Cavities were cured in 1985, and, no one knows it yet.
It is possible to genetically engineer Streptococcus mutans, the dominant human mouth bacteria, to produce ethanol instead of cavity-causing lactic acid. Further modifications cause it to outcompete native mouth bacteria, without spreading outside of the mouth. All research suggests that a one-time brushing of this GMO strain onto the teeth will dramatically reduce, or entirely eliminate, dental caries.
A variant of this organism was first created in 1985, and volunteers deliberately inoculated themselves with the modified strain. This has, to our knowledge, caused no ill effects since.
If you share our vision of a world without cavities, we invite you to join us in our mission.
This bacteria has been stuck in patent hell, and FDA hell, for decades. Our plan is to get this cure for cavities back on track to a worldwide rollout.
Whether youâre a VC, a wet lab wizard, or a particularly altruistic dentist, we welcome your contributions.
The genetically-modified variant of Streptococcus mutans produces ethanol (vodka) instead of cavity-causing lactic acid. So, thirty-eight years after the original experiment, if and when the FDA gets through with it, presumably the BATFE (Ban All Types of Fun Everywhere) will be next in line with the regulatory hammer.
So, the conspiracy theorists have (again!) been right - for 38 years in this case. There have long been folks who believed that dental caries were intentionally uncured for the benefit of dentists. Similarly cancer and physicians. Naturally, no one on the Left side of the isle believes that state bureaucracies look only after their own POWER and CONTROL interests. Heaven forbid.
Civil, we pay all type of fares for the privilege of âgetting oldâ, but the silver lining, coated with schadenfreude, is that we witness so many so-called conspiracy theories proven true. Happy fall.
This is something I have been extremely bitter about ever since I became a mom. There was no fluoride in our water up here; indeed, we didnât and still donât have public water. When I was a kid, from ages 6 to 18, I had several cavities at EVERY regular dentist visit. And we had a great dentist, but he didnât believe in NovocainâIF he ever administered it, you KNEW you were in for major excavations. It was torture.
But my BMD who grew up in New York City with fluoridated water, hardly EVER had a cavity!
And with MY baby, we were prescribed liquid vitamin with iron andâfluoride! You hafta get the fluoride while your teeth are forming. So simple, I just squirted it into her mouth while she lay on the changing table every morning. Look mom, no cavities! I think she has had no more than one in her entire life!
What youâre describing is like that little device which can be inserted to regulate blood pressure. Whenever something like that comes long, âBig Pharmaâ buys up the patent and deep-sixes it.
I assumed that all these new products
: Lumineux toothpaste, Lume body deodorant, must have aLUMinum in âem.But they dont. I canât say the toothpaste has much of a noticeable effect, but the deodorantâwhich you can put ANYWHEREâis amazing.
Is this âLuminaâ product related to the others? How wonderful!
P.S.: I just reread the original post. Wait: this stuff also produces vodka right in your mouth?!?! O brave new world!
Interesting. Here is the Scientific American article:
As much as I would like to believe this, actual studies are still needed:
Experts, though, have safety and ethical concerns: Despite earlier efforts by Oragenics, the treatment has never successfully moved through human clinical trials. âWithout human trials, you really canât determine whether itâs safe or efficacious,â said Jennifer Kuzma, a professor and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University. In fact, itâs possible it could do the opposite of its original intention: She noted that subtle changes in the oral microbiome might lead to more cavities or other problems.
Jensen, the biomedical engineering professor, cautions that more research is needed to show that genetically engineered microbes can improve oral health and donât have unintended side effects.
The antibiotic in Lumina, he noted, could potentially wipe out other Streptococcus species that are associated with good oral health. And there are other microbes at play that determine gum health. âTheyâre not the same bacteria that cause tooth decay,â he said. âBut you have to be worried about messing up those communities at the same time.â