Fight Tooth Decay with Electricity 277
Erica Campbell writes "According to IsraCast, The Israeli Company Fluorinex Active has developed a new technology that can protect the tooth from cavities for 5 years with one simple electrical treatment. The company is currently working on a small device which, together with a gel, will impose an efficient ion exchange process through an Electro-chemical reaction in which fluor ions displace the Hydroxide ions at the outer layer of the tooth. This is intended to produce a new mineral layer with significantly improved chemical and physical resistance to the aggressive bacteria and the resulting acidic environment in the mouth."
Gums. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Gums. (Score:2, Insightful)
ex. Teeth whitening for smokers/coffee drinkers, tooth implants for those who don't sufficiently take care of their teeth, etc.
Ridiculous (Score:5, Informative)
The problem of tooth decay is complex, but this oft repeated lie doesn't get to the bottom of it.
Re:Ridiculous (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Ridiculous (Score:5, Informative)
This is also the case with honey - it's sticky and cause cavities if used as a sweetener. But it's not too dangerous eating an apple/orange without brushing your teeth for a while.
As long as people avoid honey, processed foods with sugar or flour - you should be able to get away without brushing and have no cavities.
However, that lifestyle and this treatment isn't going to be an end to brushing or flossing. Even if the teeth are completely protected, your gums can get gingivitus/periodontis without the stimulation of brushing/flossing.
Here is a pretty good website that explains/backs-up most of what I said. I found it to read up on wisdom teeth extraction a while back:
http://www.doctorspiller.com/ [doctorspiller.com]
The press release says, "working on". (Score:2)
Re:The press release says, "working on". (Score:2)
However:
1 - Teeth are not made of aluminum.
2 - The amounts of H2SO4 and electricity needed would likely be fatal.
3 - Our teeth are already very rich in hydroxides.
4 - Hydroxides are plenty strong enough.
Re:Ridiculous (Score:3, Interesting)
Eat lots of other animals. For the best results, eat those who've only eaten lots of sweet fruits. Mmm!
a variant on cathodic protection (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm oversimplifying it massively here, but cathodic protection is a priority application for solar panels and equipment in remote areas, such as pipeline and radio-transmitter installations in the high Arctic.
This treatment sounds like a weird and cool transferral of the idea to teeth.
Re:Gums. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Believe it or not (Score:5, Informative)
So the thing to do is keep our moth more basic than 4.5 (normal is about 5, I think). But the sugars that you noted get digested by the bacteria in our mouth, and then the biproduct of the digestion is lactic acid. This increases the acidity in out mouth (or decreases the pH). If you brush well enough that you have no bacteria in there, then you can eat all the sugar you want to no detriment. But most people have some bacteria in there, so we need to brush it out. But there's even more.
Toothpaste is designed not only to be all bubbly and tasty, but to make our mouth more basic (raise the pH) as well. That's why there is sodium flouride in toothpaste. The flouride ion attaches to the free hydrogen ions that are making our saliva acidic. But keeping our mouths alkaline still can't save our enamel that's already gone. It sounds to me like this new technology maybe kind of can though...
Re:Believe it or not (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Believe it or not (Score:2)
Re:Gums. (Score:3, Interesting)
Would this affect coloring? (Score:4, Interesting)
It'd really suck to lock in any staining...
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:5, Interesting)
well a floride coating is what natrually protects our teeth, thats why tap water, and toothpaste have this as an additive. Actually I just read that tooth decay is on the rise because many of us no longer drink tap water wwhich is forified with floride. From what I understand this is basically a electrochemical process which artficially bonds the floride to our teeth.
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:5, Informative)
When I was a kid, I was actually subjected to sitting in a dentists chair for 15 minutes while a mould with a concentrated fluoride gel where held against my teeth.
It looks like this company is using exactly the same type of gel and mould, but adding an electrical current to try and speed up the hydrogen replacement. I've no idea if this would work or not, but it gets my snake-oil detectors twitching just a bit.
In terms of discolouration, I believe the advice is that children under 5 should limit exposure to fluoride toothpaste (just use a bit) to avoid white spots on their teeth, apart from that, there aren't any problems.
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:2)
They, um, still do that? I'm 18 and I've had fluoride gel within the past year, though it's actually 1 minute, not 15. I remember when I was a young'un they just gave me fluoride sol'n in a cup to rinse and spit, and I know that the solution was used at this free dental care for inner city kids thing (Give Kids a Smile) that I volunteered at a
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:3, Informative)
Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying (Score:3, Informative)
Mandrake: Well, no I... I can't say I have, Jack.
Ripper: Vodka. That's what they drink, isn't it? Never water?
Mandrake: Well I... I believe that's what they drink, Jack. Yes.
Ripper: On no account will a commie ever drink water, and not without good reason.
Mandrake: Oh, ah, yes. I don't quite.. see what you're getting at, Jack.
Ripper: Water. That's what I'm getting at. Water. Mandrake, water is the source of all life. Seven tenths of this earth's sur
Actually, many studies have shown that (Score:2)
And flouride is a poison anyways, so any change is a good change if you ask me.
Re:Actually, many studies have shown that (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:2)
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:3, Interesting)
If there were some detrimental effect from fluoridated water, we would have seen some observable difference in effects on populations receiving fluoridated water vs those receiving non fluoridated water in the past 60 years don't you think? But the only difference we observe is a marked reduction in tooth decay in the population receiv
Re:Would this affect coloring? (Score:3, Funny)
"Would this process affect the coloration of the teeth?"
No, but tooth size many change. [demon.co.uk] 8^)
Broccoli (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Broccoli (Score:3, Funny)
Hibbert: Mm. Another broccoli-related death.
Marge: I thought broccoli was ...
Hibbert: Oh, yes. one of the deadliest plants on earth. Why, it tries to warn you itself with its terrible taste.
Right audience (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Right audience (Score:2)
Great idea... (Score:4, Funny)
Hi, Dr. Nick! (Score:2)
Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:5, Funny)
Luckily I bet I can improvise one of my one; all I need is an old lamp cord, a football mouthpiece, and some high fluoride gel toothpaste.
Re:Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:5, Interesting)
Whereas before they would only fix cavities, now they are telling me that I need a tissue graft from my pallet onto a receeding section of my gums, that I need cleanings every 6 months at least, and that more orthodontic work wouldn't hurt either. After getting second opinions, I've determined that most of what they are suggesting is unnecessary... Basically they are trying to maintain their revenue stream by going after more obscure and largely non-worrisome problems.
Yes this is based on my own anecdotal experience (and talking to others), so it's a highly skewed opinion. But it seems to me that dentists are "inventing" new problems to treat and deal with, since the core problem (cavities, etc.) has been solved satisfactorily.
Re:Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:5, Interesting)
I spent my Senior year in High School going through a series of "necessary" gingival grafts. The pain was excruciating because the Viccodin didn't do much for me and I ended up not taking it because it screwed with my attention span, which was bad when I was drilling myself through AP Calculus and English among other things (girlfriend included!).
It turns out that everyone in my family has "receding" gums. That's just how they are - small. The doctor made a few thousand dollars, I got one cool picture of my shredded mouth roof. Exciting. Thank you, profit motive!
Re:Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:3, Funny)
You were "drilling your way" through your girlfriend? Ouch. Did you at least give *her* some Vicodin?
The Lobbying begins (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:2)
"Would you like teeth whitening today?"
"Oh, those old metal fillings wear out over time. Would you like some new ceramic fillings instead?"
Re:Wouldn't dentists fight this? (Score:2)
Except that most of your clients have nasty breath.
Bring on the Mountain Dew! (Score:5, Funny)
Heh (Score:2)
Bring on the Energy Drinks! (Score:5, Funny)
Don't have to brush then? (Score:2)
Re:Don't have to brush then? (Score:2)
Shouldn't make a lick of difference (unless you're eating at night after you brush).
How does it get below the gum line? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:How does it get below the gum line? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:How does it get below the gum line? (Score:2, Informative)
By creating a barrier tough enough that the nasties can't get down 3mm themselves.
KFG
This just makes me wonder (Score:2)
Other approaches (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Other approaches (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Other approaches (Score:2, Informative)
More links to the pile
Oragenics [oragenics.com] (Genetically Modified Replacement)
More than a mouthfull [wellcome.ac.uk]
Awesome (Score:2)
Pass (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Pass (Score:2)
My immediate thought was "Nice try, my dad got me with that joke already"
FYI - a "dead" battery.... isn't. Especially a "dead" 9-Volt battery
Re:Pass (Score:2)
Is it safe? (Score:2)
"Brush your teeth, Timmy or I'll have to send for The White Angel [imdb.com] to come and ask you 'Is it safe?' [wikiquote.org] "
It's a commie plot! (Score:3, Funny)
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Lord, Jack.
General Jack D. Ripper: You know when fluoridation first began?
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I... no, no. I don't, Jack.
General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Uh, Jack, Jack, listen, tell me, tell me, Jack. When did you first... become... well, develop this theory?
General Jack D. Ripper: Well, I, uh... I... I... first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love.
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.
General Jack D. Ripper: Yes, a uh, a profound sense of fatigue... a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I... I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence.
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.
General Jack D. Ripper: I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women uh... women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh... I do not avoid women, Mandrake.
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: No.
General Jack D. Ripper: But I... I do deny them my essence.
Credit to IMDB [imdb.com] for the actual quotes. My memory of them was somewhat less than accurate. ;)
--
Sig nature
yep, let's solve another non-problem (Score:2)
Nice checkup... (Score:2)
Here, have a candy!
(Herman, Jim Unger [comics.com])
Cool idea. (Score:2)
Precious bodily fluids (Score:2)
British teeth (Score:2)
Reason: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING.
Warning! (Score:2)
Note that the IsraCast press release says, "The company is currently working on a small device..."
Study (Score:2)
Tooth decay declined substantially in prevalence and severity when Hong Kong children consumed less fluoride
Re:Study (Score:2)
Re:Study (Score:2)
Taser to the face, booya (Score:2)
Dr. Nick pioneered this (Score:2)
Abe's only hope is "transdental electromicide". Dr. Riviera asks for a golf cart motor with a 1000 volt capacimator, but the two-second hesitation pushes him past schedule. Nick improvises by ripping the cords from an operating lamp and shocking the sh-- hell out of Abe. "Keep doing that every five seconds", the "doctor" instructs. The malpractice charges are dropped, and Dr. Nick enthuses "Free nose jobs for everyone!" starting wi
This is how it's meant to work... (Score:5, Informative)
As any chemistry geek knows a fluorine ion (F-) can replace a hydroxyl ion (OH-). In teeth, fluoride causes formation of hydroxyfluoroapatite, where some of the OH's have been replaced with F's.
The compound with the fluoride is slightly stronger physically, it also has better pK values. The pKa and other values tell us about the solubility of a compound in acids or bases. Fluoroapatite is less soluble in acid. This means cavities will not form as easily when bacterial start producing acid in the teeth.
Normally, fluoride gets into our teeth through diffusion. Fluoride is in reasonably high concentrations in saliva anyway, but topical application of fluoride (for instance brushing your teeth) will increase the amount of strong fluoroapatite in your enamel.
This method uses a current to influence the exchange of OH for F in tooth enamel. It is nearly similar to the copper plating experiments you may have seen in high school.
Fluoride is only bad if ingested in large quanties. Fluorosis, a discoluration of the teeth, is caused by problems with the enamel producing cells in childhood. It can happen if children habitually eat toothpaste. It will not happen with topical application.
Skeletal bones can be adversely affected by fluoride, but this also requires high internal F- levels. It is unlikely to happen with topical application of toothpaste.
Re:This is how it's meant to work... (Score:2)
Re:This is how it's meant to work... (Score:3, Informative)
There are new toothpastes that are now arriving on the market that are designed to "remineralize" the enamel and restore small-to-tiny dental decay. Some people may remember "Enamelon" (which went out of business). Well, it seems that there are 3 products that are not likely to go out of business any time soon, but use essentially the same technology.
Teeth (like bones) breakdown and rebuild every day. Bones via the bloodstream. Teeth via saliva and enzymes and minerals found in the saliva. Fluoride definit
5 years? (Score:2)
http://www.matimop.org.il/newrdinf/company/c6167.h tm [matimop.org.il]
FLUORINEX ACTIVE LTD. was established on April 2004 and currently
is conducting a comprehensive in-vitro research in cooperation
with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The research goal is to
optimize the parameters of the treatment and to prove its
efficacy on a solid statistical basis.
What a "solid" statistical basis that must be.
Too complicated (Score:3, Interesting)
Does testing 9v batteries on your tongue help? (Score:2)
Some of us actually need this (Score:2)
I only wish it was available 5 years ago before I had to lose 6 teeth. I only wish I had perfect sparklies so I wasn't so self-conscious.
In other news: British invade Israel (Score:3, Funny)
Reaction from the United States was guarded. In an apparent reference to the incident, President Bush repeatedly mumbled to himself, "Lisa needs braces? Dental plan?" while speaking to reporters today on the subject.
Asked if the United States would be taking up the British invasion at the UN Security Council, Bush said he always liked the Monkees better than the Beatles anyway.
Re:NIMM (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:NIMM (Score:3, Informative)
Hate to nit-pick, but as far as I'm aware (could be wrong) but titanium does not bond with bone. Titanium is used due to the excellent mechanical proporties it possesses. However it has to be coated via plasma spraying with hydroxyapatite, which does bond with both bone and titanium.
Happened to have a lecture the covered this subject the other day.
Re:NIMM (Score:2)
Re:NIMM (Score:2)
Re:NIMM (Score:2)
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
Guess what, chemical substances are created as byproducts and used otherwise all the time.
Just giving it bad names isnt an argument by itself, and most stuff the body needs can kill him in too high dosage, so the "isnt healthy" can also be streched FAAAAAAR into the real of propaganda.
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
Perfect example of course is the fact that dihydrogen monoxide [dhmo.org] is also a common industrial waste.
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
Concentrated nitric acid is also toxic waste. Dilute nitric acid makes a pretty decent plant fertilizer.
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
Well, you kinda deserve tinfoil hat jokes (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/waterfluoridation/i
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Diseas
Now I don't care to argue with you about who to believe, I'm just pointing you that you are presenting only a source with an agenda. Have a look at what the CDC has to say, as well as others.
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:5, Funny)
It's not the city governments or plants that are doing this to us. It's the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids [imdb.com]. Duh.
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
This is the 21st century; we call them "terrorists" now, not "Communists".
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
I think the millions thay drink florida that aren't falling over dead does hold some evidence of it's validity.
BTW, public water also has clorine and amonia in it. OMG!
Also, as little as ONE(1) cup of water can KILL YOU! ba ba BAAAaaaa
All evidence point to floride in proper dosage is not harmfull.
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:fluoride is toxic waste (Score:2)
when talking about flouridated water, that is patently false.
also, bottle water doesn;t really have flouride in it.
"when in doubt, I tend to believe the group that doesn't have a monetary interest in the outcome, and fluorinating municipal water supplies subsidizes the chemical industry--guys who have influence and deep pockets."
nice knee jerk and pointless exercise.
When I am in doubt, I look at the science and existing evidence.
Plus the ADA would never have lobbie
Too many chemicals (Score:2)
Re:fluor ions? (Score:2)
Many of the elements--especially those in the first two rows, as well as many p-block and mostly-full d-block--have different names in other languages, owing to their early discovery.
Re:fluor ions? (Score:2)
Re:fluor ions? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Cool to see the Palestinian/Israeli cooperation (Score:2)
No, your point is a sign of Zionist nomenclature. Just because Zionists call Palestinians who were never ethnically cleansed as "Israeli Arabs" doesn't make them any less Palestinian. Note that this is of current Zionist usage. Previously Zionists claimed no Palestinians existed, and prior to that, that Jews native to Palestine were the only Palestinians.
I, for one,.... (Score:2)
Re:Miracle bacteria (Score:3, Funny)