Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel(dental.washington.edu)
dental.washington.edu
Trials begin on lozenge that rebuilds tooth enamel
https://dental.washington.edu/trials-begin-on-lozenge-that-rebuilds-tooth-enamel/
363 comments
Have you looked into botox shots at all? When I tell you my life changed completely from a 15 minute botox appointment with an oral surgeon I am not exaggerating in the least. I’d had no idea what it felt like to live without bruxism - not only were my teeth better but my neck stopped aching, my back muscles stopped spasming, and I stopped getting migraines entirely. I had gotten debilitating migraines once every month or two since I was a kid and had been taking pretty serious medicine to prevent and combat them for the better part of a decade. They stopped completely, cold turkey, after my first botox appointment. And I had no idea that was even a possible side effect(? benefit?) of the botox procedure at the time!
I’m sure I’ve written about it here before but it was wild how much the botox changed my quality of life to the point it was actually really upsetting to me at first. I had struggled for so long and I had to fight with insurance so much to get the botox covered (it was off-label at the time for TMJ, I think it’s approved now) and there had been a safe, simple, and highly effective solution that I sort of stumbled into out of sheer desperation, a lot of good luck, and a series of referrals on referrals on referrals.
Oh yeah, and much to my dentist & orthodontist’s delight, I stopped breaking my retainer in my sleep, stopped needing a mouth guard at night, and stopped needing special toothpaste for my sensitive teeth. But those improvements pale in comparison to the literal whole-body benefits.
I know it’s not going to be a magic bullet solution for everyone the way it was for me but the improvement was so night and day I have an almost compulsive need to bring it up whenever someone mentions they suffer from bruxism or migraines just in case it can put an end to their misery, too. So if you haven’t looked into it yet the potential upside makes it well worthwhile to bring it up with your doctor and/or dentist.
Or, if you happen to be in Massachusetts, give Dr. David Keith at MGH a call.
I’m sure I’ve written about it here before but it was wild how much the botox changed my quality of life to the point it was actually really upsetting to me at first. I had struggled for so long and I had to fight with insurance so much to get the botox covered (it was off-label at the time for TMJ, I think it’s approved now) and there had been a safe, simple, and highly effective solution that I sort of stumbled into out of sheer desperation, a lot of good luck, and a series of referrals on referrals on referrals.
Oh yeah, and much to my dentist & orthodontist’s delight, I stopped breaking my retainer in my sleep, stopped needing a mouth guard at night, and stopped needing special toothpaste for my sensitive teeth. But those improvements pale in comparison to the literal whole-body benefits.
I know it’s not going to be a magic bullet solution for everyone the way it was for me but the improvement was so night and day I have an almost compulsive need to bring it up whenever someone mentions they suffer from bruxism or migraines just in case it can put an end to their misery, too. So if you haven’t looked into it yet the potential upside makes it well worthwhile to bring it up with your doctor and/or dentist.
Or, if you happen to be in Massachusetts, give Dr. David Keith at MGH a call.
I don’t know anything about this ailment or this solution but I’m glad to read this story.
I’ve found other examples of ailments with relatively inexpensive or simple solutions that are unknown to many.
I think many people suffer to varying degrees simply because they don’t know some important piece of information.
Sometimes historical solutions overwhelm new or lesser known yet effective solutions and this prevents people from living better lives.
Sort of like how stack overflow is overrun with answers conflating jquery with JavaScript.
With health stuff, I think sometimes the friction and expense of seeing a professional prevents people from getting answers. Though sometimes these folks don’t have the most up to date or best information either.
It is almost like we need wikihow style answers for a far broader spread over life’s many questions.
In some cases like parent’s, this can be life-changing information. And while the procedure is not free the knowledge that motivates one to find a way to greatly improve one’s own outlook is.
I’ve found other examples of ailments with relatively inexpensive or simple solutions that are unknown to many.
I think many people suffer to varying degrees simply because they don’t know some important piece of information.
Sometimes historical solutions overwhelm new or lesser known yet effective solutions and this prevents people from living better lives.
Sort of like how stack overflow is overrun with answers conflating jquery with JavaScript.
With health stuff, I think sometimes the friction and expense of seeing a professional prevents people from getting answers. Though sometimes these folks don’t have the most up to date or best information either.
It is almost like we need wikihow style answers for a far broader spread over life’s many questions.
In some cases like parent’s, this can be life-changing information. And while the procedure is not free the knowledge that motivates one to find a way to greatly improve one’s own outlook is.
"The future is here, it's just not evenly distributed" - I always encounter this theme with healthcare
Interesting solution! I had massive issues with my posture, neck, hips and even feet, which i know, sounds crazy, but all came from my bruxism and bite. If you have bad posture and maloclussion, look into forward head posture, lots of studies on it now.
I have not done botox. What i did was jaw relaxation exersices and physiotherapy. Its helped a lot.
I have a compulsive need to bring this up as well, I didnt understand it all was happening to me and starting to treat it has changed my life.
I have not done botox. What i did was jaw relaxation exersices and physiotherapy. Its helped a lot.
I have a compulsive need to bring this up as well, I didnt understand it all was happening to me and starting to treat it has changed my life.
I asked my wife (an oral surgeon) if she does this procedure for the same issue and she says yes. Happy to hear this is common practice for oral surgeons.
Back problems, bruxism, migraines - have you had yourself tested for some bacterial infection like e.g. lyme or bartonella? Just to have that excluded before treating symptoms.
I've had all of this for years (more like decades) plus different additional symptoms and got diagnosed last year. The ongoing treatment is not for the faint of heart but symptoms are on the retreat since.
PS: I've grown up in rural Germany and also had close contact to cattle as a kid etc.
I've had all of this for years (more like decades) plus different additional symptoms and got diagnosed last year. The ongoing treatment is not for the faint of heart but symptoms are on the retreat since.
PS: I've grown up in rural Germany and also had close contact to cattle as a kid etc.
I've had bruxism my entire life. Headaches, TMJ, and jaw pain are what I've experienced.
Most people have back problems, so that could just be concomitant.
I used to live in an area with endemic Lyme disease, but contracting that would've presented all kind of other horrible symptoms.
I also have SCDS, likely from pushing too forcefully on the loo, loud noises, air pressure extreme changes, high blood pressure/swings, and congenital thinness as confirmed on CT. The fix require a middle fossa craniotomy approach.
Most people have back problems, so that could just be concomitant.
I used to live in an area with endemic Lyme disease, but contracting that would've presented all kind of other horrible symptoms.
I also have SCDS, likely from pushing too forcefully on the loo, loud noises, air pressure extreme changes, high blood pressure/swings, and congenital thinness as confirmed on CT. The fix require a middle fossa craniotomy approach.
What other bacterial infections could cause these symptoms aside from lyme and bartonella?
Would such an infection be able to explain chronic symptoms over a 1-2 year period?
Would such an infection be able to explain chronic symptoms over a 1-2 year period?
My MD offers lab tests for Chlamydia, Bartonella, different strains of Borellia, Yersinia, Ehrlichia amongst others, she also offers tests for HPV and Mono. To be honest: I have no clue what is causing which exact symptom, it's also often the immune response / inflammation that's the reason for the pain and other problems.
Edit: forgot to answer your question. yes, in my case it was episodes of joint pain, neck stiffness, lightheadedness, heavy fatigue, numb fingertips, skin problems, heavy mood swings and more with symptom free times in between for more than 20 years - often triggered by stress but not always. And the symptoms got worse with me growing older.
The condition is not easy to diagnose and you need the right specialist, there's lots of snake oil out there and treatment is longterm and without a guarantee to cure 100%.
Edit: forgot to answer your question. yes, in my case it was episodes of joint pain, neck stiffness, lightheadedness, heavy fatigue, numb fingertips, skin problems, heavy mood swings and more with symptom free times in between for more than 20 years - often triggered by stress but not always. And the symptoms got worse with me growing older.
The condition is not easy to diagnose and you need the right specialist, there's lots of snake oil out there and treatment is longterm and without a guarantee to cure 100%.
Thanks. What kind of specialist is suggested for such a bacterial infection? Immunologist?
My general practitioner who is also an internist was overwhelmed ("deal with it, you're getting older" diagnosed only psychosomatic reasons etc). A friend of mine suggested an MD who specializes in such infections, I later changed to a Doc nearer to where I live. Got the address from Deutsche Borreliose Gesellschaft, a german registry for lyme.
MDs who get arrogant, lazy, or gaslight patients into thinking they're "crazy" are no longer practicing medicine but are rationing care, sticking their heads in the sand, and hands in the air.
One ENT told me I had "allergies" when I said I could hear my left eye move in my head and he pretended he didn't find an Weber test extreme left lateralization. Another two ENTs found I have repairable SCDS as confirmed by high resolution CT and audiological testing.
Doctors who don't listen to you or BS you cannot be trusted with your life. Dump them and don't feel bad about it because they gave up on you first. There is no reward for loyalty. It's only your life.
One ENT told me I had "allergies" when I said I could hear my left eye move in my head and he pretended he didn't find an Weber test extreme left lateralization. Another two ENTs found I have repairable SCDS as confirmed by high resolution CT and audiological testing.
Doctors who don't listen to you or BS you cannot be trusted with your life. Dump them and don't feel bad about it because they gave up on you first. There is no reward for loyalty. It's only your life.
Numb fingers can be from distal neuropathy. Pin and needles or reduced sensation. I have reduced sensation almost everywhere.
>Would such an infection be able to explain chronic symptoms over a 1-2 year period?
These symptoms specifically: some at least, I believe. Lyme disease is fairly well known for having severe lasting effects though, years of issues even after treatment is not uncommon at all.
These symptoms specifically: some at least, I believe. Lyme disease is fairly well known for having severe lasting effects though, years of issues even after treatment is not uncommon at all.
Thank you so much for posting this! I’ve ground my teeth badly my whole life, it’s starting to get to the bad parts of my teeth and gums receding etc etc despite retainers, and I’ll definitely look into this!
Yours,
Guy at the end of his enamel
Yours,
Guy at the end of his enamel
You may also want to check your neck posture. I've found that, in my case, using laptops invariably leads to bruxism due to poor ergonomics.
Quitting laptops and using a proper desktop, or a laptop stand plus an external keyboard, was like toggling off the bruxism switch. It went off in a week. Plus, I stopped suffering from horrible migraines.
In order to repair your enamel a bit and keep what you have you may want to try toothpastes and creams that contain enamel-like ceramics. I've had spectacular results with a combination of calcium salts, fluoride and hydroxyapatite and ceramics (Novamin). There are better things to add up into the mix right now, such as self-assembling peptide scaffolds.
Quitting laptops and using a proper desktop, or a laptop stand plus an external keyboard, was like toggling off the bruxism switch. It went off in a week. Plus, I stopped suffering from horrible migraines.
In order to repair your enamel a bit and keep what you have you may want to try toothpastes and creams that contain enamel-like ceramics. I've had spectacular results with a combination of calcium salts, fluoride and hydroxyapatite and ceramics (Novamin). There are better things to add up into the mix right now, such as self-assembling peptide scaffolds.
Hmm okay this is a great pointer too. I’ll look into it, thank you!
Can you describe more specifically where the Botox was injected? What muscle(s) did it paralyze?
I don’t know the muscles but maybe someone here can chime in with the specific names from this very unscientific description: on each side of my head kind of near my temples and on each side of my jaw near the corner(?) bone. (Really regretting never having taken an anatomy class...) If you put your finger on your earlobe and pull it maybe an inch forward I would say it was about there. My doctor kindly used some sort of very cold topical numbing spray before the injections which meant I couldn’t feel much. So in addition to my description being very unscientific it could also be slightly inaccurate.
I think my doctor was somewhat unique (at least at the time) for doing the temple injections to treat TMJ and I think the temple is one of the injection locations used now when someone gets Botox for migraines. I know there were additional possible injection sites he used for more severe cases or where there wasn’t complete relief but I can’t recall where they were because I didn’t end up needing them.
I think my doctor was somewhat unique (at least at the time) for doing the temple injections to treat TMJ and I think the temple is one of the injection locations used now when someone gets Botox for migraines. I know there were additional possible injection sites he used for more severe cases or where there wasn’t complete relief but I can’t recall where they were because I didn’t end up needing them.
Could you be referring to the masseters? Those are the muscles you use for chewing.
Are there any negative side effects from this procedure, short term and long term?
How frequently does it need to be repeated?
How frequently does it need to be repeated?
We usually do masseter and temporalis muscles.
Any idea if it works for tinnitus?
Try and see whether you can relax your jaw (if you do it right your tongue would hang lower than usual and it may feel like saliva is produced at a faster rate), and see if tinnitus retreats after a while. If it does, I would speculate that the shots would then also work, though it may be helpful to find a psychosomatic approach first. (I'm not a doctor but familiar with such cases).
Sounds like TMJ issue.
I suffer horrific migraines. One day after someone mentioned TMJ. I started massage various points around jaw. Found an incredibly painful spot. Worked on it over 3 days until it stopped hurting. Migraines stopped. Several months later they started again. That same spot was bad again. Same results.
Botox is an another way to deal with it.
I suffer horrific migraines. One day after someone mentioned TMJ. I started massage various points around jaw. Found an incredibly painful spot. Worked on it over 3 days until it stopped hurting. Migraines stopped. Several months later they started again. That same spot was bad again. Same results.
Botox is an another way to deal with it.
to clarify, are you saying that a single treatment of botox cured you of these ailments?
Good question, no. It’s too late to edit my original comment but I went probably every two or three months for a few years. The relief was immediate and continual and the migraines, back spasms, etc. never returned but I did get maintenance injections. I don’t know how to describe it but I could kind of feel that was wearing off. Like I feel my jaw muscles getting stronger and that’s when I’d make an appointment to go back. Eventually the follow-up appointments started to spread out further and then they stopped. I still don’t chew gum, though. As soon as I chew gum I can feel those muscles wanting to bulk right back up!
It’s my understanding that Botox weakens the muscle and people who clench/grind their teeth have very strong muscles so you kind of keep going until the muscle is atrophied(?) down to a normal strength. So I would imagine the earlier you go for treatment the shorter the amount time you’d require treatment and vice versa. For more severe cases there’s actually a visible difference in your face, too. It’s too subtle for most people to notice but I can look at photos of myself and tell you whether it was before or after I started botox. When your jaw muscles are so strong it makes your face more square.
Here’s a good example of what I’m talking about: https://www.realself.com/photos/botox/botox-for-tmj#media-ph...
It’s my understanding that Botox weakens the muscle and people who clench/grind their teeth have very strong muscles so you kind of keep going until the muscle is atrophied(?) down to a normal strength. So I would imagine the earlier you go for treatment the shorter the amount time you’d require treatment and vice versa. For more severe cases there’s actually a visible difference in your face, too. It’s too subtle for most people to notice but I can look at photos of myself and tell you whether it was before or after I started botox. When your jaw muscles are so strong it makes your face more square.
Here’s a good example of what I’m talking about: https://www.realself.com/photos/botox/botox-for-tmj#media-ph...
Is it safe? I’ve read that it might cause bone loss and the long term safety has not been established.
Botox lasts for about 3 months. It can take multiple treatments to allow for muscle atrophy. The relief usually lasts for as long as the Botox does until the muscles change.
Thanks, I’m going to try this. Wonder if it’s the cause of my neck issues.
I'm curious about the neck piece of it. I grind at night, too, but I have neck and upper back issues despite everything I do to prevent, including years of PT exercises.
I don’t know you and haven’t had any of your symptoms, but reading your story brought a smile to my face. Thanks for sharing, hopefully it helps others.
Very helpful information! Thank you so much!
Botox.. hmm. Interesting.
I chipped / broke half of a crowded-out front tooth one night a month or so ago. My teeth sometimes chatter on their own at night.
My jaw is compact and massively internally-hypertrophic (reinforced) from a lifetime of bruxism. Also, masseters are jacked, teeth roots are extremely long, and my neck muscles are hypertrophic (no neck) too. I wonder if this is an evolutionary adaptation of a "fighter" body plan.
I chipped / broke half of a crowded-out front tooth one night a month or so ago. My teeth sometimes chatter on their own at night.
My jaw is compact and massively internally-hypertrophic (reinforced) from a lifetime of bruxism. Also, masseters are jacked, teeth roots are extremely long, and my neck muscles are hypertrophic (no neck) too. I wonder if this is an evolutionary adaptation of a "fighter" body plan.
Kinrany(1)
Although I haven't personally tried it, I have friends outside of the US that rave about Sensodyne Repair & Protect original with the "Powered by NovaMin" badging. NovaMin is composed of special ceramic particles that coat the teeth with a compound that reacts with the saliva to form a durable physical barrier.
The problem is that the stuff with NovaMin is not typically available in the US. I just searched Amazon and found that they do sell small tubes of the real thing for about $14 each. Looks like it is coming from Canada.
https://www.amazon.com/Sensodyne-Protect-Whitening-Toothpast...
Here is a 2013 article:
https://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/biomaterials/gsk-dro...
The problem is that the stuff with NovaMin is not typically available in the US. I just searched Amazon and found that they do sell small tubes of the real thing for about $14 each. Looks like it is coming from Canada.
https://www.amazon.com/Sensodyne-Protect-Whitening-Toothpast...
Here is a 2013 article:
https://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/biomaterials/gsk-dro...
As of a few years ago there's a similar FDA approved ingredient available in the US as BioMin. It works well for me and is cheaper than importing NovaMin.
Biomin also claims that their particles are smaller and therefore more effective at mineralization than Novamin.
Another option for leveling up on toothpaste is using those that contain micronized hydroxyapatite. Options here are Carifree or the Japanese brand Apagard available on eBay or Amazon. Biomin’s formula is proprietary but it might contain hydroxyapatite in part.
I stopped randomly getting cavities after using xylitol gum occasionally and brushing with these various toothpastes, n=1.
There also exist a variety of oral probiotics that claim to rebalance mouth flora away from species that cause cavities.
While no dentist ever told me about any of these options, at least Carifree is starting to market through US dentists.
Another option for leveling up on toothpaste is using those that contain micronized hydroxyapatite. Options here are Carifree or the Japanese brand Apagard available on eBay or Amazon. Biomin’s formula is proprietary but it might contain hydroxyapatite in part.
I stopped randomly getting cavities after using xylitol gum occasionally and brushing with these various toothpastes, n=1.
There also exist a variety of oral probiotics that claim to rebalance mouth flora away from species that cause cavities.
While no dentist ever told me about any of these options, at least Carifree is starting to market through US dentists.
HAP, available in Japan since 1970.
wow, just found this where they compared HAP to fluoride and found no difference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-019-0026-8
I have novamin. I think it makes my teeth feel different. May be placebo.
A lot of people swear by HAP, novamin, etc. I suspect it all comes down to increased oral care and diligence though!
wow, just found this where they compared HAP to fluoride and found no difference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-019-0026-8
I have novamin. I think it makes my teeth feel different. May be placebo.
A lot of people swear by HAP, novamin, etc. I suspect it all comes down to increased oral care and diligence though!
> I think it makes my teeth feel different.
I definitely feel something too, like the surface is slicker.
I definitely feel something too, like the surface is slicker.
Just out of interest, and not detracting from what you're saying, but normal fluoride also forms a compound (flouro-apetite) more resistant to avoid than normal tooth material (appetite). At least according to this chemist:
https://youtu.be/vtWp45Eewtw
(tooth chat at 5:10, but the whole video is interesting)
(tooth chat at 5:10, but the whole video is interesting)
That Sensodyne paste struck some memories; I recall having seen it at a local shop, possibly even trying it, although at a much lower price, and a quick check on a local price list site confirms it.
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https...
All prices under €4, but of course shipping rates are for local delivery and I have no idea if the sellers can ship abroad, most of them might not even speak a word of English, however here they are; making quite a big order would defeat the costs for shipping to the US, which usually are high.
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https...
All prices under €4, but of course shipping rates are for local delivery and I have no idea if the sellers can ship abroad, most of them might not even speak a word of English, however here they are; making quite a big order would defeat the costs for shipping to the US, which usually are high.
I live in Greece and use the toothpaste regularly. It really works. Prices here are about 4.5 euro each.
I just bought 3 small tubes for $9 on Amazon, seemingly coming from Canada. I bought some previously from an Amazon seller in India, and have been using it for a few weeks. It seems to be working - teeth are less sensitive.
I’ve been using it for years - the first time I went to the dentist after having used it for a while was the first time I’ve ever had a dentist be so positive about the condition of my teeth.
There was an article on HN a few weeks ago that did a deep dive into Novamin and the like, I think it was https://medium.com/@ravenstine/the-curious-history-of-novami...
I stock up on it (and Eat-Mores) when I visit Vancouver, but it's not magical and won't fix a bad habit of not brushing very often.
Live in Vancouver. Where do you purchase it?
I suppose anywhere the sells toothpaste, just make sure it has Novamin on the package since Sensodyne has other kinds. I don't remember exactly where it was last time, some random corner store near the Waterfront station (perhaps Shoppers Drug Mart looking at a map, or Seymour mini mart).
It helps a lot for sensitive teeth.
It's here in Australia - around AUD10 for a large tube.
PS. Novamin is Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate as the active ingredient.
PS. Novamin is Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate as the active ingredient.
Oh I need to try this. My enamel has been bad since I was a kid in spite of a great oral hygiene routine. Constant problems.
My dentist turned me on to Colgate Prevident and the regular Sensodyne fluoride pastes but never that one.
My dentist turned me on to Colgate Prevident and the regular Sensodyne fluoride pastes but never that one.
Not to be confused with the painkiller Novamin (Metamizole).
For anybody that grinds their teeth, investigate getting a splint before you reach this stage.
https://www.coredental.com.au/splints-dentist-recommend-one/
https://www.coredental.com.au/splints-dentist-recommend-one/
They give me very bad tooth pain and cause my teeth to move (I couldn't close my mouth properly after I used one for a couple weeks as 2 teeth would end up touching that didn't before). Luckily it reverted quickly but I stopped using it.
I mainly used it because sometimes I woke up hitting my teeth together really hard (it hurt a lot) but it was mainly due to stress. I really try to avoid that now, if I fail I may go back to using it :(
These lozenges will be great to get. I have pretty strong enamel though as they give all kids regular fluoride treatments. It really helped for me. I didn't have a cavity until the age of 43.
I mainly used it because sometimes I woke up hitting my teeth together really hard (it hurt a lot) but it was mainly due to stress. I really try to avoid that now, if I fail I may go back to using it :(
These lozenges will be great to get. I have pretty strong enamel though as they give all kids regular fluoride treatments. It really helped for me. I didn't have a cavity until the age of 43.
> cause my teeth to move
This is why you want one fitted across all your teeth by a dentist. And made out of a solid material so it continues to fit the same way rather than sharper teeth pushing down further. That way it sits properly and balances all of the tooth-tooth forces.
Having said all that, mine developed a hairline fracture and eventually split in two, but actually sits a bit better as two pieces until I get a new one made in a month.
This is why you want one fitted across all your teeth by a dentist. And made out of a solid material so it continues to fit the same way rather than sharper teeth pushing down further. That way it sits properly and balances all of the tooth-tooth forces.
Having said all that, mine developed a hairline fracture and eventually split in two, but actually sits a bit better as two pieces until I get a new one made in a month.
That's not for everyone. I tried it for many months, and it made my condition worse and worse. Expensive appliance molded by my dentist, he even re molded when I complained it rocked a little, and then again gave me a different tech.
All for nothing. Splint, or mouth guard in North America, caused me to develop daytime bruxism and it moved my teeth in such a way that my back teeth didn't touch firmly, which my brain wanted to resolve by biting harder.
If it's my enamel or my TMJ, I guess I picked my TMJ. Grinding with the splint made my jaw hurt more.
All for nothing. Splint, or mouth guard in North America, caused me to develop daytime bruxism and it moved my teeth in such a way that my back teeth didn't touch firmly, which my brain wanted to resolve by biting harder.
If it's my enamel or my TMJ, I guess I picked my TMJ. Grinding with the splint made my jaw hurt more.
I struggle with this. However I don't know what to do. I couldn't wear a splint, because I have a very sensitive gag reflex. I can almost start vomiting just by brushing me teeths...
Soft mouth guards as are used for contact sports?
You dip them in hot water and then bite to form them, so they aren’t near your gag reflex.
You dip them in hot water and then bite to form them, so they aren’t near your gag reflex.
Yeah. I think the issue might be more a psychological one, I gag very easily
See if your dentist can do a smaller splint on your front teeth, if your teeth haven't already been misaligned due to the bruxism this shouldn't cause anything to shift.
Or jaw surgery. Splints (especially mouthguards) can force you to mouthbreathe and cause sleep apnea.
This is my problem right now. My dentist told me my ground-down molars are some of the worst he's ever seen, but my splint makes me snore terribly (I wear it anyway). Not sure I'm up for jaw surgery though!
>I've never had a cavity despite my poor dental hygiene habits and lack of dental practice visits
How old are you?
I was the same until 34 years of age, that's when I bit down on a peanutbutter brittle piece from haagen daazs ice cream and broke my first tooth. After that the visits just piled on.
Now I have one root totally dug out and filled in, (root canal?) and one small hole filled in. I floss daily and brush daily now. I take it seriously. Don't be like me, take it seriously now!
How old are you?
I was the same until 34 years of age, that's when I bit down on a peanutbutter brittle piece from haagen daazs ice cream and broke my first tooth. After that the visits just piled on.
Now I have one root totally dug out and filled in, (root canal?) and one small hole filled in. I floss daily and brush daily now. I take it seriously. Don't be like me, take it seriously now!
I had a similar story, broke a tooth eating something that had no right to break a tooth, ended up with a dental implant and half a mouthful of assorted fillings and two partial restorations (both near misses - the decay was nearly to the root, and if I had left it another month or so they would have needed root canals).
The worst part isn't even breaking the tooth or the resulting surgery, but rather it takes a year or more before things are back to normal with an implant (they backfill the extraction site with bone powder that acts as a scaffold to regrow the jaw and prevent sinking, which takes a minimum of six months, then they install the screw the implant attaches to and a temporary healing cap to protect the screw while it heals, and then wait another six or more months before the final implant can be installed).
PLEASE take dental health seriously!
The worst part isn't even breaking the tooth or the resulting surgery, but rather it takes a year or more before things are back to normal with an implant (they backfill the extraction site with bone powder that acts as a scaffold to regrow the jaw and prevent sinking, which takes a minimum of six months, then they install the screw the implant attaches to and a temporary healing cap to protect the screw while it heals, and then wait another six or more months before the final implant can be installed).
PLEASE take dental health seriously!
Check into acid reflux aka GERD that could be a big part of your problem.
I was to the point where eating a room temperature banana in mid summer was too cold for my teeth. My dentist figured out it was the acid I was coughing up getting on my teeth.
I also grind my teeth but that's more mechanical the acid affects all surfaces of my teeth. Sensodyne toothpaste or similar helps a bit if I remember to not rinse it off.
I was to the point where eating a room temperature banana in mid summer was too cold for my teeth. My dentist figured out it was the acid I was coughing up getting on my teeth.
I also grind my teeth but that's more mechanical the acid affects all surfaces of my teeth. Sensodyne toothpaste or similar helps a bit if I remember to not rinse it off.
I didnt know I had bruxism, but got a custom fitted plastic bite tray thing (sorry not sure how to translate) to wear at night, because i have a bad bite. And damn that thing changed my life. it was like €300. And yea discovered i had bruxism because my jaw and face felt so unusually relaxed in the morning.
Make sure you look into having something at night so your teeth doesnt wear further :)
Make sure you look into having something at night so your teeth doesnt wear further :)
I also looked it up, I think it is called a mouthguard.
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.
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.
Doesn't pretty much all toothpaste have that? Unless its kid's toothpaste or something specifically for people who are avoiding flouride.
Stannous as in tin (SnF2). Other fluoride toothpastes often use sodium fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate. Stannous fluoride is slightly more likely to stain your teeth.
No they don't. You have to look for it. Crest and Colgate both have versions, the stannous has additional bacteria killing properties and filling in porous teeth as well that the potassium fluoride doesn't have. Plenty of research available online
No they don’t all have it. Stannous fluoride is different than whatever the regular fluoride is. I don’t know the details, I just know my dental hygienist recommended I try it, and it actually helped, which I wasn’t expecting.
> Conventional whitening treatments rely on hydrogen peroxide
Has anyone tried those newer Japanese hydroxyappetite toothpastes? They aren't based on hydrogen peroxide. I recently started using this a few days ago.
https://www.amazon.com/Apagard-Premio-toothpaste-nanohydroxy...
Has anyone tried those newer Japanese hydroxyappetite toothpastes? They aren't based on hydrogen peroxide. I recently started using this a few days ago.
https://www.amazon.com/Apagard-Premio-toothpaste-nanohydroxy...
Get yourself checked for Periodontitis [1]. (Assuming the bruxism is self-diagnosed based on your lack of dental practice visits.)
This is a common condition whereby bacteria get between the gum and teeth. It starts with sticky "plaque" from food and saliva, which hardens into tartar, which can get below the gumline. Bacteria grows in the tartar, which in time causes inflammation. At this point the damage isn't permanent and will be fixed by a dental clean. The inflammation causes swollen gums, which may be sore when brushed, and in the longer term the bone around your teeth recedes away from the inflammation. The receding bone leaves gaps around the teeth, which exposes their roots, making them sensitive, and the gaps exacerbate the condition by providing the bacteria a difficult to clean safe harbour. At this point the damage is becoming permanent, but treatment can prevent it from becoming worse. Left untreated over a period of years, the bone recedes so much that your teeth become loose, eventually falling out. End game is false teeth or equivalent. It's possible for the swollen gums to cover up the other symptoms by the swelling gums temporarily filling the gaps left by receding bone. The disease progresses over many years, so it's easy to ignore until there are permanent effects, but early treatment (a dental clean) will make it go away.
In the years before permanent damage the only symptom can be an occasional gum soreness which goes away after a few days and doesn't seem worth worrying about.
As far as I can make out, brushing delays Periodontitis by slowing tartar buildup, but over a period of many years it's not enough and one has to eventually go to a dentist to get the tartar scraped off, so Periodontitis causing bacteria have less places to live. Basically no dental visits over a period of many years with a typical diet = Periodontitis with permanent effects.
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/periodontitis
This is a common condition whereby bacteria get between the gum and teeth. It starts with sticky "plaque" from food and saliva, which hardens into tartar, which can get below the gumline. Bacteria grows in the tartar, which in time causes inflammation. At this point the damage isn't permanent and will be fixed by a dental clean. The inflammation causes swollen gums, which may be sore when brushed, and in the longer term the bone around your teeth recedes away from the inflammation. The receding bone leaves gaps around the teeth, which exposes their roots, making them sensitive, and the gaps exacerbate the condition by providing the bacteria a difficult to clean safe harbour. At this point the damage is becoming permanent, but treatment can prevent it from becoming worse. Left untreated over a period of years, the bone recedes so much that your teeth become loose, eventually falling out. End game is false teeth or equivalent. It's possible for the swollen gums to cover up the other symptoms by the swelling gums temporarily filling the gaps left by receding bone. The disease progresses over many years, so it's easy to ignore until there are permanent effects, but early treatment (a dental clean) will make it go away.
In the years before permanent damage the only symptom can be an occasional gum soreness which goes away after a few days and doesn't seem worth worrying about.
As far as I can make out, brushing delays Periodontitis by slowing tartar buildup, but over a period of many years it's not enough and one has to eventually go to a dentist to get the tartar scraped off, so Periodontitis causing bacteria have less places to live. Basically no dental visits over a period of many years with a typical diet = Periodontitis with permanent effects.
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/periodontitis
Have you tried Novamin containing toothpaste (Sensodyne repair & protect) ? I've heard its not available in the US but I suppose you could still buy it online.
I've had tooth sensitivity for a while, and this tootpaste fixed the problem for me
I've had tooth sensitivity for a while, and this tootpaste fixed the problem for me
Can vouch for this toothpaste. 2-3x more expensive than regular, but I never suffer from sensitive teeth anymore.
You can buy it on Amazon but you have to be careful about the source.
Others gave you good advice. But you need to speak with a dentist and see if your teeth are in good health.
Some things I’ve tried that will help:
* Fitted mouth guard (splint). This reduces tooth wear and muscle pain
* Optirinse fluoride rinse. You can use this every day to reduce sensitivity
* Sensodyn with novamin. Remineralizes
* Face massage. I actually had a lot of tooth pain that was just referred pain. I grinded, my jaw tightened, this muscle tension hurt my teeth. When I pressed certain areas in my jaw and relaxed the muscle I felt the pain trigger, then dissipate. Some professional massage got rid of it fully.
Some things I’ve tried that will help:
* Fitted mouth guard (splint). This reduces tooth wear and muscle pain
* Optirinse fluoride rinse. You can use this every day to reduce sensitivity
* Sensodyn with novamin. Remineralizes
* Face massage. I actually had a lot of tooth pain that was just referred pain. I grinded, my jaw tightened, this muscle tension hurt my teeth. When I pressed certain areas in my jaw and relaxed the muscle I felt the pain trigger, then dissipate. Some professional massage got rid of it fully.
Yeah my teeth are sensitive (cold and sugar). I could use something like this pretty badly. I've always brushed religiously but I still know over time and as you age enamel is just thinning.
This "biting hurts" sounds little ominous. Have they X-rayed your roots? I had recently two root canals and the doctor told they have been infected for half a century, but healed on their own. The reason they were infected was I a stopped chewing Xylitol-gum. And the reason I stopped chewing was I my teeth started cracking because of old age. Root canals are not big thing nowadays, painless and fast.
I did have X-rays taken the last time I was at the dentist, but I don't know if that covers the roots.
Ok. X-rays are not that good, it mostly is guesswork. But I remembered other indicator. Does it hurt when you push the roots from outside at your face? Also does it feel mushy or liquid-ly at some point. I had totally painless bag of puss under my eye for 10 years. Only when got infected for the second time, it started to hurt and needed a canal, via which the said puss squirted out. It is like totally new now, did not even need a crown.
>Does it hurt when you push the roots from outside at your face? Also does it feel mushy or liquid-ly at some point.
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
I have a similar problem but sleeping with a night guard helps, and also Gel Kam twice daily is much more effective than the sensitive tooth toothpaste.
I was just told I need a quintuple extraction after having to go to the ER with jaw pain. 4 wisdoms and a molar.
I really wish they'd hurry this up.
It's too late for those teeth but maybe I can save others.
I've been having some success with toothpaste with NovaMin (has to be purchased outside the US) and mouthwash that contains Dipotassium Oxalate Monohydrate. That is OTC in the US but you have to find the ones with it.
I really wish they'd hurry this up.
It's too late for those teeth but maybe I can save others.
I've been having some success with toothpaste with NovaMin (has to be purchased outside the US) and mouthwash that contains Dipotassium Oxalate Monohydrate. That is OTC in the US but you have to find the ones with it.
Not sure why you need the extraction, but for me personally, I had my teeth shift ever so slightly which threw off my bite. Pain was excruciating. The solution was a tiny amount of polishing a few of my teeth so my bite was better lined up.
If someone had told me to remove the teeth because of the pain, I would have said yes.
I’d at least make sure that they tested your bite before you move forward with extraction.
If someone had told me to remove the teeth because of the pain, I would have said yes.
I’d at least make sure that they tested your bite before you move forward with extraction.
Yeah it's necessary to visit a dentist regularly, even if you go for conservative treatments. Every now and then they might have a good recommendation. Regarding the muscle tension itself Progressive muscle relaxation can help.
This article is from March and states the trials were expected to start in March or April. They say each round of trials is 3 months so it will be just in time for the next round if you are aiming to sign up.
I don't live anywhere near the United States so I imagine I can't.
I had 1 cavity in my decades and I had really awful habits. All of my teeth were sealed in youth.
I too have bruxism that is wearing down some molars severely. My grandfather wore his teeth down to about nothing.
My dentist suggested I get Invisalign for tooth crowding, veneers for small canines, and a mouth guard I can't tolerate at present). If had a workable mouth guard, I would do this lozenge thing. I feel sensation in my teeth and gums constantly.
I never did whitening because I always thought the risks were too great.
I too have bruxism that is wearing down some molars severely. My grandfather wore his teeth down to about nothing.
My dentist suggested I get Invisalign for tooth crowding, veneers for small canines, and a mouth guard I can't tolerate at present). If had a workable mouth guard, I would do this lozenge thing. I feel sensation in my teeth and gums constantly.
I never did whitening because I always thought the risks were too great.
My concern with Invisalign is you have to wear a nighttime retainer for life. I had a bad experience with stuff in my mouth at night, which made bruxism worse when it was supposed to be better. When my brain feels something in the mouth on the teeth, it induces the jaw to bite more when I'm sleeping.
Describe your diet in detail
Black101(3)
> The lozenge produces new enamel that is whiter than what tooth-whitening strips or gels produce.
I wonder how white?
I'm a bit nervous about having those over-whitened glow-in-the-dark teeth, that you sometimes see. Memories of that Friends episode, too.
I wonder how white?
I'm a bit nervous about having those over-whitened glow-in-the-dark teeth, that you sometimes see. Memories of that Friends episode, too.
[deleted]
My coffee habit will make short work of any overly white teeth.
Haha, I was just going to say this. My 4 cup habit a day has destroyed any chance of having white teeth. They aren’t bad, but they aren’t white.
They aren't 'supposed' to be white; pure white teeth are bleached teeth, it's not natural.
(I suppose truly natural is also unhealthy, but my point is perfectly healthy teeth can be - and are, without other non-health-improving intervention - less than pure white.)
(I suppose truly natural is also unhealthy, but my point is perfectly healthy teeth can be - and are, without other non-health-improving intervention - less than pure white.)
Almost all actors have bleached teeth. I think this creates a false sense of what teeth are supposed to look like.
Yup. Little more egg shell a little less “primer white”.
indeed. just look at any random cat or dog teeth and they're going to be clean but mostly not "pure white".
I used to drink that much coffee. I got an espresso machine and started making americanos instead now I’m good with one cup a day. I don’t know what it is, clearly the caffeine is either higher or more bioavailabile or something, but it just sates my appetite for coffee.
(Actually i started making cappucinos first and stopped when i started putting on weight from them lol)
(Actually i started making cappucinos first and stopped when i started putting on weight from them lol)
I don't think you're using units that could allow anyone to detect whether it's caffeine quantity or bioavailability that's at play. It depends on how you dose your espresso and drip coffee. I don't drink espresso but I think people are dosing something like 20 grams per shot, whereas for pourover they're dosing 18 grams of water per gram of coffee. For a standard "coffee cup" (which is 5 ounces of water that results in 4 ounces of coffee = 148 g of brew water), you're using 8g of coffee. Where I'm going with this is if your portafilter takes 40g of coffee for a double shot espresso, that is more coffee than 32g of coffee you'd use to brew 4 "cups", so you're just drinking more coffee. But, standard cups are a dumb unit (my coffee mug holds 400mL of water), so it's possible you aren't using that, and the espresso has a better caffeinating effect for the same amount of caffeine. We can't know because the words and units are conflated in so many ways (there's a cup, which is a drinking vessel, there's the cooking cup which is like 230mL, and there's the coffee cup which is 148mL of water in to get 118mL of coffee out).
I'm not a stickler for metric vs. imperial (I use both), but "cup" is a terrible terrible unit that needs to die. Use grams for anything coffee-related.
I'm not a stickler for metric vs. imperial (I use both), but "cup" is a terrible terrible unit that needs to die. Use grams for anything coffee-related.
> "cup" is a terrible terrible unit that needs to die
Yes. Or more to the point, all of them are; not least because of the existence of all the others.
I know it's rarely going to actually matter that much even when I try to follow a recipe (which to the letter and quantity at least, I generally don't) whether '1 cup' is US legal, Imperial (UK but not common), metric, Canadian, US customary, or any of the other country variations, but it's still infuriating!
I resisted owning any at all for a long time, but eventually gave in thinking it would be a handy way of having volumetric 1:1 ratios if nothing else (e.g. as much tomato as onion) and double as 'a cup' for following American recipes. But which 'cup' did I get? (Bought in the UK.) Nuts. I then realised I already had cup marks on a glass measure (that I'd only used ex ante for millilitres, like a sane person) - sure enough, different 'cup'.
Yes. Or more to the point, all of them are; not least because of the existence of all the others.
I know it's rarely going to actually matter that much even when I try to follow a recipe (which to the letter and quantity at least, I generally don't) whether '1 cup' is US legal, Imperial (UK but not common), metric, Canadian, US customary, or any of the other country variations, but it's still infuriating!
I resisted owning any at all for a long time, but eventually gave in thinking it would be a handy way of having volumetric 1:1 ratios if nothing else (e.g. as much tomato as onion) and double as 'a cup' for following American recipes. But which 'cup' did I get? (Bought in the UK.) Nuts. I then realised I already had cup marks on a glass measure (that I'd only used ex ante for millilitres, like a sane person) - sure enough, different 'cup'.
Well, since the recipes you wanted to use were using volumetric ratios then it doesn't matter what size cup you use… until you have something like tsp or tbsp in the recipe, which are more standard (although, because I wrote it I thought I'd check and it turns out that Australian tablespoons are 25% bigger than UK/US/CA's!)
For some recipes those kind of measures are helpful though, so I wouldn't get rid of them. I'll always have a cup handy (a British cup is, handily, the same amount most people would make for a nice cup of tea:) but I won't always have scales.
For some recipes those kind of measures are helpful though, so I wouldn't get rid of them. I'll always have a cup handy (a British cup is, handily, the same amount most people would make for a nice cup of tea:) but I won't always have scales.
Maybe I'm being a bit cheeky but for me, the stochastic caffeination aspect is part of the fun.
If you switched from drip, the caffeine is actually lower! My guess is you’re just more satisfied with the coffee you’re enjoying.
Definitely enjoy it more. Brewed coffee started tasting like stewed coffee or something, the americanos just have a 'cleaner' hit...i don't know. The weird thing is I find pourover to be more like espresso than brewed in that way, so it's probably just all in my head lol.
Anyway, point is I only drink one cup a day now and have become a closet coffee snob.
Anyway, point is I only drink one cup a day now and have become a closet coffee snob.
Pourover is more like espresso too. Almost the same mechanism, but espresso also uses pressure. And even though snobs will disagree, french press will be closer in flavor but “muddier”. Drip is pretty much the worst because it starts reheating your already perfectly good coffee before it’s even done.
Welcome to the snobbery! I went from “I refuse to order a coffee with more than two words” to super opinionated and picky, and now my rules are just don’t be insufferable and accept when my preferences aren’t reasonably available.
Welcome to the snobbery! I went from “I refuse to order a coffee with more than two words” to super opinionated and picky, and now my rules are just don’t be insufferable and accept when my preferences aren’t reasonably available.
This is all almost totally incorrect.
French press "muddiness" is not invariant but rather a function of filter size and type. It's the equivalent of steak doneness, use the appropriate equipment for the result you want.
Espresso is fundamentally different than pour-over. Pour-over is only using atmospheric pressure and espresso is about only not using atmospheric pressure. Pour-over is closer to drip than espresso.
Drip coffee is actually just pour-over coffee made with a machine, and using a warming burner is not required.
How good your coffee is depends not at all on the method used, and anyone telling you it does is just encoding their preference. Goodness of coffee is a combination of acidity, sweetness, bitterness, ratio of water to non-water compounds, time spent, and enjoyment of the experimentation. This combination is achieved by varying grind size, water temperature, bean roast, contact time, and experimenter time.
French press "muddiness" is not invariant but rather a function of filter size and type. It's the equivalent of steak doneness, use the appropriate equipment for the result you want.
Espresso is fundamentally different than pour-over. Pour-over is only using atmospheric pressure and espresso is about only not using atmospheric pressure. Pour-over is closer to drip than espresso.
Drip coffee is actually just pour-over coffee made with a machine, and using a warming burner is not required.
How good your coffee is depends not at all on the method used, and anyone telling you it does is just encoding their preference. Goodness of coffee is a combination of acidity, sweetness, bitterness, ratio of water to non-water compounds, time spent, and enjoyment of the experimentation. This combination is achieved by varying grind size, water temperature, bean roast, contact time, and experimenter time.
> French press "muddiness" is not invariant but rather a function of filter size and type. It's the equivalent of steak doneness, use the appropriate equipment for the result you want.
I don’t think this contradicts anything I said.
> Espresso is fundamentally different than pour-over. Pour-over is only using atmospheric pressure and espresso is about only not using atmospheric pressure.
To clarify, I meant that the distinction is that the water flows through the coffee in drip/pour over by gravity (as you said, atmospheric pressure) but with espresso it flows through with applied pressure.
> Pour-over is closer to drip than espresso.
> Drip coffee is actually just pour-over coffee made with a machine, and using a warming burner is not required.
This is pretty much what I was saying, with the distinction being that most people making drip do have a burner and that’s what makes their coffee taste worse.
> How good your coffee is depends not at all on the method used, and anyone telling you it does is just encoding their preference.
This is my first major point of disagreement besides how you chose to interpret things. For most people, the method their coffee is made makes a difference because people have shit to do, even baristas making it for them. A half assed French press will taste dramatically different than a half assed Mr Coffee will taste dramatically different than a push button espresso machine.
> Goodness of coffee is a combination of acidity, sweetness, bitterness, ratio of water to non-water compounds, time spent, and enjoyment of the experimentation. This combination is achieved by varying grind size, water temperature, bean roast, contact time, and experimenter time.
And even then, it’s a matter of preference, and might vary on occasion. And even then, you might encounter someone telling you your particular taste is wrong even if it delights you. Such as when I had the displeasure of ordering my absolute favorite latte I’ve ever had—I ordered a delicious natural process, the barista insisted I change my order twice and complained the whole time he was making it because the milk would ruin it, but I loved it.
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but there’s a reason people find coffee snobs insufferable.
I don’t think this contradicts anything I said.
> Espresso is fundamentally different than pour-over. Pour-over is only using atmospheric pressure and espresso is about only not using atmospheric pressure.
To clarify, I meant that the distinction is that the water flows through the coffee in drip/pour over by gravity (as you said, atmospheric pressure) but with espresso it flows through with applied pressure.
> Pour-over is closer to drip than espresso.
> Drip coffee is actually just pour-over coffee made with a machine, and using a warming burner is not required.
This is pretty much what I was saying, with the distinction being that most people making drip do have a burner and that’s what makes their coffee taste worse.
> How good your coffee is depends not at all on the method used, and anyone telling you it does is just encoding their preference.
This is my first major point of disagreement besides how you chose to interpret things. For most people, the method their coffee is made makes a difference because people have shit to do, even baristas making it for them. A half assed French press will taste dramatically different than a half assed Mr Coffee will taste dramatically different than a push button espresso machine.
> Goodness of coffee is a combination of acidity, sweetness, bitterness, ratio of water to non-water compounds, time spent, and enjoyment of the experimentation. This combination is achieved by varying grind size, water temperature, bean roast, contact time, and experimenter time.
And even then, it’s a matter of preference, and might vary on occasion. And even then, you might encounter someone telling you your particular taste is wrong even if it delights you. Such as when I had the displeasure of ordering my absolute favorite latte I’ve ever had—I ordered a delicious natural process, the barista insisted I change my order twice and complained the whole time he was making it because the milk would ruin it, but I loved it.
I’m not trying to be a jerk, but there’s a reason people find coffee snobs insufferable.
Oh also, I’ve had people insist I’m wrong to prefer homogenized milk, or whole milk over cream, or milk at all, depending on the particular varietal, origin, roast, grind, temperature.
I would argue the opposite, that non-homogenised milk makes no sense in this application - it's a toss up whether you'd get skimmed milk, cream (of an unpredictable fat %), or where in between.
(It has it's uses though, it's not that common in the UK, but I find it vastly better for making paneer for example - homogenised milk splits to a billion tiny wispy solids that don't set together well, leaving a crumbly texture; non-homogenised gives a much better mix and far bigger bits that hold together well.)
(It has it's uses though, it's not that common in the UK, but I find it vastly better for making paneer for example - homogenised milk splits to a billion tiny wispy solids that don't set together well, leaving a crumbly texture; non-homogenised gives a much better mix and far bigger bits that hold together well.)
Thoughts on aeropress vs espresso machine quality?
I don’t actually have any thoughts on aeropress! I’ve never tried it. Despite the differences I notice, my preference of brew process is mostly about convenience (other than not cooking it on a burner), I’m happy with a French press at home and either drip or espresso at a cafe, whichever gets me out the door quickest. So it’s rare I try a new one unless there’s a social reason.
I know lots of people love aeropress and if you’re curious I’d say give it a try and see if you like it :)
I know lots of people love aeropress and if you’re curious I’d say give it a try and see if you like it :)
I use an Aeropress every morning and it does the job, can tell the difference between the aeropress and store bought drinks.
True, the darker the roast (ie roasted longer), generally the less caffeine it has in it. Espresso has some of the least since it is one of the darkest roasts.
That is an urban myth unfortunately, darker coffee does not have less caffeine because caffeine is heat stable at typical roasting temperatures. (20 to 240C). Here’s a more thorough explanation of it: https://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com/caffeine-myths-dark-vs-li...
The effect probably came to be known because darker roaster coffee is less dense. So if you are measuring your coffee by volume (i.e. eyeballing it) and not mass, for the same volume the darker the coffee the less caffeine it has. But per gram of coffee, it’s pretty much the same.
The effect probably came to be known because darker roaster coffee is less dense. So if you are measuring your coffee by volume (i.e. eyeballing it) and not mass, for the same volume the darker the coffee the less caffeine it has. But per gram of coffee, it’s pretty much the same.
Yeah it’s not the roast, it’s the brewing/extraction method. Drip/pour over extract more caffeine than espresso, presumably from longer exposure to more surface area.
Without knowing how the drip/espresso was made (and many other details) there's no way you can know this. Coffee is complicated.
I have an A1 shade teeth, keeping them any whiter is hard work.
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 same thing and you can already purchase now.
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 same thing and you can already purchase now.
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.
"Diet = dental health" is bullshit. My partner was raised sugar-free and has horrible teeth with many cavities. So does their entire family. I was raised on a diet which included many forms of sweets, and I have never had a cavity. Same for my entire family. Genetics or other biological predisposition seems to be a major factor. Diet might help a bit, but don't expect any magical effects.
Presumably no sugar being the primary factor. No carbs too?
sugar doesn't cause cavities, acids do. some bacteria which is not uniformly present in people eats carbs and deposits acids. this is covered in great detail ina good book, "kiss your dentist goodbye" that i just read. ive seen improvements in my awful teeth after giving the free regimen a try
Are there any Ph tablets that are effective at neutralizing the acid that isn’t toothpaste?
I’ve only recently learned you aren’t supposed to rinse your mouth after brushing!
I’ve only recently learned you aren’t supposed to rinse your mouth after brushing!
> I’ve only recently learned you aren’t supposed to rinse your mouth after brushing!
Wait, what? Where did you learn that?
Wait, what? Where did you learn that?
Yeah it’s crazy, right? I couldn’t imagine walking around with toothpaste residue but it might also explain the dental work I’ve required.
Google it and you’ll see! I asked my wife about and she concurred that she doesn’t rinse but does get her toothbrush wet while brushing.
Google it and you’ll see! I asked my wife about and she concurred that she doesn’t rinse but does get her toothbrush wet while brushing.
it washes off the fluoride before being absorbed! haha also learned from that book
You could just eat a spoonful of baking soda.
I put baking soda in my drinking water, as mentioned at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27329115 - typically 1 teaspoon per liter
Yeah, extreme no sugar and no carb, almost pure carnivore. Haven’t had a bit of tooth decay since.
Also, presumably, drink water. That can't hurt.
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!
Yup this is me
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?
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?
The stick is likely Neem; my father did the same in Pakistan.
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.
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.
You're not supposed to eat the xylitol, just get it onto your teeth. So use xylitol toothpaste.
There are Xylitol sprays also, advertised for moisturizing a dry mouth. Spray, swish, and spit it out and little will reach your intestinal microbiome. Best done right before a time when you won't be eating or drinking so the residue has some time to act on the bacteria on the teeth (e.g., right before a shower or before bed).
Also functions as a mild laxative..
When I was two years old -- apparently, I only heard it from the obvious source -- my mother went to a doctor and asked when she could start giving me candy. I'm dating myself but this was before 1990. Anyways, he said, "Never! Never give him candy. He'll develop a sweet tooth and it's game over for his teeth!".
Again paraphrasing and dramatizing, but you get the idea.
So my mom never gave me anything with sugar. To this day I don't eat any sweets and I have no cavities or tooth problems. I eat ice cream once a year, and mostly because people seem to like shaming me for not liking it. I always just have a couple of bites.
Anyways my teeth are in great shape.
Again paraphrasing and dramatizing, but you get the idea.
So my mom never gave me anything with sugar. To this day I don't eat any sweets and I have no cavities or tooth problems. I eat ice cream once a year, and mostly because people seem to like shaming me for not liking it. I always just have a couple of bites.
Anyways my teeth are in great shape.
> To this day I don't eat any sweets and I have no cavities or tooth problems.
Me neither. I ate candy and chocolate when I was a kid. I still do now 50 years later. Never had a problem with my teeth.
Me neither. I ate candy and chocolate when I was a kid. I still do now 50 years later. Never had a problem with my teeth.
You got more than 0 cavity problems. There was an article not long ago about how sugar modifies kids mucrobiota permanently in children https://www.news-medical.net/amp/news/20210203/Childhood-die...
I have always had a sweet tooth. And while fortunately I dont have diabetes or similar. I've developed IBS and other gut ailments.
I have always had a sweet tooth. And while fortunately I dont have diabetes or similar. I've developed IBS and other gut ailments.
This is from memory, so could be wrong.
The goal is to starve the streptococcus mutans bacteria in your mouth. Since that lives off sugar and starch, you both (a) rinse your mouth with a bactericidal (b) brush teeth, tongue, and gums after ingesting any sugar or starch.
The downside is excessive bactericidal use or brushing can damage your mouth tissues and teeth.
Another approach I had heard about but have no further info was to be vaccinated against S. mutans, so presumably your saliva would attack it somehow. I don't understand the mechanism here.
In the meantime, I use a prescription dose of fluoride toothpaste daily to harden the hydroxyapatite in my mouth.
The goal is to starve the streptococcus mutans bacteria in your mouth. Since that lives off sugar and starch, you both (a) rinse your mouth with a bactericidal (b) brush teeth, tongue, and gums after ingesting any sugar or starch.
The downside is excessive bactericidal use or brushing can damage your mouth tissues and teeth.
Another approach I had heard about but have no further info was to be vaccinated against S. mutans, so presumably your saliva would attack it somehow. I don't understand the mechanism here.
In the meantime, I use a prescription dose of fluoride toothpaste daily to harden the hydroxyapatite in my mouth.
:-) my approach is just to not eat any sugar or starch but definitely agree with mechanism.
You can also just quit eating saccharides. Incidentally (or perhaps not), this has a lot of positive effects besides improving dental health. It's a first line treatment for many metabolic disorders like diabetes and even many cases of epilepsy. It resolves many digestive issues, as it reduces or eliminates most things humans can't easily metabolize (plant fiber, large sugar molecules, etc.). It helps with weight management because most human groups have not yet evolved an appropriately tuned satiety response to saccharides.
Unfortunately, no. These only deposit a couple micrometers of enamel per day if used twice daily. They could potentially help as a form of preventative maintenance, but reversing significant dental cavities seems unlikely.
That seems like a lot though. Let's say it's just 1 micrometer per day. A tooth is about 10mm (10,000 micrometers). So over a period of about 28 years all of your teeth's enamel can be completely restored?
Given that most people don't lose all of the enamel of any of their teeth it seems like there wouldn't be any point of going to a dentist. By the time you're getting the age where you'd even think about dentures, this treatment would completely reverse all tooth decay no?
Given that most people don't lose all of the enamel of any of their teeth it seems like there wouldn't be any point of going to a dentist. By the time you're getting the age where you'd even think about dentures, this treatment would completely reverse all tooth decay no?
I feel problems with gums and other areas don't get stressed enough in childhood. There are plenty of other problems that are not enamel-related, and I'd guess you can easily still have trouble with enamel even with this treatment.
Tooth decay isn't a generic slow wearing down of all of your enamel but instead a concentrated attack on a small location of enamel from food for example being consistently stuck in a small fissure. A big thing you use dentists for is managing plaque that makes these issues worse, and probably also will help block the effects of these lozenges. Polishing your teeth actually removes small quantities of enamel with the goal of making the teeth a bit smoother so there are less places for things to get stuck. Dentists also are dealing with issues where your teeth get cracked or otherwise damaged from grinding or hard foods. I can't imagine just indiscriminately throwing layers of enamel at the problem is going to leave you in a solve where "there wouldn't be any point of going to a dentist".
If it's depositing a layer, that will lessen the extent of fissures and round them out. That's a great thing to be convinced with polishing. This adds to the valleys and polishing removes from the peaks, making an overall much flatter surface.
Where I think this would really shine is with receding gums. It'll be able to slowly add protecting to a part of the teeth that has absolutely no protection. That will help "clog" the pores and reduce sensitivity as well as likeliness of a cavity.
Where I think this would really shine is with receding gums. It'll be able to slowly add protecting to a part of the teeth that has absolutely no protection. That will help "clog" the pores and reduce sensitivity as well as likeliness of a cavity.
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.
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.
What is this product you mentioned that reverses the start of cavities? Any google of it is filled with cheap SEO for me.
prescription toothpaste.
Most common is prevident 5000
Most common is prevident 5000
The one I remember is called MI Paste [0]. From what I understand it can help remineralize and strengthen teeth. Basically vitamins for your teeth.
[0] http://www.mi-paste.com/about.php
[0] http://www.mi-paste.com/about.php
I know nothing about this product, but https://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2010/12/dr-mellanbys-... makes it plausible that something like it could work; though personally I'd prefer the diet from the referenced paper unless the product has a better paper behind it.
"Prevident 5000 Plus" supposedly works better than MI Paste. I've used both and prefer it. Plus MI paste has dairy ingredients.
I've been using generic prevident 1x per day and it's crazy how much it helps.
I'd assume fluoride. On a recent trip to the dentist, I was told I'd had the start of a cavity that had re-crystalized (I believe that was the term). The American Dental Association [0] and an arm of the NIH [1] appear to back this up, as well:
> Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent tooth decay from progressing. It can even reverse, or stop, early tooth decay.
[0] https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/fluoride-superhero
[1] https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay/more-info/...
> Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent tooth decay from progressing. It can even reverse, or stop, early tooth decay.
[0] https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/fluoride-superhero
[1] https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay/more-info/...
Not really. Plaque removal has to be the #1 thing done at a dentist's office. I've had one cavity filled in the last 15 years, and the rest of the visits have been cleanings (ie. plaque removal).
Plus, it really doesn't matter how well you brush and floss. There's always something for the hygienist to remove. Which, I can only assume prevents this lozenge from actually doing anything.
Plus, it really doesn't matter how well you brush and floss. There's always something for the hygienist to remove. Which, I can only assume prevents this lozenge from actually doing anything.
Perhaps in the future there will be a layer added to this pill that first dissolves the plaque.
> Perhaps in the future there will be a layer added to this pill that first dissolves the plaque.
I suspect that without a plaque removal step, these lozenges could contribute to plaque mineralization into dental calculus.
I suspect that without a plaque removal step, these lozenges could contribute to plaque mineralization into dental calculus.
That itself could be a standalone product -- I'd expect lots of people would prefer sucking a lozenge over daily toothbrushing
It’s not a lozenge, but LivFresh dental gel (used like toothpaste) more or less dissolves plaque. It’s a bit pricey, but well worth it. Especially if you hate having the dentist lecture you every appointment.
Is it for maintenance or can it remove 6 months worth of plaque at once (like would be the case with the dentist)?
This study of Novamin concludes:
> Review shows that Novamin has significantly less clinical evidence to prove its effectiveness as a remineralization agent in treating both carious and non-carious lesion. Hence, better designed clinical trials should be carried out in the future before definitive recommendations can be made.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068624/
> Review shows that Novamin has significantly less clinical evidence to prove its effectiveness as a remineralization agent in treating both carious and non-carious lesion. Hence, better designed clinical trials should be carried out in the future before definitive recommendations can be made.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068624/
This is the unfortunate truth of dentistry: things that work in the clinic and lab don't translate well to everyday life.
Water flossers are advertised as being as effective as floss. However, it turns out studies on floss haven't borne out either.
Water flossers are advertised as being as effective as floss. However, it turns out studies on floss haven't borne out either.
Will this help Mitch Hedberg enthusiasts realize his dream of having just two long curvy teeth?
How does this compare with Sensodyne Repair and Protect? That product uses Novamin and effective rebuilds enamel, also offering whitening, reduced sensitivity, etc.
I asked my dentist about novamin after it trended on HN a few months ago.
Apparently every toothpaste brand has a number of proprietary compounds that, according to their own research, is the biggest thing since flouride. Sensodyne has Novamin, I don't know the name of Colgates, but I am sure they list it on one of their websites.
Why HN has taken to Novamin, I don't know. Maybe it is because it was taken off the American market?
Anyway, it doesn't seem like Novamin makes a real difference:
According to a 2020 literature review,
> ... the objective of this review is to find out the current evidence available on the use of Novamin as an agent for remineralization.
> ... and at 6 months’ time point the p-value is 0.81 concluding that there are no significant difference of remineralization process obtained by using traditional toothpaste and Novamin.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068624/
Apparently every toothpaste brand has a number of proprietary compounds that, according to their own research, is the biggest thing since flouride. Sensodyne has Novamin, I don't know the name of Colgates, but I am sure they list it on one of their websites.
Why HN has taken to Novamin, I don't know. Maybe it is because it was taken off the American market?
Anyway, it doesn't seem like Novamin makes a real difference:
According to a 2020 literature review,
> ... the objective of this review is to find out the current evidence available on the use of Novamin as an agent for remineralization.
> ... and at 6 months’ time point the p-value is 0.81 concluding that there are no significant difference of remineralization process obtained by using traditional toothpaste and Novamin.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068624/
"Sensodyne has Novamin"
There is nothing like Novamin among other toothpaste brands. Novamin has long existed as a bone regeneration treatment, with a very proven mode of action. The inventor spun it off and GSK bought the company and made it exclusive to Sensodyne. This isn't a company that made some fun name on a method of fluoride.
It doesn't exist formally in the US (or at least it didn't) because FDA rules would make it fall under a medical treatment and a toothpaste isn't possibly worth the process and bureaucratic overhead.
>Anyway, it doesn't seem like Novamin makes a real difference
That is a study of studies, and its conclusion isn't that there is no "real difference", but that there is a need for more clinical trials, which is an enormous difference.
Because there is little demonstrated proof of Novamin specifically in regards to teeth. It is largely theoretical.
But for what it's worth, I've used it for a bit over a year and now have zero sensitivity and my teeth are demonstratably much whiter. My own anecdotal experience is very positive, though maybe I'll have throat cancer or a third eye or something eventually.
There is nothing like Novamin among other toothpaste brands. Novamin has long existed as a bone regeneration treatment, with a very proven mode of action. The inventor spun it off and GSK bought the company and made it exclusive to Sensodyne. This isn't a company that made some fun name on a method of fluoride.
It doesn't exist formally in the US (or at least it didn't) because FDA rules would make it fall under a medical treatment and a toothpaste isn't possibly worth the process and bureaucratic overhead.
>Anyway, it doesn't seem like Novamin makes a real difference
That is a study of studies, and its conclusion isn't that there is no "real difference", but that there is a need for more clinical trials, which is an enormous difference.
Because there is little demonstrated proof of Novamin specifically in regards to teeth. It is largely theoretical.
But for what it's worth, I've used it for a bit over a year and now have zero sensitivity and my teeth are demonstratably much whiter. My own anecdotal experience is very positive, though maybe I'll have throat cancer or a third eye or something eventually.
> but that there is a need for more clinical trials, which is an enormous difference.
Almost twenty years after this compound was developed into toothpaste, the best we can show in peer reviewed research is “inconclusive” when it’s used in toothpaste and you consider that a big win? I consider that “doesn’t seem to make much of a difference”.
Maybe it’s the novamin that helped you. Maybe it is one of the other compounds. Regular Sensodyne is a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, after all. Maybe you just started brushing more carefully. I did when I got my pack of “Sensodyne whitening repair & protect deep repair” toothpaste. That tube was almost double a regular Sensodyne, which is already an expensive brand.
Almost twenty years after this compound was developed into toothpaste, the best we can show in peer reviewed research is “inconclusive” when it’s used in toothpaste and you consider that a big win? I consider that “doesn’t seem to make much of a difference”.
Maybe it’s the novamin that helped you. Maybe it is one of the other compounds. Regular Sensodyne is a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, after all. Maybe you just started brushing more carefully. I did when I got my pack of “Sensodyne whitening repair & protect deep repair” toothpaste. That tube was almost double a regular Sensodyne, which is already an expensive brand.
Big win? I didn't say that. Your original citation was an analysis of studies that actually said "more research is necessary", yet you claimed it as proof that it doesn't work. It doesn't work like that.
Novamin is caught in a classic consumer product study quagmire. It's a proprietary, IP-wrapped solution. This leaves extraordinarily few people with an interest in proving its efficacy. Who is going to pay to study it? And the answer is that only people with a strong financial interest in its effectiveness are willing to study it, and those studies have little credibility due to bias.
The vast majority of consumer products you use have no peer reviewed research behind them for the same reason.
But we know its method of function, and the theory behind its operation. People using the product often find reduced sensitivity (I went from really bad sensitivity to no sensitivity) and a whitening effect. Eh, good enough for me.
And it's interesting that this submission is about a product that has a virtually identical method of operation - calcium and phosphorous ions.
Novamin is caught in a classic consumer product study quagmire. It's a proprietary, IP-wrapped solution. This leaves extraordinarily few people with an interest in proving its efficacy. Who is going to pay to study it? And the answer is that only people with a strong financial interest in its effectiveness are willing to study it, and those studies have little credibility due to bias.
The vast majority of consumer products you use have no peer reviewed research behind them for the same reason.
But we know its method of function, and the theory behind its operation. People using the product often find reduced sensitivity (I went from really bad sensitivity to no sensitivity) and a whitening effect. Eh, good enough for me.
And it's interesting that this submission is about a product that has a virtually identical method of operation - calcium and phosphorous ions.
I've used Sensodyne for years for sensitivity issues.
Last year, I tried a new version with whitening and after a couple of weeks my teeth started hurting all day long. It took me a couple of days until I made the connection.
I stopped using that and went back to what is being sold (here in Mexico) as Sensodyne Original.
Last year, I tried a new version with whitening and after a couple of weeks my teeth started hurting all day long. It took me a couple of days until I made the connection.
I stopped using that and went back to what is being sold (here in Mexico) as Sensodyne Original.
Repair is not rebuilding. “Repair” toothpaste chemically strengthens existing enamel.
Fluoride strengthens enamel. Novamin remineralizes enamel. It "rebuilds" it. How Sensodyne markets it is largely irrelevant.
Indeed, this product targets sensitivity which is exactly what Novamin does (by remineralizing those tiny holes permanently, versus traditional sensitivity products that simply "clog" them temporarily).
Note that Novamin-containing Sensodyne is an overseas thing that you have to import. For whatever reason they didn't seek FDA approval in the US so the product there is sans it.
Indeed, this product targets sensitivity which is exactly what Novamin does (by remineralizing those tiny holes permanently, versus traditional sensitivity products that simply "clog" them temporarily).
Note that Novamin-containing Sensodyne is an overseas thing that you have to import. For whatever reason they didn't seek FDA approval in the US so the product there is sans it.
The fact that they've already tested this on extracted human teeth seems promising (I assume it worked there). Hopeful this works! Great advance, if so.
There really needs to be something like this. When we look back on dentistry in 50-100 years we will be amazed how barbaric it was! Ouch!
"When we look back on dentistry in 50-100 years we will be amazed how barbaric it was!"
Nothing will eclipse the barbarism and "effectiveness" of spinal disc treatments such as spinal fusions.
Nothing will eclipse the barbarism and "effectiveness" of spinal disc treatments such as spinal fusions.
I’m unfamiliar with this topic, what do you mean? I thought spinal fusion was just a medical procedure to connect a couple vertebrae for some reason, but I thought the downside was a little less flexibility. I wasn’t tracking it being especially barbaric.
I think about this fairly often. When getting a root canal (it doesn’t hurt!) it’s sort of odd to see in this day and age the tools they use.
I used to work with a few orthopedic surgeons over a couple years and discovered a lot of the tools used during surgery for bones or hard materials in the body really aren't all that different than what you'd find at a hardware store.
Usually tools are a bit more precise, materials are a bit more stringently regulated, and everything is typically well sterilized but when it comes to the physical mechanics, they're about the same. Drills, saws, hammers, all that good stuff.
The main difference is you're usually not watching it for a variety of reasons unlike many dental procedures. And the tools are in the hands of a literal surgeon.
Usually tools are a bit more precise, materials are a bit more stringently regulated, and everything is typically well sterilized but when it comes to the physical mechanics, they're about the same. Drills, saws, hammers, all that good stuff.
The main difference is you're usually not watching it for a variety of reasons unlike many dental procedures. And the tools are in the hands of a literal surgeon.
Weirdly, knowing this has helped me. My mind can imagine all kinds of horrific things happening with the sound and feeling of dental tools, so it's rather reassuring to be "Oh, yeah, that's what a glorified Dremel would sound like."
Also, knowing why all of the power tools are pneumatic, rather than any other kind of power helps. They need to be small, and stay cooled well.
> (it doesn’t hurt!)
It doesn't hurt for you. Some people, including myself, have had root canals that have almost caused worse pain than when I was in the ICU.
It doesn't hurt for you. Some people, including myself, have had root canals that have almost caused worse pain than when I was in the ICU.
Yeah it took me decades to learn that the pain of getting a cavity filled isn't normal. I thought the freezing helped and that the ice pick jab causing lightning of pain down my spine was what everyone suffered.
A dentist finally slowed down. Noticed my tears. Asked. Had a conversation. Tried freezing me in other places. Worked perfectly. She guessed that my nerves are anatomically weird.
A dentist finally slowed down. Noticed my tears. Asked. Had a conversation. Tried freezing me in other places. Worked perfectly. She guessed that my nerves are anatomically weird.
I feel your pain, literally. No local anesthetic works at all for me. I need to be put under general anesthesia. Costs an extra $6000 or $7000.
I had the same for years, and eventually just said "get on with it" without any pain killers and basically just try to withstand the pain as much as possible.
Eventually one dentist suggested trying the injection 15-20 mins before the filling started. I'd go in, get a jab, then go back out and wait while they saw another patient.
Now there is no pain at all. I could literally fall asleep in the chair. What a difference.
Eventually one dentist suggested trying the injection 15-20 mins before the filling started. I'd go in, get a jab, then go back out and wait while they saw another patient.
Now there is no pain at all. I could literally fall asleep in the chair. What a difference.
Very cool! Doesn’t work for me.
>Costs an extra $6000 or $7000.
I'd find that more painful than the treatment.
I'd find that more painful than the treatment.
Worth it to me. Dental pain is incredibly rough for me. Not sure why. And I have lots of experience with high levels of pain.
I was very surprised when I went to a dentist in Europe to fill a cavity: they don’t freeze anything by default unless you really want. I thought I’d try without anesthesia and it turned out surprisingly bearable. Plus I didn’t have half my face frozen for half a day.
As a european who got dental care in two countries: I never heard of freezing at the dentist! What do they freeze exactly? How does it relate to anestesia?
Medical care seems to have a lot of weird country-specific traditions, e.g. in Hungary it's apparently common to fill small kids' healthy teeth if the groves are too deep so they're simpler to clean and they don't get cavities.
I had never heard of such a thing before moving here, and I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant innovation or an insane post-soviet tradition that needs to go away.
Medical care seems to have a lot of weird country-specific traditions, e.g. in Hungary it's apparently common to fill small kids' healthy teeth if the groves are too deep so they're simpler to clean and they don't get cavities.
I had never heard of such a thing before moving here, and I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant innovation or an insane post-soviet tradition that needs to go away.
They inject something in the gums that removes sensitivity there so you feel nothing, and then have half your face frozen for 4h afterwards because it acts on the nearby nerves that control your facial muscles.
Having experienced both (frozen and not frozen), I can't tell what's better. The feeling when they're digging in the tooth without freezing isn't great but it's not painful either; the feeling when they put a needle in your gum to inject the product isn't great either but then you don't feel the procedure. I'd say it's different but equivalent in terms of discomfort.
Having experienced both (frozen and not frozen), I can't tell what's better. The feeling when they're digging in the tooth without freezing isn't great but it's not painful either; the feeling when they put a needle in your gum to inject the product isn't great either but then you don't feel the procedure. I'd say it's different but equivalent in terms of discomfort.
> They inject something in the gums that removes sensitivity there so you feel nothing
I've never heard this called "freezing". I assume you're being injected with lidocaine, the dentist's non-psychoactive best friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidocaine
This family of molecules is well known for causing numbness in motor and sensor nerves; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEI4qSrkPAs
I've never heard this called "freezing". I assume you're being injected with lidocaine, the dentist's non-psychoactive best friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidocaine
This family of molecules is well known for causing numbness in motor and sensor nerves; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEI4qSrkPAs
oh, that! I thought "freezing" referred to some actual cold-based treatment, thanks for clarifying.
Freezing is a local anaesthetic. It is a needle injection. Think lidocaine, that kind of thing. Better to go to an oral surgeon for more complicated work.
Filling in grooves needs to go away. It will change the bite/shift the jaw which theoretically can lead to other problems. Not to mention, the grooves are there to help provide a grinding surface for vegetable matter, etc. If you make your teeth perfectly flat, they won't be as effective. Making your teeth flatter is actually reducing/damaging the effectiveness of your teeth. If it was a good idea herbivores would have teeth as flat as a tabletop.
Where I live, as a kid my dentist filed the tips of my canines down a little. Why? Who knows, they weren't bothering me before. It was something that was decided upon without consulting me.
Filling in grooves needs to go away. It will change the bite/shift the jaw which theoretically can lead to other problems. Not to mention, the grooves are there to help provide a grinding surface for vegetable matter, etc. If you make your teeth perfectly flat, they won't be as effective. Making your teeth flatter is actually reducing/damaging the effectiveness of your teeth. If it was a good idea herbivores would have teeth as flat as a tabletop.
Where I live, as a kid my dentist filed the tips of my canines down a little. Why? Who knows, they weren't bothering me before. It was something that was decided upon without consulting me.
I'm with you. Cross innervation[0] is hell!
[0] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11505257/
[0] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11505257/
That's the parent's point: the tools and methods have changed so that now it no longer hurts.
Even now, sometimes it does hurt, plenty. Local anesthesia can be somehow negated by bacterial infection, something involving the pH getting altered. My endo apologized but had to keep drilling to reach relief.
I had to suffer through one as well. They have me the max number of shots after being on antibiotics and the pain was still unbelievable. Worst part… the dentist messed up and the whole root canal was for nothing.
This was 5 years ago. We're all different. Some people respond poorly to root canals, some feel moderate pain, some feel absolutely no pain.
And to be clear, the pain has been after my root canal, not during (even though ostensibly, the nerve is gone). My worst root canal was infected, but the endodontist claims that it usually doesn't cause that much pain (perhaps, but not for some people).
My mother and uncle have had the same issues. My father has never had issues.
And to be clear, the pain has been after my root canal, not during (even though ostensibly, the nerve is gone). My worst root canal was infected, but the endodontist claims that it usually doesn't cause that much pain (perhaps, but not for some people).
My mother and uncle have had the same issues. My father has never had issues.
> It doesn't hurt for you. Some people, including myself, have had root canals that have almost caused worse pain than when I was in the ICU.
I am just going to have the tooth pulled. They argued either try to save it, or just have it taken out.
I dread dentists, and especially endodontists/root canals.
There are enough reports of severe pain and I want no part of it, unless I go the expensive sleep dentistry route.
I am just going to have the tooth pulled. They argued either try to save it, or just have it taken out.
I dread dentists, and especially endodontists/root canals.
There are enough reports of severe pain and I want no part of it, unless I go the expensive sleep dentistry route.
I've had two root canals done with local anesthetic and no real problems. I was real nervous for the first one and went to a specialist and they used a lot of local anesthetic that I couldn't feel anything but a little pressure.
But the second time I just had my doctor do it with his anesthetic, and it wasn't much worse than a filling for me. A little unpleasant but not unbearable.
On the negative side, either that or some other dental work I had done close to the same time must have damaged a nerve and now I haven't been able to really taste anything in the front half of my tongue the past three years (still can on the back of my tongue, at least, thankfully).
But the second time I just had my doctor do it with his anesthetic, and it wasn't much worse than a filling for me. A little unpleasant but not unbearable.
On the negative side, either that or some other dental work I had done close to the same time must have damaged a nerve and now I haven't been able to really taste anything in the front half of my tongue the past three years (still can on the back of my tongue, at least, thankfully).
You don't ask for drugs? Ask for drugs. I always get Xanax and it basically puts me out through the whole thing. I have, err... had a lot of root canals.
I'd think the bigger concern with a root canal is the not-insignificant likelihood they will break your jaw.
Or not get the whole root out, causing an infection and need to get the procedure done again. (Never have a dentist do your root canal, folks)
I'd think the bigger concern with a root canal is the not-insignificant likelihood they will break your jaw.
Or not get the whole root out, causing an infection and need to get the procedure done again. (Never have a dentist do your root canal, folks)
I generally don’t need pain meds for dental stuff. But if I thought for a moment that I’d be feeling any pain at all, yes, give me all the meds. I’m not proud: given a choice between pain and no pain, I’ll take the second option any day of the week. I know that some people have specific reasons for avoiding meds, but absent that, why put yourself through it? You don’t get bonus points for suffering.
I have a friend who needed a major extraction at the panicky start of COVID, in Australia. The dentists weren't allowed to use drills. I'm not sure why but something to do with aerosolizing.
It turns out the things dentists use when they're not allowed to use drills are chisels.
It turns out the things dentists use when they're not allowed to use drills are chisels.
Most extractions are done without drilling. That's really only necessary when the tooth needs to be sectioned, or if there is a bony impaction. Usually a bit of movement with forceps or elevators is all that's required.
But yeah, sectioning a tooth with chisels sounds pretty bad. I think I would try to avoid that situation. I'm not sure why a dentist would even have an instrument that could be described as a "chisel".
But yeah, sectioning a tooth with chisels sounds pretty bad. I think I would try to avoid that situation. I'm not sure why a dentist would even have an instrument that could be described as a "chisel".
There are electronic files today for root canals but I had an endodontist once that still used a series of hand files. So weird to think about.
I've always wondered how come there wasn't more effort put into something like this. It's a huge business opportunity. Everyone hates going to the dentist.
Teeth have remarkable intricate structure, simple depositing some disordered mineral using a bio-mimetic peptide isn't the same as regenerating your enamel. Remaking your actual tooth material is very difficult (currently no method is really known). Once the enamel is formed the cells die off and you are stuck with what you've got. Hopefully restorative options like this may be modestly successful but I'm skeptical. I worked in this area during my PhD.
Hair is a bigger market. Not in terms of people it affects, but what people will pay. But.... likewise, it amazes me we have a million and a half ways to grow hair on mice, but none on humans. Makes me think we need to relax human trials on volunteers (only half joking).
It’s really astonishing how I know, intuitively, this is true but how weird people’s priorities are.
Being honest:
1. I started balding at a relatively normal age (first signs late 20s). At first I welcomed it, then I got a little self conscious (and wished for greys instead, those are finally coming into my beard and I couldn’t be happier).
2. I’ve had dental health issues since childhood. My family couldn’t afford regular dental care and I’ve always worried about it.
3. My teeth have rapidly deteriorated in my late 30s. I can’t currently afford any dental care and I already know I’m looking at drastic solutions when I can.
Having both a thin head of hair and a mouth full of trash, I know what I’d prioritize given the chance to magically turn back time time or scientifically reverse the worst of my biology. And it’s not my hair.
Shaving/trimming/styling baldness is trivial. My mouth is an unavoidable turnoff, a constant terrible personal experience, and an ongoing health risk.
It’s bonkers to me that there’s more money in solving hair than solving teeth, even though I know it’s true.
Being honest:
1. I started balding at a relatively normal age (first signs late 20s). At first I welcomed it, then I got a little self conscious (and wished for greys instead, those are finally coming into my beard and I couldn’t be happier).
2. I’ve had dental health issues since childhood. My family couldn’t afford regular dental care and I’ve always worried about it.
3. My teeth have rapidly deteriorated in my late 30s. I can’t currently afford any dental care and I already know I’m looking at drastic solutions when I can.
Having both a thin head of hair and a mouth full of trash, I know what I’d prioritize given the chance to magically turn back time time or scientifically reverse the worst of my biology. And it’s not my hair.
Shaving/trimming/styling baldness is trivial. My mouth is an unavoidable turnoff, a constant terrible personal experience, and an ongoing health risk.
It’s bonkers to me that there’s more money in solving hair than solving teeth, even though I know it’s true.
I had a patient who was GOING BLIND and had a chance to get in a vision trial or a hair transplant trial but couldn't do both. He chose the hair trial. Over his own sight!!
I was really annoyed at him for a while because I had moved heaven and earth for him to help him screen into the highly competitive vision trial. But... his life, his choice. Even though he made a dumb one, imo.
I was really annoyed at him for a while because I had moved heaven and earth for him to help him screen into the highly competitive vision trial. But... his life, his choice. Even though he made a dumb one, imo.
It sounds like the hair transplant trial is much more feasible than fixing blindness.
Maybe he chose what he thought would work.
Maybe he chose what he thought would work.
Contrasting points...
You can close your mouth., but can’t stop someone from looking at your head.
You can surgically replace all your teeth with perfect replicas and no one will be able to tell otherwise except in how perfect they are. The cost for this isn’t low, but nor is it unobtainable. I bet $10k in Eastern Europe gets you nice teeth for the rest of your life.
There is just no great option for hair. Even with infinite money like Musk or Bezos, you have plugs or nothing.
But... if this enamel deal helps you, I’m glad!
You can close your mouth., but can’t stop someone from looking at your head.
You can surgically replace all your teeth with perfect replicas and no one will be able to tell otherwise except in how perfect they are. The cost for this isn’t low, but nor is it unobtainable. I bet $10k in Eastern Europe gets you nice teeth for the rest of your life.
There is just no great option for hair. Even with infinite money like Musk or Bezos, you have plugs or nothing.
But... if this enamel deal helps you, I’m glad!
For the vast majority of people who experience hair loss, it’s... normal and expected, maybe somewhat romantically limiting. Poor dental health can be poor health overall. Traveling to Eastern Europe to spend $10k for something I actually need is not an option for me.
Yeah I can close my mouth. And suffer. And let it keep rotting, crossing my fingers that related health impacts don’t get to me before I can pay a car’s value to get health care. Or people can look at my bald head and... nothing meaningful happened.
I appreciate your kindness in expressing this contrarian view, but it’s not helpful.
Yeah I can close my mouth. And suffer. And let it keep rotting, crossing my fingers that related health impacts don’t get to me before I can pay a car’s value to get health care. Or people can look at my bald head and... nothing meaningful happened.
I appreciate your kindness in expressing this contrarian view, but it’s not helpful.
> normal and expected
That sounds like wishful thinking, if it were true there wouldn't be a giant market in covering up hair loss.
That sounds like wishful thinking, if it were true there wouldn't be a giant market in covering up hair loss.
That sounds like the market for reversing widespread adult male hair loss is where the wishful thinking is.
just because there's a giant market for (covering up) something, doesn't mean it isn't normal and expected. Women's leg hair comes to mind. Also wrinkle cream.
Advertising makes us do things we might not otherwise do, is what I'm saying.
Advertising makes us do things we might not otherwise do, is what I'm saying.
Go for cleanings even if you don't fix the cavities right away.
There are multiple ways you can hide your hair (hats, caps, scarfs) while it's more difficult to hide your mouth/teeth. That said it's quite easy now during COVID times!
Weird teeth-cleaning trick that I discovered from suffering from interstitial cystitis / painful bladder syndrome (IC / BPS): toss a bit of baking soda in your water, such as 1 teaspoon per liter. It makes it alkaline. My teeth got whiter and felt better (less of a film feeling).
Baking soda is used as a cooking ingredient and shouldn't be too risky, but don't go overboard... bit of discussion on the IC / BPS aspect in the two citations below (including risks):
[Effects of urine alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate orally on lower urinary tract symptoms in female patients: a pilot study](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00192-017-3492-...)
[Urine alkalization improves the problems of pain and sleep in hypersensitive bladder syndrome](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24224617)
UPDATE: Also check edathamil toothpaste as I mentioned in a below comment https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27329165
Baking soda is used as a cooking ingredient and shouldn't be too risky, but don't go overboard... bit of discussion on the IC / BPS aspect in the two citations below (including risks):
[Effects of urine alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate orally on lower urinary tract symptoms in female patients: a pilot study](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00192-017-3492-...)
[Urine alkalization improves the problems of pain and sleep in hypersensitive bladder syndrome](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24224617)
UPDATE: Also check edathamil toothpaste as I mentioned in a below comment https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27329165
Urine alkalinization will also slow down your kidney's excretion of alkaline drugs and their metabolites. And speed up excretion of acidic drugs.
https://tmedweb.tulane.edu/pharmwiki/doku.php/ph_effect_on_d...
And yes, you definitely don't want to overdo it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk-alkali_syndrome#History
https://tmedweb.tulane.edu/pharmwiki/doku.php/ph_effect_on_d...
And yes, you definitely don't want to overdo it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk-alkali_syndrome#History
> Urine alkalinization will also slow down your kidney's excretion of alkaline drugs and their metabolites. And speed up excretion of acidic drugs.
So... overall good or bad?
So... overall good or bad?
Depends if you took too little or too much.
But even if you took too little, the drug may get broken down in other ways before you get rid of it for good.
But even if you took too little, the drug may get broken down in other ways before you get rid of it for good.
A teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a glass of cold water is also the absolute best, instant cure for heartburn. TUMS could never.
I was going to mention this too, as well as some of the other warnings. I’ll also add that while it’s extraordinarily effective,
1. It can be counterproductive if you’re experiencing acid reflux, particularly if you’re laying down. The acid neutralization produces a lot of gas (you’ll burp a lot), which can flush acid up your esophagus before it can be neutralized. It’s awful and packaging that discusses its antacid usage explicitly recommend against use with reflux and heartburn caused by overeating for a reason.
2. Excessive usage can also be counterproductive. The more you regulate your internal acidity, the more your body will try to find balance, and you risk over-producing digestive acids even without triggers if you use this regularly.
I’m relating both from painful experience. By all means, keep some bicarb handy! Just don’t overdo it.
1. It can be counterproductive if you’re experiencing acid reflux, particularly if you’re laying down. The acid neutralization produces a lot of gas (you’ll burp a lot), which can flush acid up your esophagus before it can be neutralized. It’s awful and packaging that discusses its antacid usage explicitly recommend against use with reflux and heartburn caused by overeating for a reason.
2. Excessive usage can also be counterproductive. The more you regulate your internal acidity, the more your body will try to find balance, and you risk over-producing digestive acids even without triggers if you use this regularly.
I’m relating both from painful experience. By all means, keep some bicarb handy! Just don’t overdo it.
> The more you regulate your internal acidity, the more your body will try to find balance...
You seem to be full of bad unsubstantiated health advice, for some reason. This is, of course, not true.
You seem to be full of bad unsubstantiated health advice, for some reason. This is, of course, not true.
There is absolutely a rebound effect where suppressing acid production in the stomach over time causes more acid to be produced:
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112564...
> Stomach cells that make acid multiply over several weeks of exposure to a PPI in an effort to overcome the drug's effect. When the PPI is stopped, they pour out more acid than ever.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112564...
> Stomach cells that make acid multiply over several weeks of exposure to a PPI in an effort to overcome the drug's effect. When the PPI is stopped, they pour out more acid than ever.
And luckily stepping down reverses the production to "normal" level. PPIs are so potent that you can basically stop the acid production, which is not what you want except for a short period of time.
Which is totally irrelevant as baking soda isn't a PPI.
Yes, you’re right, my comments about coffee were obviously health advice and I definitely appreciate you becoming my fact check stalker. Go on.
Tums was invented to cause temporary relief, and requires constant use (the perfect product)...since it actually makes the symptoms return in time. Baking soda will also require constant use, as do prescription meds.
Relief in the stomach requires more acid, not less. A shot of ACV (apple cider vinegar) and half teaspoon of honey will alleviate/cure indigestion in a few minutes. Received this advice from a naturopathist, and on the rare occasion that indigestion occurs, it works perfectly.
Relief in the stomach requires more acid, not less. A shot of ACV (apple cider vinegar) and half teaspoon of honey will alleviate/cure indigestion in a few minutes. Received this advice from a naturopathist, and on the rare occasion that indigestion occurs, it works perfectly.
I like it too. I do wonder about the health effects; you end up consuming a lot of sodium by drinking baking soda. I see in one of the studies they gave patients 8 grams of baking soda a day, which is more than you'd need to relieve heartburn. But, the study doesn't mention sodium and the effect on blood pressure at all, nor is it a long-term study.
I think that as terrible as chewing chalk is, calcium is better than sodium.
I think that as terrible as chewing chalk is, calcium is better than sodium.
A teaspoon of baking soda has about 1200mg of sodium, which is about half of your daily allowance. If you have heartburn regularly enough that this intake is worrisome, I'd say a prescription would be a better option for you.
I also prefer the baking soda over TUMS because it usually makes me burp, which feels soo good after it works its magic >_<
I also prefer the baking soda over TUMS because it usually makes me burp, which feels soo good after it works its magic >_<
Back when I used to get heartburn regularly (fortunately, totally recovered now due to diet changes!), the chlorine in tap water was a major trigger... so do this trick with bottled water.
Isn't baking soda a fairly common ingredient in toothpaste? (See arm and hammer brand toothpaste)
Yes, very much so -- "natural" types have been known to recommend just using baking soda instead of toothpaste.
FWIW, brushing is the more important part (even without paste it probably does most of the good), but modern toothpastes are better than baking soda because they are more abrasive and because they contain fluoride. Baking soda's main utility for toothbrushing is its abrasiveness, but it's a little too soft to be optimal.
To get the most out of your toothpaste's fluoride, spit out your toothpaste and do not immediately rinse. You don't want to swallow large amounts of toothpaste, of course, but the film does more good than harm -- https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-keep-your-t... "Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste."
FWIW, brushing is the more important part (even without paste it probably does most of the good), but modern toothpastes are better than baking soda because they are more abrasive and because they contain fluoride. Baking soda's main utility for toothbrushing is its abrasiveness, but it's a little too soft to be optimal.
To get the most out of your toothpaste's fluoride, spit out your toothpaste and do not immediately rinse. You don't want to swallow large amounts of toothpaste, of course, but the film does more good than harm -- https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-keep-your-t... "Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste."
Yep. Altho I've been using LivFresh which contains edathamil [1] and has no baking soda.
The benefit of it being in your water is that you get that constant little flush of it
[1] [Effects of a Novel Dental Gel on Plaque and Gingivitis: A Comparative Study](https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2d87n65m)
The benefit of it being in your water is that you get that constant little flush of it
[1] [Effects of a Novel Dental Gel on Plaque and Gingivitis: A Comparative Study](https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2d87n65m)
I highly recommend everyone to keep in the bathroom cupboard a cup of baking soda submerged in water to make it paste-like. Rub a finger-tip's worth of wet baking soda over your tongue after you've flossed and brushed your teeth and tongue (tongue cleaning is important - I use my toothbrush). Then rinse mouth and teeth with this baking soda and saliva for a minute or so, before spitting out.
This is the most effective addition to a mouth cleansing routine I've found. I may apply this wet baking soda "paste" multiple times a day, especially after eating or when I feel a rise in mouth acidity. Also, when I happen to get acid reflux or know I'm going to throw up I pre-emptively keep baking soda in my mouth to protect my teeth from acidity.
This is the most effective addition to a mouth cleansing routine I've found. I may apply this wet baking soda "paste" multiple times a day, especially after eating or when I feel a rise in mouth acidity. Also, when I happen to get acid reflux or know I'm going to throw up I pre-emptively keep baking soda in my mouth to protect my teeth from acidity.
Is the water with baking soda meant for drinking or for brushing your teeth with?
My dentist said that chefs have a lot of problems with tooth decay since they do so much taste testing, so she recommends they keep a glass of water with some baking soda mixed in handy to rinse with after tasting.
Drinking. In my case I'm trying to alkalize my urine to address IC / BPS... but if you just want the dental benefits you can treat it like a mouthwash
If we chew on enough of these lozenges, will our teeth merge into one, curved megatooth?
And why haven't we evolved to have that yet anyway? It's surely better, nowhere for food to get stuck? (Assuming it can still be molar/canine/incisor like in different places on that plane.)
> And why haven't we evolved to have that yet anyway? It's surely better, nowhere for food to get, stuck? (Assuming it can still be molar/canine/incisor like in different places on that plane.)
Well, in software terms, you're describing a monolithic architecture. A single cavity would destroy the whole thing. You'd probably have to replace the choppers more frequently as your skull grows into adulthood, or we would have to be born with larger jaws that don't need to grow as much as we mature.
There is also the matter of how evolvable the platform would be. As a species, we're in the process of losing our wisdom teeth, and I suspect that would be harder to do if the skull/jaw/gum/tooth platform was... more tightly coupled, less modular.
I myself never had any wisdom teeth, and kept a couple of my milk teeth into my 40s before one had to be replaced with a crown, and the other just fell out when the root dissolved. Human dentition has a lot of variability.
Still, birds did it (as have other species over the Earth's long evolutionary history), so it isn't an insoluble challenge, but it would be a rather more radical change than just fusing teeth together.
Well, in software terms, you're describing a monolithic architecture. A single cavity would destroy the whole thing. You'd probably have to replace the choppers more frequently as your skull grows into adulthood, or we would have to be born with larger jaws that don't need to grow as much as we mature.
There is also the matter of how evolvable the platform would be. As a species, we're in the process of losing our wisdom teeth, and I suspect that would be harder to do if the skull/jaw/gum/tooth platform was... more tightly coupled, less modular.
I myself never had any wisdom teeth, and kept a couple of my milk teeth into my 40s before one had to be replaced with a crown, and the other just fell out when the root dissolved. Human dentition has a lot of variability.
Still, birds did it (as have other species over the Earth's long evolutionary history), so it isn't an insoluble challenge, but it would be a rather more radical change than just fusing teeth together.
We haven’t even evolved to have a single set of teeth. We’re born with stand ins that grow out and push “baby” teeth out. They’re pretty much set up to be disposable, we just haven’t evolved a good replacement pipeline.
my understanding is that we're basically not supposed to live long enough to care, evolution didn't have time to overcorrect for abundance of sugar and people living into old age.
A whole dental line has been available in Germany for years - Apacare [0].
[0]: https://www.apacare.com/
[0]: https://www.apacare.com/
The results for hydroxyapatite seem to be mixed, some studies have found it has no statistically significant benefit over fluoride toothpaste [0], while others have found some benefit [1][2]. Interesting none the less, thanks for linking to it.
[0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-019-0026-8
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25019114/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5121804/
[0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-019-0026-8
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25019114/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5121804/
> Brush your teeth for 3 minutes in the morning and in the evening. (apacare site)
When do you do it though? Doesn’t it undermine the brushing if you eat or drink coffee within an hour afterwards?
Or does it not matter and you brush first thing in the morning?
When do you do it though? Doesn’t it undermine the brushing if you eat or drink coffee within an hour afterwards?
Or does it not matter and you brush first thing in the morning?
I just found they have a gum solution as well - GengiGel [0].
[0]: https://www.gengigel.de/
[0]: https://www.gengigel.de/
Call me paranoid but I'm curious what % of the industry exists because of cavities? How much of a typical dentist office's time is spent repairing cavities?
I'm not suggesting some conspiracy. Just that market motivations might be misaligned.
I'm not suggesting some conspiracy. Just that market motivations might be misaligned.
Interesting point. Wouldn’t that raise something deeper about sugar vs fat consumption?
This sounds very similar to the toothpaste and dental products with polypeptides that these guys do https://www.credentis.com/en/publications/ (edit: replace link of products with publications)
Nope, that would be same old Xylitol
Believe me or not but if you have tooth sensitivity i would check sodium balance. Especially if you urinate frequently. This can ruin your teeth for long time. Yoga wheel for upper back can help.
Your body maintains your sodium levels in a very tight band. Why? Your nerves won’t function otherwise. If it gets outside that range you typically die.
So I’ll have to say I’m highly skeptical about “checking your sodium balance”.
So I’ll have to say I’m highly skeptical about “checking your sodium balance”.
From this study: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/good-heart-keep-holding-... we can see that low sodium impacts heart desease, even though your body controls it in tight range. I do agree that most probably your sodium level in blood will be in tight range. But I'm other places like saliva it could be deficient. Saliva PH strips would be a good start
Can you talk more about this? How do you check your sodium balance? I'm intrigued (and have tooth sensitivity). Thank you!
I'm not sure what's happening. Couldn't find any related studies. But i have seen in couple friends already if you have teeth sensitivity and teeth that go bad frequently you might have problem with upper back. This leads to too much urination. Especially if you don't drink a lot. Kidneys need sodium for functioning. I can only speculate that kidneys for some reason are forced to lose sodium with urine and as result you'll have tooth sensitivity or even heart problems. My observation showed that upper back backward bend helps to eliminate that. And this might be the result of bad posture. But definitely i don't have good understanding what's happening, because I'm not a doc. Just try to bend like for gymnastics bridge (yoga wheel can help or sturdy park bench) and see yourself. It will take just couple days to show results,
When the orthodontist finally removed my braces as a kid, it also removed most of the enamel from the front of my teeth. I wish I had been told that and given a choice, because I'd honestly prefer strong, healthy, white, crooked teeth, to stained weak cavity-filled straight ones. (And the bottom row grew crooked anyway)
Through the decades, many have claimed they solved the tooth decay problem. Nobody ever shipped a product, let alone a working one. This is the next one in the series so long I feel extremely skeptical. Even if it actually works it will probably cost some crazy money (part of which will hopefully go to a fund to support millions of jobless dentists /s).
Nevertheless I'm glad this popped up here anyway.
This isn't so much a prevention of tooth decay as it is a contribution to the hydroxyapatite crystal structure in a non-regenerable part of your tooth.
Could you please explain? What is a non-regenerable part of a tooth and what is a regenerable part of it? Why repairing its crystal structure is not a prevention of its decay?
The outer hard enamel layer of your teeth is acellular and cannot regenerate after it forms. Its been a while since I worked in this field (my PhD) but the inner dentin has some ability to regenerate due to the adjacent cells in the pulp. I'm not really sure I understand what the previous comment is saying about the crystal structure. All of the tooth (enamel and dentin) and bone mineral related carbonate "hydroxyl" apatite is crystalline with some additional amorphous material in between.
I'm anxious that this could cause cancer or long term disease states as it works its way through your digestion system.
This is a wildly novel approach being applied orally.
I'd love for this to work, but they're relying on the fact this doesn't interact with other bodily tissues.
This is a wildly novel approach being applied orally.
I'd love for this to work, but they're relying on the fact this doesn't interact with other bodily tissues.
How about rebuilding the bone the tooth grows out of? My dentist says that my teeth look great, but the x-ray of my alveolar bones that support those teeth look like that of someone 10 years older than me.
That would basically cure periodontal disease which would be huge. I don't think so, not this decade at least :)
This is cool but I really want something that can regrow my gums. I’ve had some recession and I have sensitivity to cold liquids. The dentists say the only option is surgery
Same. I’ve had two grafts in the same area (cadaver and auto) and neither of them held.
What drives me wild is I floss twice a day, brush three times a day with the daintiest grip you’ve ever seen.
Every time I go to the dentist, recession.
Meanwhile my spouse brushes once a day, maybe flosses occasionally and has never had recession or a cavity.
What drives me wild is I floss twice a day, brush three times a day with the daintiest grip you’ve ever seen.
Every time I go to the dentist, recession.
Meanwhile my spouse brushes once a day, maybe flosses occasionally and has never had recession or a cavity.
I'm about to get a donor graft soon. Why didn't your's work out?
Not exactly sure. My current dentist said it’s rare for an autograft not to take, but it didn’t. He said my surgeon must have sucked.
> The idea for the lozenge design originated with Deniz Yucesoy, a graduate student in the UW’s Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering Center who received a $100,000 Amazon Catalyst grant
This grad-student/researcher just handed over a multi-million dollar business to Amazon in exchange for $100k towards the research. Why on Earth would anyone sign over 100% ownership of their idea, just to be able to test their idea? I guess he thought it would look good on his resume as begs a company for a job after graduation?
Who owns the IP if I join Amazon Catalyst?[1]
Amazon Catalyst is a place to see your idea come to fruition without the risk of starting a company on your own. As such, the IP that is developed in Amazon Catalyst is property of Amazon.[1]
[1] https://catalyst.amazon.com/
This grad-student/researcher just handed over a multi-million dollar business to Amazon in exchange for $100k towards the research. Why on Earth would anyone sign over 100% ownership of their idea, just to be able to test their idea? I guess he thought it would look good on his resume as begs a company for a job after graduation?
Who owns the IP if I join Amazon Catalyst?[1]
Amazon Catalyst is a place to see your idea come to fruition without the risk of starting a company on your own. As such, the IP that is developed in Amazon Catalyst is property of Amazon.[1]
[1] https://catalyst.amazon.com/
If you're an academic researcher, you probably don't care as much about the ownership of IP when compared to a potential to see your work get used and to build a reputation as a competent person in your field.
Also, the work wouldn't necessarily exist without the funding.
Also, the work wouldn't necessarily exist without the funding.
Well, we are talking about a possibly multi-million dollar product here. If Amazon were a bit less predatory perhaps keep 99% of the IP?
Amazon is a modern day Dutch East India Company. There’s no reason for them not to be predatory, given that they wield so much power.
I completely agree. Hopefully them doing this sparks the same initiative for other companies. Perhaps with some competition for talent the terms would be better.
What is a reasonable survivorship bias rate? If Amazon invested at a point when this was <1% likelihood of making it to market
In a commercially successful venture, then their initial investment would work out to be charity for society.
This is, indeed, often the point of commercial partnerships for universities - getting what you want to see out into the world.
I don't remember the licensing terms for Catalyst specifically, but they are fairly aggressive, as far as these things go, to my recollection.
I don't remember the licensing terms for Catalyst specifically, but they are fairly aggressive, as far as these things go, to my recollection.
The website for Catalyst at UW appears to have different IP terms:
> For the avoidance of doubt as between Sponsor and Participants/Teams, all Submissions created by Participants/Teams will remain the property of the Participant/Team except to the extent a Participant/Team incorporated elements in their Submission owned by Sponsor, but the Competition Entities will have the rights to use the Submissions described herein. By submitting a Submission in this Competition, each Participant/Team warrants and represents that he or she owns, or otherwise has the right to use, all of the intellectual and industrial property rights in and to the Submission. Further, each Participant/Team hereby grants the Competition Entities a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your Submission in connection with this Competition.
TLDR: It's your IP, but we can use it in connection with this Competition.
https://catalyst.amazon.com/archive/programs/uw/#rules
> For the avoidance of doubt as between Sponsor and Participants/Teams, all Submissions created by Participants/Teams will remain the property of the Participant/Team except to the extent a Participant/Team incorporated elements in their Submission owned by Sponsor, but the Competition Entities will have the rights to use the Submissions described herein. By submitting a Submission in this Competition, each Participant/Team warrants and represents that he or she owns, or otherwise has the right to use, all of the intellectual and industrial property rights in and to the Submission. Further, each Participant/Team hereby grants the Competition Entities a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your Submission in connection with this Competition.
TLDR: It's your IP, but we can use it in connection with this Competition.
https://catalyst.amazon.com/archive/programs/uw/#rules
That doesnt appear to be a grant at all then! Are government or nonprofit grants ever attached to IP ownership terms?
Usually the IP goes to the employer (i.e. the university) rather than the individual researcher.
what if there’s more to an idea than how much money you personally can extract from it?
Theres more to an idea than how much a billionaire can trick you to part with it too though.
Yeah, how altruistic of him to hand the idea over to a group of bloodsucking capitalists that'll use it to extract as much profit from the world as possible.
There is no way this is not copied by Indian pharmacies in a whim, IP is nothing these days.
As long as it's disclosed beforehand, I don't see any problem with that. It's not like Amazon coerced the student into the contract: if they had a better funding opportunity they'd obviously have gone for it. This is the best deal they could get and Amazon was also obviously taking a risk: for every successful project, there are hundreds that don't get anywhere.
You can't pay rent with the hope of success.
> multi-million dollar business
That is not a business, just an idea. The value of ideas (unproven, unimplemented) is ZERO. The fact that someone was willing to pay $100k for it is absolutely amazing and a huge service to the society.
That is not a business, just an idea. The value of ideas (unproven, unimplemented) is ZERO. The fact that someone was willing to pay $100k for it is absolutely amazing and a huge service to the society.
This is absolutely wrong. Especially when the formulation of the idea depends on extremely advanced knowledge of the topic.
Prove me wrong. Try selling an idea and let us know how much money you got for it.
You are making an extraordinary claim here (that an idea founded on a significant amount of study and prior experimentation is worthless). It seems to me that it's a little strange to ask someone else to disprove you when you haven't really made your own point of view plausible.
Do I really need to prove that you can starve with a million ideas in your head? That everyone around has countless ideas and it's impossible to know which ones can create value without spending time and money to try to develop them?
I think the extraordinary claim is to pretend to know the value of an idea upfront. Very few people (Venture Capitalists, business investors, etc) try that and they fail more often than they succeed.
Show me someone who can reliably predict the idea success rate and I will show you a billionaire!
I think the extraordinary claim is to pretend to know the value of an idea upfront. Very few people (Venture Capitalists, business investors, etc) try that and they fail more often than they succeed.
Show me someone who can reliably predict the idea success rate and I will show you a billionaire!
You're arguing a different point than everyone else, so it makes sense that things don't make sense to you.
That may very well be. I am arguing against GGGP's implied point that is an inherently bad move to sell an (unproven, untested, undeveloped) idea for $100k. My argument is sustained by the general accepted worldwide idea market value and the very observation that the idea owner, the one that must have been the best informed about said value of that idea, decided to sell.
In short, I am saying: "He must have known better than us dumb commenters on the Internet, we must respect his decision, he could've done a lot worse."
What point are you arguing?
In short, I am saying: "He must have known better than us dumb commenters on the Internet, we must respect his decision, he could've done a lot worse."
What point are you arguing?
Also: try nanohydroxyapetate.
What if this works too well? Everyone is going to look like a beaver.
Peptide medecine (heavily researched in Russia) has a magical potential.
Through epigenetic changes it can alter almost anything:
Anti Ageing
Changing your skin color
Atypical stimulant: semax
Atypical anxiolitic:selank
Physical performance/recovery
Eye health
Etc...
There even is a peptide covid vaccine
Discover more at r/peptides
Discover more at r/peptides
This hasn't even started trials, so its as good as my cousin freds snakeoil potice.
I found sensodyn repair and protect less effective than regenerate nr5? Anyone else used this product?
https://www.regeneratenr5.co.uk/products/advanced-toothpaste
https://www.regeneratenr5.co.uk/products/advanced-toothpaste
I’m using repair and protect, and I have no idea whether it’s doing anything. Experienced a much greater impact by cutting out most added sugar from my diet (including in coffee).
On Regenerate NR5, there seems to be skepticism on Reddit. This analysis looks solid:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dentistry/comments/2afh74/has_anyon...
It suggests they’re using fairly standard ingredients that are present in many toothpastes.
Caveat emptor..
On Regenerate NR5, there seems to be skepticism on Reddit. This analysis looks solid:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dentistry/comments/2afh74/has_anyon...
It suggests they’re using fairly standard ingredients that are present in many toothpastes.
Caveat emptor..
Hopefully not cavity emptor
[deleted]
If there is even small amount of truth in this, it is going to revolutionize dentist industry. In fact make it obsolete leaving only surgeries.
Chris Rock had a good story about when he got rich enough he just got brand new teeth. It’s something I’ve thought about. If you get to a decent enough income level, why not just pay the price? One medical tourism visit to Costa Rica, and voila, problem solved.
Highly out of context, but, another Turkish researcher outside Turkey, probably escaping Islamist government that's effing up Turkey, and coming up with ground breaking innovations. A a Turk, don't know if I should be thankful or mad as hell.
You can be both. You can be thankful that opportunities exist for them to practice their craft and bring things into the world to make it better. You can also be mad that they couldn't do it at home because of the regime which really does do ridiculous things like set monetary interest rates ignoring that it's still connected to the international financial system.
Dentists will hate this and, if it works, conspire to destroy it. Dentists operate a mostly cash business dependent on disease care. The less you care for your teeth, the more money they make. The more procedures they perform, the more money they make. Good luck.
I've been drinking diet coke all day (about 3 liters/day) for many years, which causes my teeth to be less than white and also rather sensitive. Besides the coloring, I suspect that the enamel is being thinned down by the citric/phosphoric acid. I have no chronic pain, but the cosmetic aspect and the sensitivity bothers me. TFA sounds like that treatment could help.
Any other recommendations for my situation? I can't brush agressively due to receding gums. I use a chlorhexidine solution regularly, which helps preventing inflammation/aphthae in the mouth, which I used to have quite often prior to discovering CHX. And no, dialing down the diet coke is unfortunately not possible for me. ;)
Any other recommendations for my situation? I can't brush agressively due to receding gums. I use a chlorhexidine solution regularly, which helps preventing inflammation/aphthae in the mouth, which I used to have quite often prior to discovering CHX. And no, dialing down the diet coke is unfortunately not possible for me. ;)
Why is reducing the diet coke not possible for you? I don't mean to ask this as a snide remark, I'm just curious.
It's a strong addiction. I'm a device for turning diet code into working software ;) [1]. I need the caffeine kick. I don't particularly like to drink tea or coffee (which wouldn't help with the teeth coloring anyway). And I like the taste of diet coke (or coke zero) a lot. I tried switching to water multiple times, but was unable to sustain it. I wish Coca-Cola would produce a colorless variant (like Pepsi once did), which would at least improve the whiteness.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfr%C3%A9d_R%C3%A9nyi#Quotati...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfr%C3%A9d_R%C3%A9nyi#Quotati...
What about switching to seltzer you can mix with caffeine powder? If you look you should be able to find a “cola” flavored one which while not the same should at least be an approximation. From some quick googling it appears seltzer still has carbonic acid which ain’t great for your teeth but it’s not as bad as regular soda’s acid-combo [1].
[1] https://espiredental.com/is-seltzer-really-bad-for-your-teet...
[1] https://espiredental.com/is-seltzer-really-bad-for-your-teet...
Thanks. I googled for cola-flavored caffeine powder, but couldn't find anything. Do you have an example?
The caffeine content of Coke is relatively low (only about a third or fourth of coffee, and lower than other cola products), which makes it practical for me to sip it all day. I guess I'm as much addicted to the taste as to the caffeine.
The caffeine content of Coke is relatively low (only about a third or fourth of coffee, and lower than other cola products), which makes it practical for me to sip it all day. I guess I'm as much addicted to the taste as to the caffeine.
This is now my highest-scoring post (since my first post in 2011), surpassing this one from 2017
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14446261
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14446261
This sounds great but I wonder when we'll see something in production.
I'm still waiting for Ocumetics to deliver on their bionic eyes promises or risug to deliver on reversible semi permanent male contraceptives.
I'm still waiting for Ocumetics to deliver on their bionic eyes promises or risug to deliver on reversible semi permanent male contraceptives.
Sounds great, however I hope someone checks this doesn’t end up fixing teeth and causing problems with gut health. It’s probably fine though, I guess we ingest random peptides all the while...
Can I buy this? I want it, and I’m happy with no guarantees.
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.