I had some trouble figuring where to put this. Do we have a forum for medicine, hygiene, lifestyle, that sort of thing? I figure it would go here since it would be somewhat related to food...
Anyway, this seems somewhat related, right? Much like exercise to keep muscle mass intact, bones thick, etc. people brush, floss, and use chemicals on their teeth, gums, and tongues, to eliminate bacteria, and stress the connections, to prevent blockages or over-healing so that they stay active, to bring blood in them, etc.
What does everyone do, and what controversies are there to discuss? Personally, I find flossing a bit painful, sometimes bloody, though I admit it is often because of not doing it often enough. The rubber pokey things are very neat to use. Also, very powerful electric toothbrushes, I find, might provide identicle cleansing and stimulation, yet spread deeply more around. Not to mention the massaging and vibrations, apparently vibrations are good for the body? I hear that shaking around like you're having a seizure cures stress and gives you energy, and I find it does, though only probably because of the fun it involves and how ridiculous it feels. But hey, some placebos are just sensible.
Now, would there be a maximum to how healthy your gums can get? Where flossing can't improve them? Are there dentists here on ImmInst? What about the controversies like tooth-whitening? Is such bleaching potentially unhealthy? I've always wondered what the root of such staining is, and really, isn't it kind of hiding the problem, kind of like people who bleach their skin instead of waiting for melanin from tans to fade, or vice versa?
Not to mention the big fluoride/chlorine in the water scandals people always hear about from alt-meds and conspiracy theorists. I'm not about to believe them at a drop of a hat but I suppose it's something to consider. I'm sure this has already been brought up in some other 'threats to life' or whatever, haven't checked there yet.
So, basically, I want a dental health, and other sub-areas of medicine thing. After all, every single area of medicine could be related to or influence life-extension science. Consider how old people are always having their teeth fall out so they need to get dentures. That might not be a key to life but it's probably a big thing on time-saving, happiness, aesthetics, and probably chewing is good for the mouth in some way.
Heck, throw in the building of the muscles in the mouth, I find that interesting too. Like trying to open your mouth while you push up on your chin, down on your head. The reverse I haven't quite figured yet, afraid of damaging teeth. I figure biting down on some kind of non-toxic superball.
