More teeth/brushing episodes the better in my opinion. Teeth, the most neglected part of the body … well that and the back side of the knee. Nobody cares about the back sides of our knees. I don’t even know the name of that part of the body.
7/28/08 @ 20:34
thorondor
Go for stereotypes
7/28/08 @ 11:45
xigging
wow Allan, you found one case out of the millions of clinical trials that have been done, and used that to create a blanket statement for the entire FDA. well done!
maybe next time you should do a little more research instead of relying on a single anecdote. Hopefully you won’t be so cynical next time one of the drugs the FDA passed saves your life…. or at least your quality of life.
7/28/08 @ 0:11
Glenn
In this case, not really. Most mutations are detrimental to the organism, and a lot of the rest are benign: offering no real advantage. Only a few mutations are beneficial, and even then the mutated strain has to survive long enough to propagate. Think about it. All of us have had symbiotic bacteria living in our intestines for decades, and none of those strains have mutated into some super nasty flesh eating variety that I’m aware of. Mutational changes that dramatic don’t occur over night. Don’t get me wrong, a pandemic is still a very real scenario, but I doubt very much that its going to be cause by a bacteria designed to increase oral hygiene.
7/27/08 @ 16:20
Shikeishuu
Wait, so you’re the events of a hollywood movie aren’t really plausible?
7/27/08 @ 14:07
Glenn
No, I don’t think they saw it, but I did and I happen to know a little bit about genetics engineering. That movie is so far fetched for a scientific research standpoint its kind of sad. The type of genetic research being done currently is like trying to breed a German Shepherd with a Wolf and hoping to get a really big German Shepherd with non of the joint problems. The plot of “I Am Legend” is like trying to breed a bunny with a python and expecting the offspring to be a T-Rex. Hence the term science FICTION. :)
7/27/08 @ 8:52
Shikeishuu
Did you guys see I am Legend?
Yeah.
7/27/08 @ 5:40
Look Behind You
huh…you don’t say…
7/26/08 @ 14:31
Gigi
I fascinating source of information related to this can be found at westonaprice.org. To attempt to summarize it here would be out of my abilities. The website includes modern information based off of Price’s research.
7/26/08 @ 8:44
Allan
FDA approval means nothing except that the organization producing said development has paid off the right people and cooked the right research. Just look at the whole RBsT scandal, where milk hormones where approved to be used even though they had devastating and sometimes fatal side effects. The FDA is about as effective as the UN (Useless Nations).
7/26/08 @ 7:50
steph
I never get cavities. must be because i take good care of my teeth =D. but i can never seem to get them white enough… maybe i should try bleaching. anyway good show again. interesting thought.
7/26/08 @ 7:35
Marc
Interesting. I wonder if the crazies will start screaming about genetically modified products. If only they understood that we have been genetically modifying our crops for centuries now…
What does scare me slightly is bacteria’s ability of share large or small chunks of it genome with other species in a process called horizontal gene transfer with greater ease then other organisms. So when genetically modifying bacteria, we potentially risk releasing the genetic modifications into other species of bacteria… or garbled bits of DNA… its kind of random… and not at the same time…
P.S. My girlfriend brushes her teeth twice daily, and flosses daily, etc… She obsesses over her teeth! I brush my teeth once a day (I know I am bad), but she still gets more cavities then I do… in fact I haven’t had a cavity since I was 15.
7/25/08 @ 22:51
hygentist
It’s not just genetic though: Streptococcus mutans is only able to produce cavities when the pH of the saliva drops below 5.0, so if you are able to neutralize your saliva after eating something sweet or acidic you can control decay from starting.
I’m curious how this new strain would work long-term because S. mutans is only the starter for decay and then some other nasty bugs take over, like Lactobacilli and Actinomyces sps. Interesting idea though.
PS — You have great teeth
7/25/08 @ 20:25
Nospinplease
Huh, those little critters may help us or DESTORY US ALL!!! Nice info.
7/25/08 @ 19:45
Dave
Don’t feel bad. Your teeth are whiter than mine. I love my coffee too much so they’re nice and stained. Tooth whitening - a possible future show?
7/25/08 @ 19:41
Curtis
Was that about a 25-second rule for the toothbrush on the floor? Oh well, I’d call it good.
7/25/08 @ 19:09
pkw
I never thought I would be, but yeah! first. This is coming too late. My oldest already appears doomed.
July 25th, 2008 
19 Comments
Johnb300m
it’s pronounced:
care-a-mel
thorondor
@Meandering
After a .18 sec internet search, I believe that the back of the knee is referred to as the “Popliteal”.
http://www.medicinenet.com/knee_pain/glossary.htm
Meandering
More teeth/brushing episodes the better in my opinion. Teeth, the most neglected part of the body … well that and the back side of the knee. Nobody cares about the back sides of our knees. I don’t even know the name of that part of the body.
thorondor
Go for stereotypes
xigging
wow Allan, you found one case out of the millions of clinical trials that have been done, and used that to create a blanket statement for the entire FDA. well done!
maybe next time you should do a little more research instead of relying on a single anecdote. Hopefully you won’t be so cynical next time one of the drugs the FDA passed saves your life…. or at least your quality of life.
Glenn
In this case, not really. Most mutations are detrimental to the organism, and a lot of the rest are benign: offering no real advantage. Only a few mutations are beneficial, and even then the mutated strain has to survive long enough to propagate. Think about it. All of us have had symbiotic bacteria living in our intestines for decades, and none of those strains have mutated into some super nasty flesh eating variety that I’m aware of. Mutational changes that dramatic don’t occur over night. Don’t get me wrong, a pandemic is still a very real scenario, but I doubt very much that its going to be cause by a bacteria designed to increase oral hygiene.
Shikeishuu
Wait, so you’re the events of a hollywood movie aren’t really plausible?
Glenn
No, I don’t think they saw it, but I did and I happen to know a little bit about genetics engineering. That movie is so far fetched for a scientific research standpoint its kind of sad. The type of genetic research being done currently is like trying to breed a German Shepherd with a Wolf and hoping to get a really big German Shepherd with non of the joint problems. The plot of “I Am Legend” is like trying to breed a bunny with a python and expecting the offspring to be a T-Rex. Hence the term science FICTION. :)
Shikeishuu
Did you guys see I am Legend?
Yeah.
Look Behind You
huh…you don’t say…
Gigi
I fascinating source of information related to this can be found at westonaprice.org. To attempt to summarize it here would be out of my abilities. The website includes modern information based off of Price’s research.
Allan
FDA approval means nothing except that the organization producing said development has paid off the right people and cooked the right research. Just look at the whole RBsT scandal, where milk hormones where approved to be used even though they had devastating and sometimes fatal side effects. The FDA is about as effective as the UN (Useless Nations).
steph
I never get cavities. must be because i take good care of my teeth =D. but i can never seem to get them white enough… maybe i should try bleaching. anyway good show again. interesting thought.
Marc
Interesting. I wonder if the crazies will start screaming about genetically modified products. If only they understood that we have been genetically modifying our crops for centuries now…
What does scare me slightly is bacteria’s ability of share large or small chunks of it genome with other species in a process called horizontal gene transfer with greater ease then other organisms. So when genetically modifying bacteria, we potentially risk releasing the genetic modifications into other species of bacteria… or garbled bits of DNA… its kind of random… and not at the same time…
P.S. My girlfriend brushes her teeth twice daily, and flosses daily, etc… She obsesses over her teeth! I brush my teeth once a day (I know I am bad), but she still gets more cavities then I do… in fact I haven’t had a cavity since I was 15.
hygentist
It’s not just genetic though: Streptococcus mutans is only able to produce cavities when the pH of the saliva drops below 5.0, so if you are able to neutralize your saliva after eating something sweet or acidic you can control decay from starting.
I’m curious how this new strain would work long-term because S. mutans is only the starter for decay and then some other nasty bugs take over, like Lactobacilli and Actinomyces sps. Interesting idea though.
PS — You have great teeth
Nospinplease
Huh, those little critters may help us or DESTORY US ALL!!! Nice info.
Dave
Don’t feel bad. Your teeth are whiter than mine. I love my coffee too much so they’re nice and stained. Tooth whitening - a possible future show?
Curtis
Was that about a 25-second rule for the toothbrush on the floor? Oh well, I’d call it good.
pkw
I never thought I would be, but yeah! first. This is coming too late. My oldest already appears doomed.