Thank you for your input.
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#134Here is the recipe (linked from the article), it appears they opensourced it?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1744h_8sozZJ2wMR9X-j1GbsXXON...
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#135Earlier quoted context omitted.
Have you tried just using interdental brushes, like these[1]? Using these once a day did wonders for my gingivitis levels. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Sunstar-6505A-Soft-Picks-Advanced-Pac...
> did wonders for my gingivitis levels how do you know your gingivitis levels?
[deleted]
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#136Introducing poorly understood and tested invasive species rarely goes well i.e. the cane toad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toads_in_Australia I'm not about to give it a go in my mouth.
This was my "Mr. Hilltop"* style instantaneous reaction
https://eandt.theiet.org/2018/05/24/top-10-invasive-species-...
My favorite move, in God's** (actual) 4D chess game (playing off our ... tendencies, say), is when we try to introduce a species to get some benefit / value from it ...
https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/spongymothinwisconsin/history...
... then, think - "gee, that worked so well, let's introduce a different species to try and undo the damage!" ...
https://www.science.org/content/article/biological-control-b...
There are plenty of further examples where attempts to remove invasive species have backfired in other ways as well...
But, ya gotta admire that indefatigable optimism!
To be fair and try for a degree of accuracy, we have obviously benefited, in the short term, greatly from technology, engineering, science, etc. ... But, there are certain areas where we do have an abysmal track record. Just about anything abstractly related to the so-called "gray goo" scenario being a prime example. Just like that recursive function you're SURE is limited no matter preconditions ... that takes down one of the main university computer systems the first time it's run... (back in the ol' days when there were fewer 'protectives' [codpieces being out of style even at that time ;)])
* https://youtu.be/DJ976Eb31qw
** For a suitable value of "God" (i.e., insert whatever term you use for everything ... the universe, the matrix, whatever... the relative personification of that particular word works better here, I think)
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#137This story has been around for far too long and evidence is unbelievably weak, and the claims border on fraudulent. 1. The claim that this strain outcompetes the same S mutans from occupying the same niche cannot be true unless this strain is also capable of creating and tolerating environments with low pH. By definition if it creates acid to the same degree it will also cause cavities. 2. Single applications are ins…
Any thoughts on these folks? (They are your direct competitor.) https://probiorahealth.com/product/probiora/ A decade or so ago, their founder started with genetically modified bacteria that supposedly outcompete wildtype strains. The regulators responded in the only sane way possible, and it didn't go to human trials, from what I can tell. List of publications from their founder: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?ter…
Absolutely anecdotal - for a couple months Ive been taking a probioria tab every night before bed, and my mouth seems to be less gross pasty sticky in the morning.
I’m curious to see whether my dental hygienist notices any improvement next visit.
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#138Anecdote time: My great grandmother lived to be 102 and never had a cavity. Kept all her teeth to the end. One time, an orderly who thought she was just being senile tried to reach into her mouth to take out her teeth (thinking she had dentures). My great grandmother bit that person; hope they learned not all old people are senile! I’m 40% of the way there. No cavities and rave reviews from my dentist. I brush—-best…
I'm very similar. I have excellent oral health... brush 2x/day, don't floss. Two interesting datapoints:
1. I changed jobs a few times, and for various reasons I neglected to see a dentist for 10 years. When I finally went back, had perfect oral health and no cavities. My hygienist still remembers me because this event was so far outside her experience + expectations.
2. My wife had "normal" tooth decay problems throughout her life, until we started dating, at which point she's had no further cavities. ;)
To answer the normal questions: I don't do anything particularly special with my diet except a general avoidance of sweetened drinks - no soda pop, no sweeteners in my coffee.
If anyone wants to swab my mouth and pay me a small licensing royalty for commercialization please get in touch. Heh.
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#139This story has been around for far too long and evidence is unbelievably weak, and the claims border on fraudulent. 1. The claim that this strain outcompetes the same S mutans from occupying the same niche cannot be true unless this strain is also capable of creating and tolerating environments with low pH. By definition if it creates acid to the same degree it will also cause cavities. 2. Single applications are ins…
I know nothing about oral bacteria, but I like the cut of your jib.
I'm with this science guy!
Re: A genetically modified bacterium that outcompetes bacteria causing tooth decay
#140This seems like a scam... The author claims that the FDA set impossible standards for getting this approved when it was originally discovered and that those same standards prevent them from seeking FDA approval now....but further down acknowledges that probiotics like this product are actually subject to much more lenient standards.
I think you misunderstood the author. The treatment was proposed to the FDA decades ago as a drug . The drug approval process yielded the impossible ask. Those same standards prevent them from seeking FDA approval now as a drug . That this could be approved as a probiotic is a recent idea. The impossible standards are not the probiotic lenient standards.
For a product supposedly being pushed by a bunch of rationalists, nothing about this drug or the underlying story is actually rational if you know anything about how the FDA approval process works.
The approval process supposedly required an impossible ask. Oddly enough, I could find no record of this impossible ask anywhere except in this company's website or on other "rationalist" websites, all of whom cite this company as the sole source.
And in fact...this impossible ask doesn't actually take into account how the FDA approval process works...or has ever worked...
It's the kind of story someone make ups when they're trying to explain why their miracle invention failed.
(And note that oral probiotics have been approved by the FDA for human use for several decades, including back when this supposed miracle bacteria was discovered. And Japan and Europe have much more lenient standards, now and then, for oral treatments and yet no attempt was made to launch the product there. And China and much of South East Asia don't even bother regulating this type of product, so why wasn't this launched in Asia? Why is the only market they're launching this product in a jurisdiction in which "biohacking" products are completely exempted from regulationo)
Nothing about this product adds up, and it bares multiple hallmarks of being a scam. (See the currently top-ranked comment on this post.)