“Anything that relates to water quality, removing contaminants, things like that, we’re not touching that,” Tuck [the bill sponsor] said. “It’s anything that has to do with health. So fluoride, vitamins, whatever else it is.

  • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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    3 days ago

    floridaman here

    now im actually going to have to start using toothpaste again just to get my flouride

    and i dont even mean this as a bit you dont need toothpaste it doesnt help with bad breath or cleaning your teeth its only useful for the flouride if you dont get it naturally

      • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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        23 hours ago

        no im serious not only is toothpaste uneccesary to good oral hygiene but numerous peer reviewed published studies show that not only does it not help you clean your teeth better but brushing without it often leads to better results

        another fun one: there is no good science behind flossing. the usa is one of the only countries that still pushes it. some countries that used to push it have stopped because the studies just dont show any significant benefit

          • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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            11 hours ago

            This article talks about a review of studies about flossing but the link is no longer valid: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/health/flossing-teeth-cavities.html?_r=0

            As far as I know not a single official dental association in Europe recommends flossing. The UK used to. They stopped. But for flossing the information about it not actually be very effective (or not at all) is all over the internet. Between flossing and toothpaste the flossing stuff is the most dubious. It’s only useful if you have something stuck and need an extra bit of help dislodging it. Or if you just enjoy the feeling? Some people are strange like that.

            Here is a study on dry-brushing vs wet-brushing. They are just as effective as each other. (57% vs 58%) So adding some wetness (water) doesn’t do anything. I mention this one as a sort of control: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/idh.12358

            Here is a good one that looks at multiple studies from Journal of Clinical Periodontalogy. Main findings - “On average, 49.2% of plaque was removed when brushing was performed with a dentifrice, and 50.3% of plaque was removed when toothbrushing was performed without a dentifrice.” So, dentrifice or “toothpaste”, was actually slightly less effective (though not statistically significantly so) than brushing with it: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27513809/

            I can find some more studies if you like. The conventional wisdom and scientifically supported wisdom is that plaque is removed by the mechanical process of brushing. Toothpaste provides fluoride and can be especially beneficial in environments where fluoride is lacking from natural sources. To be clear, there are indigenous people around the world who do not use toothpaste but have a good fluoride content naturally in their water. Such communities who practice regular mechanical teeth cleaning tend to have good dental outcomes.

            If you live in the USA or another country that fluoridates your water you are most likely fine (I’m not a dentist so I can’t actually give you any advice). If you also supplement it with something like mouthwash, fluoride powder, toothpaste or anything else fluoridated you are definitely fine. You really do not need to obsess over it at all.

            What I will say is a big strike against toothpaste is much of it has all kind of nasty additives. Soaps. Microplastics. All kinds of shit.

            As far as control for bad breath brushing and mouthwash do all the work. You don’t need toothpaste at all. If you are concerned about bad breath carry around one of those tiny travel toothbrushes and brush after every meal. You can do it without toothpaste! Super easy to pop into a bathroom and just have a quick brush. That pretty much controls bad breath entirely. In over a decade of not using toothpaste I’ve never had issues with bad breath nor has my wife ever had an issue with my breath. Brush the old food out yo teefs and you good.

        • Lyudmila [she/her, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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          21 hours ago

          I know a lot of people who have sensory issues with toothpaste (which sounds like what you’re describing) have better luck with non-foaming toothpastes, but if that’s still a no-go, a fluoridated oral rinse or mouthwash would probably help you a lot.

          Also highly recommend checking out a cheap waterpik clone if you’ve not tried one, they’re actually pretty life changing in much the same way that a bidet is.

          • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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            12 hours ago

            i use mouthwash because bacteria and food particles is what causes bad breath, so after brushing i do the rinse.

            also use a waterpic maybe once or twice a month if i have food stuck in my teeth, like popcorn but otherwise dont fuck with it. occassionally i can be good to clean out tonsil stones

    • Edamamebean [she/her]@hexbear.net
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      3 days ago

      You should be using fluoride toothpaste regardless of if your water has fluoride or not. Fluoridated water is better than nothing, but fluoride only prevents tooth decay when it’s actually physically in contact with your teeth. Obviously that contact is much more consistent with two minutes of brushing compared to the seconds it takes water to pass through your mouth when you drink.

      • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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        3 days ago

        the insulting assumption that i take one sip of water per day jfc the internet is amazing when people respond to you they dont even stop and think for like even a moment

        im in my 40s with all my teeth even wisdom and no cavities and drink almost exclusively tap water daily so i think ill continue on this course comrade but you rub that chalky shit all over your gums if you like dont let me talk you out of it

          • LaughingLion [any, any]@hexbear.net
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            22 hours ago

            Obviously that contact is much more consistent with two minutes of brushing compared to the seconds it takes water to pass through your mouth when you drink.

            you did say exactly this its in the words that you wrote right above mine

            you are not very subtly claiming that i dont drink much water during the day in order to get sufficient contact of flouride to my teeth. you know that. i can return microaggression with microaggression with the best of em