Comment by galkk
1 month ago
Unrelated to the growth topic, but related to teeth.
5 or something years ago I read here, on hn, about novamin/biomin and started to buy toothpaste with it.
Since that I had 0 cavities, even if my toothcare routine isn’t the best: most of the time I brush only in evening and when I had severe clinical depression episode I could go weeks without brushing.
Sort of tangential: I used to be able to tell episodes of depression were setting in because I'd stop brushing my teeth. It was the clearest indicator I can recall.
I'd then brush my teeth hoping it would cure the depression. It clearly worked, because I'm no longer depressed. It just took a few years to kick in.
Always remember to brush your teeth.
OK, and my anecdote is that for forty years I used no toothpaste at all, brushed only before bed, didn't floss, never went to the dentist, and had perfect teeth. The conclusion of this limited study is: whatever.
I guess I should admit that eventually I got lazy and skipped a night, and immediately got a cavity that led to having a tooth removed, and now I use toothpaste and floss. But still, anecdotes, what are they worth.
I learned that dentists make their money by doing procedures that have little overhead and high returns.
I read about patients who would go one dentist that said they found X cavities and then go to another dentist that would say 'zero' were found.
I tested it myself when I was told I required extensive cleaning beneath the gums and the next dentist, who has a 3 month waiting list, said it was not required and my teeth were fine.
I no longer believe any dentist and considering most are now private equity operated it makes sense.
I believe there is high correlation between "needing additinal work" and how new the building, furniture, provider is...
Do you eat much sugar? Soda or juice? These things make a huge difference. So does age. Young people get cavities easier than somewhat older people.
Is there also not a some genetic aspect there? It is a question as I do not know but always assumed as I always did whatever and have 0 cavities or anything else that other people seem to have and I am almost 60. Never have receding gums, sensitivity, cavities or anything else since I was born.
There is a genetic aspect I'm sure. But I think most people don't avoid consequences of, say, drinking lots of soda while not brushing teeth. I bet there are nutritional factors too. If you are chronically malnourished, your teeth may be worse somehow.
I think regularly brushing your teeth and getting cleanings makes a big difference obviously. Gum disease or gingivitis mainly happens to people who have long-term dental care issues or certain bad habits.
2 replies →
I drink sugar free sodas all my life.
Counter-anecdote, I did the same, got Burt's Bees with novamin when they still sold it (discontinued), then switched back to Crest. I prefer the Crest. No cavities either way, but tooth sensitivity and clean feeling differences. A tooth chip I wondered might remineralize, i.e. grow back or fill in or something, had no change.
My guess is the SLS detergent, present in Crest and not in Burt's, is the more significant factor.
I always had sensitive teeth (and brush exclusively with sensodyn for many years) so I guess this is less of a factor for me.
I buy Canadian? Sensodyne that has novamin in it.
Any idea about mHAP (hydroxi apatite)
novamin/biomin do not provide any more than an very small improvement to fluoride in the limited in vivo evidence to date.
parent comment feels like submarine marketing to me.
You can do the same by just kissing a person with the right mouth biome.