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I once had an argument with a guy who thought that fluoride didn't work, because if it did dentists would tell you not to use it. After all, why would they unde

I once had an argument with a guy who thought that fluoride didn't work, because if it did dentists would tell you not to use it. After all, why would they undercut their own business? My counter-argument that dentists just want to help people was met with bemused skepticism, as was my speculation that they probably make more money from routine cleanings than from drilling cavities. I am now fully convinced that the dentist lobby is keeping the caries vaccine from us.

mike_d 3y ago
Setting aside the pros or cons of fluoride from a dental perspective, it sure is incredibly convenient that a highly toxic industrial byproduct that was expensive to dispose of can now just be diluted down and dumped into municipal water systems and mouthwash.
- Timon3 3y ago
  Is all the fluoride which is produced as a byproduct used in drinking water? If not, why would they try to get rid of a small amount this way?
Gibbon1 3y ago
People also claim that tax law is so complicated because accountants want more work. Actual accountants would prefer another hole in their head to more complex tax law. Same people claim the AMA is suppressing cures for cancer cause reasons.
- zarzavat 3y ago
  This is somewhat true isn’t it? Doesn’t TurboTax lobby against automatic filing of taxes like we have in the UK? Most people in the UK do not submit tax returns at all, the appropriate amount of tax is simply withheld from their pay.
  - Gibbon1 3y ago
    Rentier capitalists will always do stuff like that.
philwelch 3y ago
There are definitely some unscrupulous dentists out there, but I’ve had good ones.
- serf 3y ago
  the inventor of cotton candy was a dentist. The altruist/optimist in me hopes that he didn't do so just to create a revolving-door effect within the industry and that he legitimately wanted to create a treat, but the pessimist in me can't help but wonder..
tchaffee 3y ago
This study seems to be saying that the risk of heart infection is what's limiting success in human trials. That seems a much more reasonable explanation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8095695/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8095695/
sneak 3y ago
Dishonest dentists who want to make more money don't need actual cavities or disease to lie to you and convince you to spend thousands on procedures you don't need. Many, many dentists do this now, all it takes is the willingness to lie.

mike_d 3y ago

Setting aside the pros or cons of fluoride from a dental perspective, it sure is incredibly convenient that a highly toxic industrial byproduct that was expensive to dispose of can now just be diluted down and dumped into municipal water systems and mouthwash.

Timon3 3y ago
Is all the fluoride which is produced as a byproduct used in drinking water? If not, why would they try to get rid of a small amount this way?

Gibbon1 3y ago

People also claim that tax law is so complicated because accountants want more work. Actual accountants would prefer another hole in their head to more complex tax law. Same people claim the AMA is suppressing cures for cancer cause reasons.

zarzavat 3y ago
This is somewhat true isn’t it? Doesn’t TurboTax lobby against automatic filing of taxes like we have in the UK? Most people in the UK do not submit tax returns at all, the appropriate amount of tax is simply withheld from their pay.
- Gibbon1 3y ago
  Rentier capitalists will always do stuff like that.

philwelch 3y ago

There are definitely some unscrupulous dentists out there, but I’ve had good ones.

serf 3y ago
the inventor of cotton candy was a dentist. The altruist/optimist in me hopes that he didn't do so just to create a revolving-door effect within the industry and that he legitimately wanted to create a treat, but the pessimist in me can't help but wonder..

tchaffee 3y ago

This study seems to be saying that the risk of heart infection is what's limiting success in human trials. That seems a much more reasonable explanation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8095695/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8095695/

sneak 3y ago

Dishonest dentists who want to make more money don't need actual cavities or disease to lie to you and convince you to spend thousands on procedures you don't need. Many, many dentists do this now, all it takes is the willingness to lie.