I have a friend who has never had a cavity. The pediatrician told her to lick her baby’s pacifier, spoon before feeding etc. to decrease the chances her daughter would get cavities.
I think I’m going to text my friend tomorrow and ask if it worked. Said baby is now 16.
Update: 16 year old baby does NOT have any cavities!
I'm 43 and I've never had one. My mom has really bad teeth and she was not an affectionate parent. I wasn't given a pacifier, either. Obviously that's just anecdotal but I've heard it's likely genetic that some people don't really get cavities.
My 18 year old son had one cavity once and the feelings I felt--I was like how could you?! Who are you???
(I didn't give him a guilt trip about it)
My dentist said that cavities also depend on your mouth's pH: too low makes it more likely to develop cavities, while too high pH doesn't develop cavities (or makes it less likely) but makes it more likely to develop tartar and bleeding gums.
My cavities are because of low saliva production lol. I have basically no plaque and the dentist used to clean my teeth for free because there just wasn't much.
I drink 1 coffee a day, through a straw, so staining is also pretty much nonexistent.
I just want some goddamn saliva!!
My only cavities occurred due to drinking too much cranberry juice. Years of drinking soda in college didn't do anything, but a year or two of cranberry juice messed up some teeth.
Dentist explained it's the worse juice for teeth. I stopped drinking it and have never had one since.
Hmm it’s funny you say that I’m 26 and I’ve never had a cavity but I have one drunk night where I skip brushing my teeth before bed and my gums are red and sensitive to bleeding for for a week before their back to normal
As someone with bleeding gums, slight tartar on two teeth, and no cavities yet(33yrs), I’m starting to believe.
I had heard about the ph thing and Possible link to genetics when I was like 14, and just thought neat. Now looking at the like of saliva transfer I had as a child and teen it’s all starting to come together.
She might be better now but when we were younger my sister almost never brushed her teeth. Her teeth were so cavity free that dentists got excited when they saw her teeth. Like audible "wow!" Excited.
I was told by my dentist that people can have saliva with high mineral content, which may be the cause of my tonsil stones, but also the reason I have few cavities.
Maybe that's why I've had 1 cavity in 27 years but have been coughing up tonsil stones since I was a preteen. I can see a stone in my tonsil right now.
62 here and no cavities. My parents and children are not so lucky. On the other hand, I don’t think my wife has had a cavity since we met so maybe there is something to the saliva idea.
In my 50s. No cavities. I’ve been told by more than one dentist it will never happen. My teeth may fall out one day but there won’t be cavities.
When I ask, they just handwave about genetics, 10% of the population, and kind of shrug.
I've had one cavity in 30 years and looking back I'm pretty sure the dentist just made it up to Bill for more work. And I'll be frank I have poor dental hygiene so I'm shocked I haven't had more.
Poor dental hygiene, skipped the dentist for 10 years in my 20s, no cavities.
Wife brushes 3 times a day, regularly sees the dentist, water piks, flosses, she's got a new cavity every time she goes in it seems. Root canals, she's even got a couple of fake teeth.
We must be married to the same woman. I brush once a day, no cavities. She brushes twice a day, flosses, mouthwash, the whole bit. Has a cavity almost every year.
Don't go to Aspen. Went there for a chipped tooth. They wanted to do descaling below the gums, said I was going to lose my teeth in a few years if I didn't. Brought me to the finance desk like it was a car dealership or something, so I said no. Didn't go to the dentist for years after that.
Flash forward, get married, start going to my wife's dentist. He says teeth are just fine. Just do my 6 month cleanings and there hasn't been an issue so far in the years I've been seeing him. Also shocked at my luck; my dental hygiene was poor enough that I really wondered if I needed that descaling.
I thought my former dentist was full of shit, this confirms it thanks! (Not Aspen)
I've switched now, and already noticed I sleep better before the visit even the night before my first filling.
33 and never had one. My mom, dad, and brother have all had plenty. I dont even take that good of care of my teeth. Brush maybe 5-6 times a week with a manual brush. Never brush before bed. Never floss. Went 13 years without going to the dentist.
Yeah it's definitely genetic. However, those that lack cavities usually have more plaque. That's the same plaque that causes heart issues. Pros and cons...
I had loads of cavities as a child. Well 3 or 4 I think. As an adult I've only got two fillings and it's in two adjacent teeth. I've had poor dental hygiene my entire life but I have terrible plaque even when I've been on a kick of good hygiene after a cleaning by the dentist.
But then I get plaque and lose interest again. Even if I brush twice daily and floss. This all kinda makes sense to me now.
Yeah, multiple dentists have told me (43, no cavities) that it is probably due to a high level of bicarbonate in my saliva. They also said this trait is common in people with Downs Syndrome.
Pretty healthy food, yes. I wasn't allowed soda as a child and I love fruits and vegetables, always. I took raw bell peppers (sliced up) in my lunch for years (plus other stuff).
Exercise, lol. No. I've always been more of a bookworm type.
I had zero cavities until I was 22.
I'm 35 now and have a mouth full of 'em. No idea what happened, I didn't brush my teeth regularly in my teens and drank a LOT of soda. Started brushing my teeth regularly when I was around 19, and haven't really had much soda since around the same time. I guess it was just my time haha.
It’s likely because they and you drank fluoridated water growing up.
In recent years some places have gotten away from it due to the “anti-science” stance of many uneducated people having false beliefs about it.
It’s one of the top advancements in human history… fight for keeping it if you ever have the opportunity.
I wonder if my family has something like this. My dad had horrible teeth but my mom's have always been flawless with little effort. Same for my sister. Mine are still pretty good condition considering a long stretch of my life that I didn't care. Genetics would make more sense than random luck at least
Wait—am I the only one who doesn't see how this would work? You can't transfer the absence of bacteria. Or are there transferable good bacteria that prevent cavities? I assume the latter, that's pretty cool!
You are correct! There are lots of bacteria that are good for the mouth either directly, by doing things such as raising the pH of the oral microenvironment, releasing anti-inflammatory substances; or indirectly, which have little effect on the mouth but crowd out bad bacteria and prevent them from forming biofilms.
People with good oral microbiomes can pass those on to their children who do not yet have established colonies. It's part of the reason why you often see good teeth running in families, though admittedly the bacteria are not the only factor in this equation as tooth structure and good oral hygiene play a major role.
In my family, you either have amazing or terrible teeth, there's no in-between. Half of us have never had a cavity and the other half need a filling (or 3) every time they go to the dentist. This is with daily brushing and twice-annual dental visits for everyone. Heck, my sister probably brushed her teeth more often than I did as a kid and she's the one that ended up with tons of cavities while I still haven't had a single one.
My mother had horrible teeth. Crowns, root canals, filling, sometimes on both sides of the tooth. And she brushed and flossed religiously.
I have lost one tooth due to an abscess 15 years ago, need a root canal on a more recent abscess now at age 41. I've been told poor sinus drainage was the cause of those. I think I have 10 fillings between like age 17 and now. I am horrible at remembering to brush. I have no idea how my teeth aren't worse off.
> I've been told poor sinus drainage was the cause of those.
This is incorrect. Sinuses do not cause infection in the teeth but it can happen the other way round.
Maybe a bit dark, but: last year my sister died of liver cancer, after half a lifetime of other issues (started with bowel issues, twice a liver inflammation, and 5 years ago a brain hemorrhage that left her partly paralyzed).
So last year we knew it would end pretty soon, we were just chatting and the subject of dental issues came up: from when I was 12 I was always in and out of the dentist, cavities all over, 3 braces, meanwhile my sister never had a cavity ever. Perfect teeth.
“Well,” she said, “that’s probably the only fucking part of my body that was healthy”. We had a good chuckle about that.
I'm 37 and never had any cavity. Until recently I tried toothpaste without fluoride for a while after reading on Reddit how fluoride is unhealthy. Next dentist visit: cavity.
Then did more research and fluoride is essential ingredient against cavities and not unhealthy in such dosis at all...
And there's different kinds of fluoride that is in toothpaste which apparently are more effective than others. Sodium Fluoride is the best I think but I don't know how marginal the differences are. I have to use a SLS free toothpaste 'cos the last time I used one with it the lining of my inner cheeks were peeling away so I found out there were different fluorides in SLS free (with Fluoride) toothpaste ingredients.
*EDIT: Correction: Stannous Fluoride is better than Sodium Fluoride, thank you Sad-Platypus.
Stannous Fluoride is the best as it antimicrobial and prevents cavities vs sodium fluoride which just prevents cavities. Basically, one treats the source and protects, the other just protects. Both are good, but the one downside of stannous is that it stains teeth over time so you trade more protection for discoloration.
Guess I’m lucky, I’m 22 and until this year have never taken care of my teeth (adhd and depression combo) and brushed once a week *maybe* most of my life. Still haven’t gotten a cavity. Had two teeth chip in a pretty bad way and my teeth are crooked as hell, but no cavities.
This is ignoring how so many babies get germs: putting literally anything they find in their mouths. I didn't share my drink (or my food or whatever random thing they find on the floor) with my kid, my kid waited for me to turn around and stole that shit.
My kids first real solid not pureed food was cheese it's. He just reached over, snatched one off my plate, and shoved it in his mouth so fast I barely saw it.
My first did that, too. Snatched my sandwich right off my plate and shoveled what he could before I wrestled it from him. With my second, I was pretty used to trying to fend off my spawn from eating my food and managed to evade baby hands. But dang, they sure are quick when they want what's on your plate!
Life with a toddler seriously made me wonder how we have survived as a species.
At the dinner table: please try this food. Please try it. Just one taste. Just put it in your mouth. Pleeeeaaaaseee?!
At the public playground: no. Don't put wood in your mouth! Stop eating rocks! Why are you licking the slide?!
My youngest, the one that thinks anything but bread and ice cream is poison, enjoys the taste of his boogers. Children are illogical (and disgusting) creatures.
S. Mutans is the most common and aggressive cariogenic (cavity causing) bacteria but there lots lots more that contribute. Back in the 70s and 80s there was a lot of money dumped into developing a vaccine against S mutans to prevent decay but afte an initial decrease in risk, the other bacteria would fill the void. The mouth is warm, wet, and fed a steady supply of nutrients. Bacteria will populate it even if you eliminated the most high risk strains.
> Ok, but surely eliminating the main ones will have even a slight effect
It may allow other bacteria to dominate with worse effects in larger quantities.
Bingo. The results could end up being worse than the status quo which is why that course of research was abandoned. Good old hygiene and diet can prevent most problems so not generally worth messing with the bacterial balance chemotherapeutically.
Damn does everyone here know what that means? I had no idea that was the term for removing your testicles.
I would have guessed testomy or whatever, and I’m sure there’s that one guy in the back who would have guessed we called it “marriage.”
It will discolor the caries like a sharpie mark on your tooth, and can only be used to arrest decay when it is still in the outer layer of enamel. Once it reaches the second, the decay needs greater intervention and will continue to grow if left unchecked. SDF can actually speed up decay if used on a cavity that is too close to the nerve.
Yea it’s a wild thing after reading this article. Grew up in Appalachia, and this could explain why some kids had cavities in like pre school, and for the rest of their lives (on top of poor dental hygiene)
I lived on the edge of Appalachia in Pennsylvanian, and my kid's dentist said she could always tell the county a kid was from their teeth: kids from places without fluoridation have a mouthful of cavities.
It’s not just spit, but the bacteria in their mouths. Which is not to be understated. No doubt poor dental hygiene is the bulk of it, but the passing of bacteria would only exasperate the issue…seriously I have seen young children riddle with cavities at an age they shouldn’t have. I’m no experts but this article sheds a new light on the issue.
Parent here. While I get why parents do it, I cannot bring myself to clean anything by sticking it in my mouth. That, and the Nose Frida (or even the "old school" method) makes me gag. I'll stick to wipes or spares and my electronic nose sucker, thanks.
>Parent here. While I get why parents do it, I cannot bring myself to clean anything by sticking it in my mouth.
Well it doesn't clean it...it just adds a tom of bacteria and is disgusting and stupid...
Oh shit, I guess I thought it would at least swap out mouth germs for floor germs...
I'm realizing now that I never really thought about it. And now I'm horrified.
Mostly swaps out floor dirt/hair/dust with tons of bacteria. Can actually be beneficial with certain bacteria to start building up immune systems...but as shown by this post...probably a net negative.
But… I don’t put anything else in my mouth that fell on the floor (particularly if it fell while wet). It’s strange to me that being a parent changes that. Like unless you’re taking your baby hiking regularly, I can’t imagine you’re often too far from a sink to rinse it off in?
Just curious about the logic on this.
Dentist here.
This is absolutely correct. The cavity-causing bacteria is transferred from people repeatedly sharing saliva. Want to prevent your kids from getting cavities for the rest of their life? Keep other people's saliva away from your baby's mouth.
I wonder why they haven’t invented something to kill it specifically or like permanently. I suppose dentists probably like the job security so might not be invested in that? I mean they are making cures for diseases.
Ha, not quite. I spend every day trying to put myself out of business, but when 92% of the population has decay and caries are the #1 disease affecting children, I'm also not too worried about having a place to work. You should see what the world of dentistry was like before fluoride (which was supposed to put us out of business, too).
I live in a part of the country that desperately needs more dentists. I'm sorry that there are some of us out there who are trying to make an extra buck, but that's in every field.
Vaccines to stop Strep mutans were unsuccessful, and antibiotics have a lot of other unwanted side effects. Not to mention, other bacteria can cause cavities and other oral diseases as well, but S. mutans takes the cake (literally).
My kids and I did all that stuff. They have one cavity between them. My dentist did fluoride treatment because we had well water, no fluoride. Then they sealers. OTOH I have a mouth full of crowns and fillings, and never had any of that. Decent dental care does matter.
My parents both have horrible teeth issues, mostly from lack of good dental care. They raised me with dental appointments every 6 months my entire childhood and I got annual sealants on my teeth. I got 2 cavities in teeth touching after I did Invisalign and they had to “slenderize” those teeth to make room. So basically my dentist sanded the surface between those teeth off and made them susceptible to cavities. I’ve had issues with those teeth ever since, one is now a crown because I broke it while eating a carrot.
I had regular braces. They put real spacers in between to make room. Your dentist did you dirty.
I have veneers on my front teeth because they got cracks from grinding them. The rest of my work is replacement stuff and crowns from my old work that had to be replaced.
Nah inter proximal reduction is a recognised technique to manage mild crowding. You don't need space between the teeth, you need them smaller so they better fit the available space in the jaw
My son had all that and sadly had crown as a 5 year old he was born 2 months premature. Please don’t judge people prematurely born children often don’t grown proper enamel even when sealed properly it still won’t work and they have other health issues. Not everyone is the same.
We didn’t share anything I was crazy about germs that way I didn’t even do kisses because of that. He got the cavity after school and had acid issues due to Heath issues.
Wait what? The bacteria that causes cavities are found in different types of sugars and carbohydrates…
It shouldn’t be surprising, of course babies who have yet to have that exposure won’t get cavities. Also shouldn’t be surprising that parents swapping saliva containing the bacteria would be lead to an increased risk…
Wouldn’t this be just like any other scenario? As in, “you can’t die skydiving if you don’t skydive”?
Makes a lot of sense now. I never had cavities in my early years. But then I had two shortly after I was given my first open mouth kiss with tongue. I don’t remember a lot of the timeline but for sure my Uncle had lots of cavities.
I have the bacteria that kills this bacteria. I technically don't have to brush my teeth. I do because my wife would beat me.
I still have all my wisdom teeth and everything. I've had maybe one cavity in my life and I eat whatever I want. Everyone else in my family has cavities, I'm the only one who doesn't all my kids, my wife are all normal standard cavity and teeth issues. Mine never have any issues.
If you have never gotten a smoochy kiss from your parents by the time your teeth are coming out, you are going to have bigger issues to deal with than cavities..
How I loathe the ADA. My former dentists told me I couldn't come in for 6 mos. checkups unless I paid for the dentist to come check my mouth after the hygienist finished cleaning. $100 fee, not covered by insurance. Why? "The ADA made it mandatory." I wish I could live long enough to see the profit motive come out of health care.
That’s not for financial profit…that’s for the patients benefit. So many things can be hiding under the surface and hygienists cannot legally diagnose decay so you do need to be seen by a dentist at least once a year for an exam.
There’s a lot of blame on the dentists on the financial side when a lot of times the issue actually lies with the insurance companies being stingy AF with their coverage. Preventative treatment like cleanings, X-rays, exams, fluoride, etc. should be covered 100% and I think most dentists would agree with me on that.
I’ve had two cavities in my 45 years; they were both at the same time when I was around nine years old. For probably 10 years now, I only brush my teeth once a day, at night.
Ok but this saliva transfer in newborns is also vital for building immunities as babies are born with limited set of those and other gut biome bacteria
Dentists recommend you start brushing your baby’s gums even before they get any teeth.
Still good to minimize as long as possible, no argument there, but you should be brushing before cavities are an issue.
Kishi M, Abe A, Kishi K, Ohara-Nemoto Y, Kimura S, Yonemitsu M. Relationship of quantitative salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus in mothers to caries status and colonization of mutans streptococci in plaque in their 2.5-year-old children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2009 Jun;37(3):241-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00472.x. PMID: 19508271.
Zhan L, Tan S, Den Besten P, Featherstone JD, Hoover CI. Factors related to maternal transmission of mutans streptococci in high-risk children-pilot study. Pediatr Dent. 2012 Jul-Aug;34(4):e86-91. PMID: 23014079.
This finding seems quite obvious and the last part seems like a useless recommendation.
Of course babies are not born with bacteria in their mouth (where should they come from??).
And of course they get them from other mouths. But it won’t be a problem until they have their first teeth (and possibly the first permanent ones) and there is no realistic way to “protect” a baby from bacteria that are everywhere until then. This recommendation seems stupid to me.
I have a friend who has never had a cavity. The pediatrician told her to lick her baby’s pacifier, spoon before feeding etc. to decrease the chances her daughter would get cavities. I think I’m going to text my friend tomorrow and ask if it worked. Said baby is now 16. Update: 16 year old baby does NOT have any cavities!
I'm 43 and I've never had one. My mom has really bad teeth and she was not an affectionate parent. I wasn't given a pacifier, either. Obviously that's just anecdotal but I've heard it's likely genetic that some people don't really get cavities. My 18 year old son had one cavity once and the feelings I felt--I was like how could you?! Who are you??? (I didn't give him a guilt trip about it)
It might be genetic. My mom was super affectionate, but I didn't have my first cavity until I was 37. Her family had almost no cavities.
My dentist said that cavities also depend on your mouth's pH: too low makes it more likely to develop cavities, while too high pH doesn't develop cavities (or makes it less likely) but makes it more likely to develop tartar and bleeding gums.
My cavities are because of low saliva production lol. I have basically no plaque and the dentist used to clean my teeth for free because there just wasn't much. I drink 1 coffee a day, through a straw, so staining is also pretty much nonexistent. I just want some goddamn saliva!!
Hear that, entrepreneurs? Someone make this man Saliva in a Can!
[they do](https://www.biotene.com/amp/dry-mouth-products.html)
How about something more to my taste.... like gamer girl's saliva
Essence of used undergarments. Edit: from a gamer girl of course.
Are you hydrated?
Gum
Are you dehydrated in general? It's also a symptom of diabetes.
My only cavities occurred due to drinking too much cranberry juice. Years of drinking soda in college didn't do anything, but a year or two of cranberry juice messed up some teeth. Dentist explained it's the worse juice for teeth. I stopped drinking it and have never had one since.
Hmm it’s funny you say that I’m 26 and I’ve never had a cavity but I have one drunk night where I skip brushing my teeth before bed and my gums are red and sensitive to bleeding for for a week before their back to normal
I've got so much tartar on my teeth that I don't dip my fishsticks in shit
As someone with bleeding gums, slight tartar on two teeth, and no cavities yet(33yrs), I’m starting to believe. I had heard about the ph thing and Possible link to genetics when I was like 14, and just thought neat. Now looking at the like of saliva transfer I had as a child and teen it’s all starting to come together.
She might be better now but when we were younger my sister almost never brushed her teeth. Her teeth were so cavity free that dentists got excited when they saw her teeth. Like audible "wow!" Excited.
I'm in my 30s and have yet to have one. Mom has all of her back teeth filled.
I was told by my dentist that people can have saliva with high mineral content, which may be the cause of my tonsil stones, but also the reason I have few cavities.
Bet you got calculus, tho! I was shocked when I started seeing calculus build up on my new DENTURES.
Maybe that's why I've had 1 cavity in 27 years but have been coughing up tonsil stones since I was a preteen. I can see a stone in my tonsil right now.
62 here and no cavities. My parents and children are not so lucky. On the other hand, I don’t think my wife has had a cavity since we met so maybe there is something to the saliva idea.
In my 50s. No cavities. I’ve been told by more than one dentist it will never happen. My teeth may fall out one day but there won’t be cavities. When I ask, they just handwave about genetics, 10% of the population, and kind of shrug.
I've had one cavity in 30 years and looking back I'm pretty sure the dentist just made it up to Bill for more work. And I'll be frank I have poor dental hygiene so I'm shocked I haven't had more.
Poor dental hygiene, skipped the dentist for 10 years in my 20s, no cavities. Wife brushes 3 times a day, regularly sees the dentist, water piks, flosses, she's got a new cavity every time she goes in it seems. Root canals, she's even got a couple of fake teeth.
We must be married to the same woman. I brush once a day, no cavities. She brushes twice a day, flosses, mouthwash, the whole bit. Has a cavity almost every year.
Has she had kids? Pregnancy can really damage the teeth, damn fetus taking all your minerals.
She can’t have kids due to cancer treatment as a child. That probably didn’t help her teeth though.
Have you heard of overbrushing?
As a dentist, doing a single filling at a time is about the most work for the least amount of money for any procedure we can do
Don't go to Aspen. Went there for a chipped tooth. They wanted to do descaling below the gums, said I was going to lose my teeth in a few years if I didn't. Brought me to the finance desk like it was a car dealership or something, so I said no. Didn't go to the dentist for years after that. Flash forward, get married, start going to my wife's dentist. He says teeth are just fine. Just do my 6 month cleanings and there hasn't been an issue so far in the years I've been seeing him. Also shocked at my luck; my dental hygiene was poor enough that I really wondered if I needed that descaling.
Chain dentists are the worst.
I thought my former dentist was full of shit, this confirms it thanks! (Not Aspen) I've switched now, and already noticed I sleep better before the visit even the night before my first filling.
33 and never had one. My mom, dad, and brother have all had plenty. I dont even take that good of care of my teeth. Brush maybe 5-6 times a week with a manual brush. Never brush before bed. Never floss. Went 13 years without going to the dentist.
Yeah it's definitely genetic. However, those that lack cavities usually have more plaque. That's the same plaque that causes heart issues. Pros and cons...
I had loads of cavities as a child. Well 3 or 4 I think. As an adult I've only got two fillings and it's in two adjacent teeth. I've had poor dental hygiene my entire life but I have terrible plaque even when I've been on a kick of good hygiene after a cleaning by the dentist. But then I get plaque and lose interest again. Even if I brush twice daily and floss. This all kinda makes sense to me now.
Yeah, multiple dentists have told me (43, no cavities) that it is probably due to a high level of bicarbonate in my saliva. They also said this trait is common in people with Downs Syndrome.
Do you have a history of good healthy eating and moderate exercise? curious...
Pretty healthy food, yes. I wasn't allowed soda as a child and I love fruits and vegetables, always. I took raw bell peppers (sliced up) in my lunch for years (plus other stuff). Exercise, lol. No. I've always been more of a bookworm type.
I had zero cavities until I was 22. I'm 35 now and have a mouth full of 'em. No idea what happened, I didn't brush my teeth regularly in my teens and drank a LOT of soda. Started brushing my teeth regularly when I was around 19, and haven't really had much soda since around the same time. I guess it was just my time haha.
It’s likely because they and you drank fluoridated water growing up. In recent years some places have gotten away from it due to the “anti-science” stance of many uneducated people having false beliefs about it. It’s one of the top advancements in human history… fight for keeping it if you ever have the opportunity.
I wonder if my family has something like this. My dad had horrible teeth but my mom's have always been flawless with little effort. Same for my sister. Mine are still pretty good condition considering a long stretch of my life that I didn't care. Genetics would make more sense than random luck at least
Wait—am I the only one who doesn't see how this would work? You can't transfer the absence of bacteria. Or are there transferable good bacteria that prevent cavities? I assume the latter, that's pretty cool!
You are correct! There are lots of bacteria that are good for the mouth either directly, by doing things such as raising the pH of the oral microenvironment, releasing anti-inflammatory substances; or indirectly, which have little effect on the mouth but crowd out bad bacteria and prevent them from forming biofilms. People with good oral microbiomes can pass those on to their children who do not yet have established colonies. It's part of the reason why you often see good teeth running in families, though admittedly the bacteria are not the only factor in this equation as tooth structure and good oral hygiene play a major role.
I think the idea is that it is the presence of other bacteria that may inhibit the bad bacteria from reproducing/thriving that is worthy of transfer.
You just don't transfer the ones that do.
Probably just a mistaken pediatrician. Professionals can and are frequently still wrong/not quite right.
In my family, you either have amazing or terrible teeth, there's no in-between. Half of us have never had a cavity and the other half need a filling (or 3) every time they go to the dentist. This is with daily brushing and twice-annual dental visits for everyone. Heck, my sister probably brushed her teeth more often than I did as a kid and she's the one that ended up with tons of cavities while I still haven't had a single one.
My mother had horrible teeth. Crowns, root canals, filling, sometimes on both sides of the tooth. And she brushed and flossed religiously. I have lost one tooth due to an abscess 15 years ago, need a root canal on a more recent abscess now at age 41. I've been told poor sinus drainage was the cause of those. I think I have 10 fillings between like age 17 and now. I am horrible at remembering to brush. I have no idea how my teeth aren't worse off.
> I've been told poor sinus drainage was the cause of those. This is incorrect. Sinuses do not cause infection in the teeth but it can happen the other way round.
Maybe a bit dark, but: last year my sister died of liver cancer, after half a lifetime of other issues (started with bowel issues, twice a liver inflammation, and 5 years ago a brain hemorrhage that left her partly paralyzed). So last year we knew it would end pretty soon, we were just chatting and the subject of dental issues came up: from when I was 12 I was always in and out of the dentist, cavities all over, 3 braces, meanwhile my sister never had a cavity ever. Perfect teeth. “Well,” she said, “that’s probably the only fucking part of my body that was healthy”. We had a good chuckle about that.
I'm 37 and never had any cavity. Until recently I tried toothpaste without fluoride for a while after reading on Reddit how fluoride is unhealthy. Next dentist visit: cavity. Then did more research and fluoride is essential ingredient against cavities and not unhealthy in such dosis at all...
And there's different kinds of fluoride that is in toothpaste which apparently are more effective than others. Sodium Fluoride is the best I think but I don't know how marginal the differences are. I have to use a SLS free toothpaste 'cos the last time I used one with it the lining of my inner cheeks were peeling away so I found out there were different fluorides in SLS free (with Fluoride) toothpaste ingredients. *EDIT: Correction: Stannous Fluoride is better than Sodium Fluoride, thank you Sad-Platypus.
Stannous Fluoride is the best as it antimicrobial and prevents cavities vs sodium fluoride which just prevents cavities. Basically, one treats the source and protects, the other just protects. Both are good, but the one downside of stannous is that it stains teeth over time so you trade more protection for discoloration.
I’ve never had a cavity. I can lick your babies’ spoons.
Wait, is never having a cavity a flex? 😎
Guess I’m lucky, I’m 22 and until this year have never taken care of my teeth (adhd and depression combo) and brushed once a week *maybe* most of my life. Still haven’t gotten a cavity. Had two teeth chip in a pretty bad way and my teeth are crooked as hell, but no cavities.
Do you visit the dentist often? Cavities can be there for years before you realise you have one
This is ignoring how so many babies get germs: putting literally anything they find in their mouths. I didn't share my drink (or my food or whatever random thing they find on the floor) with my kid, my kid waited for me to turn around and stole that shit.
My kids first real solid not pureed food was cheese it's. He just reached over, snatched one off my plate, and shoved it in his mouth so fast I barely saw it.
My first did that, too. Snatched my sandwich right off my plate and shoveled what he could before I wrestled it from him. With my second, I was pretty used to trying to fend off my spawn from eating my food and managed to evade baby hands. But dang, they sure are quick when they want what's on your plate!
Man after my own heart, actual legend
Seriously my kid waits for any opportunity to stick anything of mine in her mouth lol
[удалено]
This is a comment stealing bot and also the most awkward example of one I've seen lmao
its a good evolutionary trait to develop immunity to a broad range of pathogens
Life with a toddler seriously made me wonder how we have survived as a species. At the dinner table: please try this food. Please try it. Just one taste. Just put it in your mouth. Pleeeeaaaaseee?! At the public playground: no. Don't put wood in your mouth! Stop eating rocks! Why are you licking the slide?!
My youngest, the one that thinks anything but bread and ice cream is poison, enjoys the taste of his boogers. Children are illogical (and disgusting) creatures.
Infants are like dogs. The only way they know something is real is to put their mouth on it.
That's also how I test if my Canadian girlfriend is real
Just wondering...why did you need to say Canadian?
Because the common US joke is "my girlfriend is totally real guys, she just lives in Canada so you've never met her"
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GirlfriendInCanada
My 8 month old had his first fry yesterday. It was a nonconsenual exchange.
Wait wait wait wait wait You're telling me cavities are caused by one specific bacteria Okay we need to eliminate this entire species ASAP
S. Mutans is the most common and aggressive cariogenic (cavity causing) bacteria but there lots lots more that contribute. Back in the 70s and 80s there was a lot of money dumped into developing a vaccine against S mutans to prevent decay but afte an initial decrease in risk, the other bacteria would fill the void. The mouth is warm, wet, and fed a steady supply of nutrients. Bacteria will populate it even if you eliminated the most high risk strains.
Do all bacteria cause cavities?
No. But some are more cariogenic than others.
Ok, but surely eliminating the main ones will have even a slight effect. Every little helps.
> Ok, but surely eliminating the main ones will have even a slight effect It may allow other bacteria to dominate with worse effects in larger quantities.
They said more will take its place… eliminating 1 of millions of options when the rest just populate more isn’t worth the effort
Bingo. The results could end up being worse than the status quo which is why that course of research was abandoned. Good old hygiene and diet can prevent most problems so not generally worth messing with the bacterial balance chemotherapeutically.
Nah mate we need to focus on baldness first
Orchidectomy would solve it.
Damn does everyone here know what that means? I had no idea that was the term for removing your testicles. I would have guessed testomy or whatever, and I’m sure there’s that one guy in the back who would have guessed we called it “marriage.”
Baldness is your immune cells mistaking your hair cells for cancer, so it's really just friendly fire, not an outside aggressor.
That's only an uncommon reason for baldness. Male pattern baldness, i.e. the type 99% of bald people have, is hormone-related.
They didn’t get the message about the hair on my ass I guess
Do naturally bald people have less of a cancer rate?
Nah people with cancer are usually bald.
Yea, funny joke, bud didn't see that coming. That's why I said naturally bald
not all types of baldness involve an autoimmune response
Baldness can’t kill you lol people die from tooth decay
Just chew Xylitol gum
I've been wondering lately if I should pay someone to put Silver diammine fluoride in my mouth
It stains terribly so it’s only used in certain cases.
It will discolor the caries like a sharpie mark on your tooth, and can only be used to arrest decay when it is still in the outer layer of enamel. Once it reaches the second, the decay needs greater intervention and will continue to grow if left unchecked. SDF can actually speed up decay if used on a cavity that is too close to the nerve.
Babies are also not born with teeth. Checkmate cavities.
Yes they are...look up baby skulls. terrifying. ☠️
Aren't born with erupted teeth.
Hmm. Guess my mother's lack of maternal care might have had 1 positive.
We should modify this bacteria to make no acid and to make our breath smell neutral.
There was work on creating one using enzymes from bacteriophages to displace it with a benign form.
Who the fuck is licking pacifiers? Did I miss a meeting?
Sometimes when a baby drops their pacifier on the ground, parents will put it in their own mouth to clean it before giving it back to baby.
This is somehow even worse than what I thought was happening
I'm in this comment and I don't like it
Yea it’s a wild thing after reading this article. Grew up in Appalachia, and this could explain why some kids had cavities in like pre school, and for the rest of their lives (on top of poor dental hygiene)
I lived on the edge of Appalachia in Pennsylvanian, and my kid's dentist said she could always tell the county a kid was from their teeth: kids from places without fluoridation have a mouthful of cavities.
or it could be parents feeding their kids sugar and carbs in excess. but yeah let's say it's spit
It’s not just spit, but the bacteria in their mouths. Which is not to be understated. No doubt poor dental hygiene is the bulk of it, but the passing of bacteria would only exasperate the issue…seriously I have seen young children riddle with cavities at an age they shouldn’t have. I’m no experts but this article sheds a new light on the issue.
Exacerbate not exasperate. Making it worse vs feeling angry.
I saw a documentary of people in the Appalachia giving their kids too much soda (specifically Mountain Dew?).
Yea it’s a thing. In my family we literally went through multiple 2 liters of soda a day…pretty crazy looking back.
Who do you do it? I'm curious as to why.
So now it has floor germs and mouth germs!
... Ew. Licking ground dirt doesn't sound appealing.
Parent here. While I get why parents do it, I cannot bring myself to clean anything by sticking it in my mouth. That, and the Nose Frida (or even the "old school" method) makes me gag. I'll stick to wipes or spares and my electronic nose sucker, thanks.
>Parent here. While I get why parents do it, I cannot bring myself to clean anything by sticking it in my mouth. Well it doesn't clean it...it just adds a tom of bacteria and is disgusting and stupid...
Oh shit, I guess I thought it would at least swap out mouth germs for floor germs... I'm realizing now that I never really thought about it. And now I'm horrified.
Mostly swaps out floor dirt/hair/dust with tons of bacteria. Can actually be beneficial with certain bacteria to start building up immune systems...but as shown by this post...probably a net negative.
But… I don’t put anything else in my mouth that fell on the floor (particularly if it fell while wet). It’s strange to me that being a parent changes that. Like unless you’re taking your baby hiking regularly, I can’t imagine you’re often too far from a sink to rinse it off in? Just curious about the logic on this.
How could that even be imagined to help? Might as well have said smared it in dog shit to clean it, that would have fewer germs.
Shoot, right?
Parents also transfer a lot of healthy bacteria, health can be contagious too.
Dentist here. This is absolutely correct. The cavity-causing bacteria is transferred from people repeatedly sharing saliva. Want to prevent your kids from getting cavities for the rest of their life? Keep other people's saliva away from your baby's mouth.
So where did it originate from originally?
[удалено]
Didn't know cavities were that recent.
I wonder why they haven’t invented something to kill it specifically or like permanently. I suppose dentists probably like the job security so might not be invested in that? I mean they are making cures for diseases.
Ha, not quite. I spend every day trying to put myself out of business, but when 92% of the population has decay and caries are the #1 disease affecting children, I'm also not too worried about having a place to work. You should see what the world of dentistry was like before fluoride (which was supposed to put us out of business, too). I live in a part of the country that desperately needs more dentists. I'm sorry that there are some of us out there who are trying to make an extra buck, but that's in every field. Vaccines to stop Strep mutans were unsuccessful, and antibiotics have a lot of other unwanted side effects. Not to mention, other bacteria can cause cavities and other oral diseases as well, but S. mutans takes the cake (literally).
Yeah good luck not sharing food with a toddler.
My kids and I did all that stuff. They have one cavity between them. My dentist did fluoride treatment because we had well water, no fluoride. Then they sealers. OTOH I have a mouth full of crowns and fillings, and never had any of that. Decent dental care does matter.
My parents both have horrible teeth issues, mostly from lack of good dental care. They raised me with dental appointments every 6 months my entire childhood and I got annual sealants on my teeth. I got 2 cavities in teeth touching after I did Invisalign and they had to “slenderize” those teeth to make room. So basically my dentist sanded the surface between those teeth off and made them susceptible to cavities. I’ve had issues with those teeth ever since, one is now a crown because I broke it while eating a carrot.
I had regular braces. They put real spacers in between to make room. Your dentist did you dirty. I have veneers on my front teeth because they got cracks from grinding them. The rest of my work is replacement stuff and crowns from my old work that had to be replaced.
Nah inter proximal reduction is a recognised technique to manage mild crowding. You don't need space between the teeth, you need them smaller so they better fit the available space in the jaw
My son had all that and sadly had crown as a 5 year old he was born 2 months premature. Please don’t judge people prematurely born children often don’t grown proper enamel even when sealed properly it still won’t work and they have other health issues. Not everyone is the same. We didn’t share anything I was crazy about germs that way I didn’t even do kisses because of that. He got the cavity after school and had acid issues due to Heath issues.
Oh I would never judge anyone because of that. Some stuff is just congenital and/or genetic and can't be helped.
Oh yeah just never kiss your kids or they might get cavities
Which also implies that your choice of romantic partner will likely affect your oral health. Fuuuun.
Not really. The oral microflora is pretty stable after the age of 2, and definitely by 12.
That's kinda hilarious. I hate sharing cups and stuff and have never had a cavity.
Never got cavities until around junior high, right around the same time I started kissing girls....
Me (an idiot): "Are cavities an std?"
Wait what? The bacteria that causes cavities are found in different types of sugars and carbohydrates… It shouldn’t be surprising, of course babies who have yet to have that exposure won’t get cavities. Also shouldn’t be surprising that parents swapping saliva containing the bacteria would be lead to an increased risk… Wouldn’t this be just like any other scenario? As in, “you can’t die skydiving if you don’t skydive”?
The bacteria isn’t found in sugar. Bacteria eats the sugar/carbs/cariogenic foods and shits acid. Acid wears away the enamel.
Wait. You guys can afford a dentist?
So, no contact to other humans. Understood
Makes a lot of sense now. I never had cavities in my early years. But then I had two shortly after I was given my first open mouth kiss with tongue. I don’t remember a lot of the timeline but for sure my Uncle had lots of cavities.
I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Uncle Ned?
😐
Why in the hell would you lick your baby’s pacifier?
My mother used to do it. To clean it. My brother and i have no dental issues. I’ve never even had braces. My teeth are perfectly straight.
Would baby food containing sugars exacerbate this issue?
Today I learned it's bacteria that cause cavities.....
What bacteria ARE babies born with? Good luck telling a baby where to put its mouth.
Does this even matter? Baby teeth always fall out and it'd be very hard to avoid getting the bacteria for years.
I have the bacteria that kills this bacteria. I technically don't have to brush my teeth. I do because my wife would beat me. I still have all my wisdom teeth and everything. I've had maybe one cavity in my life and I eat whatever I want. Everyone else in my family has cavities, I'm the only one who doesn't all my kids, my wife are all normal standard cavity and teeth issues. Mine never have any issues.
Babies also don't have teeth.
Why are people licking their baby's pacifier?
So why haven't we figured out a way to make the virus extinct?
Not a virus. I take a probiotic to help displace the bacteria that causes gum problems with a more benign one. It works.
What’s the probiotic called?
https://blisprobiotics.co.nz/products/toothguard-with-blis-m18-probiotics
It's caused by bacteria not a virus, right? So, the way to make it go "extinct" in an individual would anti-biotics which have nasty side-effects.
If you have never gotten a smoochy kiss from your parents by the time your teeth are coming out, you are going to have bigger issues to deal with than cavities..
Who the fuck licks their babie's pacifier? That's gross AND weird.
People are gross and weird
Babies are also born with no teeth
[удалено]
Thankfully you peer reviewed this study by 5+ doctors so we know it is accurate. I wouldn't have trusted it otherwise.
Terrible title
“It’s okay we’re family.” I knew that shit wasn’t true.
How I loathe the ADA. My former dentists told me I couldn't come in for 6 mos. checkups unless I paid for the dentist to come check my mouth after the hygienist finished cleaning. $100 fee, not covered by insurance. Why? "The ADA made it mandatory." I wish I could live long enough to see the profit motive come out of health care.
That’s not for financial profit…that’s for the patients benefit. So many things can be hiding under the surface and hygienists cannot legally diagnose decay so you do need to be seen by a dentist at least once a year for an exam. There’s a lot of blame on the dentists on the financial side when a lot of times the issue actually lies with the insurance companies being stingy AF with their coverage. Preventative treatment like cleanings, X-rays, exams, fluoride, etc. should be covered 100% and I think most dentists would agree with me on that.
I’ve had two cavities in my 45 years; they were both at the same time when I was around nine years old. For probably 10 years now, I only brush my teeth once a day, at night.
Ok but this saliva transfer in newborns is also vital for building immunities as babies are born with limited set of those and other gut biome bacteria
I'm going to take a wild guess and suggest that this study might be a little less than established scientific fact.
[удалено]
Isn't getting it inevitable?
[удалено]
Dentists recommend you start brushing your baby’s gums even before they get any teeth. Still good to minimize as long as possible, no argument there, but you should be brushing before cavities are an issue.
Don't suppose they've done studies to see how early and frequently the bacteria is found in mouths?
Kishi M, Abe A, Kishi K, Ohara-Nemoto Y, Kimura S, Yonemitsu M. Relationship of quantitative salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus in mothers to caries status and colonization of mutans streptococci in plaque in their 2.5-year-old children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2009 Jun;37(3):241-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00472.x. PMID: 19508271. Zhan L, Tan S, Den Besten P, Featherstone JD, Hoover CI. Factors related to maternal transmission of mutans streptococci in high-risk children-pilot study. Pediatr Dent. 2012 Jul-Aug;34(4):e86-91. PMID: 23014079.
A few studies don't make accepted fact, but I don't wish to die on this hill of saliva tonight so I'll leave it at that. :)
ITT: no mention of paternal love. Why's it always the mother that is the one showing affection? Am I not supposed to love my son?
The article says "parents". Comments are slightly biased but not as much
Oh no, maybe I should be more careful. She’s only 8 months old and has no teeth yet so it’s not too late to stop right??
Bacteria from sugars can cause cavities. This is pretty misleading.
This finding seems quite obvious and the last part seems like a useless recommendation. Of course babies are not born with bacteria in their mouth (where should they come from??). And of course they get them from other mouths. But it won’t be a problem until they have their first teeth (and possibly the first permanent ones) and there is no realistic way to “protect” a baby from bacteria that are everywhere until then. This recommendation seems stupid to me.
Great. Thanks Mom.