Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Toothpaste Null-Terminator

dunkels.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 81 posts

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#61

Post by compsciphd »

jmorenoamor wrote: post #9

Buy two tubes, while true, when you finish a tube, add one toothpaste tube to the shopping list, done. Works great for an average person who usually visits the store. Adjust the initial putchase if you visit the store twice a year. Also works great for many suplies like coffee, pasta, legumes...

yes, having a shopping list is good, but have to remember to put it on the shopping list, so same logic applies.

i.e. when taking out last tube, you have to remember to do it them, but you are about to brush your teeth, so probably not going to do it then, will get to it afterwards, but you're a forgetful person, so you forget, and now you've forgotten its the last tube.

But with the sentinel tube, every time you use it you will remember its the sentinel and you'll be like "did I add it the shopping list?" Eventually one time you'll remember to check the storage / shopping list to see if it needs to be added.

TLDR: the point is for forgetful people who can't do the action required right away.

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#62

Post by bkyan »

I use consumables like toothpaste as top-up items to get past the minimum threshold to qualify for free shipping at Amazon and Walmart. This implicitly triggers a mental check to see if I'm running low on anything.

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#63

Post by sebazzz »

bkyan wrote: post #62

I use consumables like toothpaste as top-up items to get past the minimum threshold to qualify for free shipping at Amazon and Walmart. This implicitly triggers a mental check to see if I'm running low on anything.

Right, so you’re using toothpaste as padding to align your shopping basket struct.

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#64

Post by bkyan »

sebazzz wrote: post #63
bkyan wrote: post #62

I use consumables like toothpaste as top-up items to get past the minimum threshold to qualify for free shipping at Amazon and Walmart. This implicitly triggers a mental check to see if I'm running low on anything.

Right, so you’re using toothpaste as padding to align your shopping basket struct.

Exactly!

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#65

Post by stavros »

mrob wrote: post #29

I use an even simpler and more reliable system to avoid running out of toothpaste: brushing with plain water. Evidence suggests that brushing with toothpaste (called "dentifrice" in scientific papers) does not remove any more plaque than brushing without it. Here's a systematic review from 2016: >Does dentifrice use help to remove plaque? A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27513809/ "The cumulative e…

I use an electric toothbrush, and it leaves no sign of plaque (highly recommended over non-electric ones, by the way). When I start feeling plaque over my teeth, I know it's time to change the brush, that happens maybe every three months.

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#66

Post by adontz »

tail_exchange wrote: post #60
adontz wrote: post #7

I believe neurotypical and neurodivergent people have very different understanding of this article.

Why is that?

For a neurodivergent person remembering to buy a toothpaste or just anything maybe quite challenging. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-dad-lost-in-the-supermarket...

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#67

Post by Neywiny »

mistercow wrote: post #38

> When I find that the only tube of toothpaste left is that special, sentinel toothpaste, then I know it is time to buy more toothpaste. And then I have ample time to do so. I might suggest phrasing this a little differently. Obviously, when you find that any tube is the only tube left, you know it’s time to buy more toothpaste. The problem is that you realize this early in the morning or right before bed, and so you…

My under sink cabinet is a mess. For me, I have no idea if someone is my last tube or just that another one is hiding. This way at least if the different tube is the only one I've found within a reasonable time, there is a high probability that it's the last one. Similar to the classic probability example of marbles in bags.

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#68

Post by Neywiny »

TacticalCoder wrote: post #50
mrob wrote: post #29

I use an even simpler and more reliable system to avoid running out of toothpaste: brushing with plain water. Evidence suggests that brushing with toothpaste (called "dentifrice" in scientific papers) does not remove any more plaque than brushing without it. Here's a systematic review from 2016: >Does dentifrice use help to remove plaque? A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27513809/ "The cumulative e…

> I use an even simpler and more reliable system to avoid running out of toothpaste: brushing with plain water Breath though. Wouldn't fly with my wife. I not only brush with toothpaste, I then use some Hexetidine. And then I take a little Fisherman's Friend or something similar. I like the feeling of freshness. I don't care much about the actual effect: I just care about feeling fresh.

Yeah.... I don't care if other people have plaque on their teeth, I can't see it anyway. But if they reek, that's nasty.

Re: Toothpaste Null-Terminator

#70

Post by kaliszad »

stavros wrote: post #65
mrob wrote: post #29

I use an even simpler and more reliable system to avoid running out of toothpaste: brushing with plain water. Evidence suggests that brushing with toothpaste (called "dentifrice" in scientific papers) does not remove any more plaque than brushing without it. Here's a systematic review from 2016: >Does dentifrice use help to remove plaque? A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27513809/ "The cumulative e…

I use an electric toothbrush, and it leaves no sign of plaque (highly recommended over non-electric ones, by the way). When I start feeling plaque over my teeth, I know it's time to change the brush, that happens maybe every three months.

That assumes you use a suitable electric toothbrush and technique. If you search my comments I have written about dental hygiene before at length.

I use Philips Sonicare, heard good things about Oral-B iO from a dental hygienist who has patients using both.

Of course, flossing using a super floss (OralB makes those) and interdental brushes by Curaprox/ TP of correct sizes is important to also clean the space between your teeth and significantly lower the likelihood of gingivitis and almost eliminates the progression to periodontitis.

Post reply on HN