Comments on: Hacking the Microbiome for Fun and Profit: Can Killing Just One Mouth Bacterium Stop Cavities?

By: floodmouse

floodmouse — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:23:39 +0000

Instead of using a chemical to kill a specific bacteria, couldn’t you just swish with a helpful probiotic that competes with the harmful bacteria? Something packaged along the lines of Five Lac, which is a kind of Japanese probiotic, though what goes into the package might be tailored to suit the purpose.

By: Shiva Barton, ND

Shiva Barton, ND — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:44:22 +0000

There is already an agent that kills off S. mutans and is safe for humans. It is xylitol, the sweetener used in sugarless gum. There have been studies that even show using an oral swish in mother’s mouth before delivery of their babies can reduce the number of cavities in those children by preventing the after-birth transmission from mother to child. So, its pretty effective. The reason you don’t hear about it is that it costs pennies and it isn’t patentable.

By: JCHarris

JCHarris — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:30:13 +0000

What happens to the biome outside the mouth after the rinse is used? I presume it would be spit out into the sink or the swirly-water-thing at the dentist’s? Is it going to randomly take out S. mutans in the sewers? Leave a few to mutate into giant, rampaging super-bugs that want our pizza?

Seriously, though, what larger effect? Unintended consequences bite.

By: Z.

Z. — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:11:39 +0000

As a dental student, I am taught that it’s not just Str. mutans which causes the dip in pH level and demineralization, but many other species as well.

By: Scott Williams

Scott Williams — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:37:43 +0000

The law of unintended consequences follows in the wake of all genetic engineering promises. They’re long on all the ‘so-called’ beneficial aspects to GE but short on the broad environmental impact and health-related studies. The motives are ALWAYS profit, tinkering aside, weighed against a very narrow risk equation.

And considering how our illustrious dental industry has saddled the US population, for over 50 years mind you, with Fluoride and mercury amalgam, just what makes you think they’ve somehow got this right? They’re all about drilling and filling. If tooth decay were to go away, they couldn’t enjoy their golf day.

By: Monica

Monica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:07:30 +0000

Sounds great but I think you’ll need another dose if you kiss someone…

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:20:49 +0000

Oh, sign me up! I’ve been waiting for exactly this for years!
The real solution is flora, not fluoride.

By: John Lerch

John Lerch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:26:41 +0000

Mr (MS) Tall Blue Ape
The point is that it’s the other bacteria which keep the S mutans down–not a chemical. And the chemical is gone right away and so resistance can’t develop And the other bacteria will evolve to counter the change in the S mutans.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:34:29 +0000

Too late for my mouth. Although the 5x flouride prescription toothpaste I got switched to a few years back has halted by tooth decay almost entirely.

By: Bob Snyder

Bob Snyder — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:44:18 +0000

Wouldn’t this be nice…