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Comment by kuschku | Hacker News Reader

> repair teeth

This is not reparing. Repairing would assume that afterwards you've got the same features as before, but replacing nerves and blood vessels with plastic (or in this case, regular tissue) doesn't really provide the same features as before.

I'd like to see much more the possibility to replace teeth with ones you've generated from your own stem cells.

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That research is progressing rapidly:

https://singularityhub.com/2013/08/26/scientists-grow-teeth-...

I have a high risk of cavities due to my genetics, am 31, and my teeth are falling apart even with a high level of care (brushing 2-3 times/day, flossing, baking soda rinse after meals to return mouth ph to baseline quickly). I'll be happy to pay for replacement teeth grown from my own cells when available.

Have you tried Xylitol[1]? I use it to sweet my tea instead of regular sugar. And it should return your mouth ph fast, instead of rinsing with baking soda with doesn't sound nice.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol#Dental_care

I haven't, but I'll buy a bag from Amazon today. Thank you.

be careful, I use xylitol regularly for the same reasons but I find that it makes me tired and fuzzy if I take the same amount as sugar. I have suffered a lot with teeth problems since a child, but now at close to 40 I have managed to stabilize oral health and haven't had a cavity in more than 10 years. There are new toothpastes in the market that combine remineralizing agents besides fluoride and they seem to work for me. I like Biorepair the best, but I find the Novamin based toothpastes OK as well. The key is to not let the ph drop too low ( avoid acidic foods ) and to rinse after acid attacks instead of brushing as the mechanical abrasion from brushing combined with the previous acid attack can damage your teeth.

Good luck, teeth problems suck.

Also consider checking out products with Erythritol (eg Sobe Zero):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythritol

"Erythritol has been certified as tooth-friendly. The sugar alcohol cannot be metabolized by oral bacteria, so does not contribute to tooth decay. Erythritol exhibits some, but not all, of xylitol's tendency to "starve" harmful bacteria. Unlike xylitol, erythritol is actually absorbed into the bloodstream after consumption but before excretion. However, it is not clear at present if the effect of starving harmful bacteria occurs systemically."

"Erythritol More Potent Than Xylitol Against Dental Caries"

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/766577

Do you do a fluoride rinse? That can help to strengthen enamel.

I do, but only every 3-6 months via a dentist's prescription.

I use Act Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash. It's good to use it after brushing your teeth right before bed. Don't rinse with water afterward.

If you are interested in remineralizing teeth to prevent decay, I suggest reviewing this regimen by the dentist Dr. Phillips.

http://zellies.com/products-zellies-complete.html

Have you looked into having your teeth sealed (like they often do for children teeth)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_sealant

I had a bunch of teeth sealed and years later cavities started to appear underneath the seals, which were hard to clean because of the seals. So sealing didn't turn out to be that much of a holy grail.

Have you tried Stevia?

It grows really well in my backyard. Smells badly(but tastes sweet) but is a great sugar replacement for making lemonade or ice cream or sweets without the high glycemic index.

You also probably have to learn to brush your teeth better. When I was a kid I had lots of cavities, then I learned that I was doing it badly(I had plaque and tartar in my teeth and I got used to it). No one really told me, dentist don't feel the teeth the way your tongue does, they use a piece of metal.

So I brushed better so the surfaces of the teeth became smooth(it took some time but then maintaining that is really easy).

Since then, decades had passed and no new cavities.

They sell Stevia powder packets that look just like sugar packets, albeit much finer powder.

I was under the impression that the tooth was the same after this treatment.

Ah, no -- this is the same as a regular root canal (including drilling out the original inside of the tooth), except that instead of filling in the tooth with an inert cement, they've sorted out a way to have flesh regrown inside the tooth (below a plug)... though there will be no nerve, so you have flesh inside of a drilled-out, plugged tooth instead of a fully-restored tooth.

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