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Scientists Discover Natural Molecule That Eradicates Plaques and Cavities (scitechdaily.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/science@beehaw.org
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Scientists have discovered that the molecule DIM reduces biofilms causing dental plaque by 90%. Its addition to toothpaste and mouthwash could revolutionize dental hygiene. 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) decreased the Streptococcus mutans biofilm, a leading contributor to plaque and cavities, by 90%.

A significant portion of the global population experiences persistent issues with dental plaque and cavities or will face them at some time. While toothpaste, mouthwash, and routine dental visits help in prevention, there’s always room for improvement.

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in collaboration with teams from Sichuan University and the National University of Singapore, have identified that 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) – a naturally occurring molecule also referred to as bisindole – can reduce biofilms responsible for plaque and cavities by a remarkable 90%.

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[–] 14 points 2 years ago* (3 children)

It means that it's relatively easy to turn a bunch of cheap ingredients into the molecule in question. So if the molecule works and doesn't cause you harm, you can pretty much expect toothpaste manufacturers to include it in their toothpastes. That's good because toothpastes will be better getting rid of plaque and preventing cavities.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (1 child)

    I was hoping more for a to do list for my backyard, so I'll have the molecule myself and not be beholden to Big Toothpaste.

    I'm handy, I got all kinds of tech skills, but I've only dabbled in chemistry. I'm not uncapable, just green and rough around the edges. I've done a bunch of stuff in the past, like distillations, making sodium silicate (to seal up a forge), anodizing and electroplating, or bleach thru electrolysis. I've also used electricity to separate and collect gases. Hell I even took a fridge apart to use it's old compressor to compress those gasses into different tanks - all in an effort to just not have to buy CO2, nitrogen or argon. Welding with hydrogen is triiiiicky, acetylene is much nicer. I even tried cold welding in a vacuum chamber, lol, but I need a better vacuum pump, probably a rotary one. I've made a bunch of different kinds of batteries and super capacitors.

    I've thought about using calcium carbide to create my own acetylene, cuz I've got all the equipment I would need to capture and compress it, but y'know, I like living, and acetylene isn't THAT expensive. Risk≠reward.

    So I guess that's my limit.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago*

    I was hoping more for a to do list for my backyard, so I’ll have the molecule myself and not be beholden to Big Toothpaste.

    I do not recommend you to do this in your backyard. And if doing this, just as a curiosity, not as a reliable production method; this is NurdRage tier, not "make bleach at home and avoid Big Tech" tier. That said, on a theoretical level, the synthesis would be simply

    • melt the indole (56°C, it's no biggie)
    • mix indole, excess dichloromethane, catalyst (aluminium chloride)
    • let them react for a few hours
    • add diluted hydrochloric acid (so you can remove the unreacted dichloromethane - the unreacted indole and the produced DIM should go to the aqueous solution)
    • remove the unreacted dichloromethane
    • neutralise the solution with some sodium hydroxide. Odds are that the DIM will precipitate first (it's bulkier and overall less polar), you can use this to separate it from unreacted indole.

    You'll probably get a 10% of junk compounds where the methyl attaches itself to the wrong carbon of the indole. Those could be separated by careful crystallisation.

    I’ve thought about using calcium carbide to create my own acetylene, cuz I’ve got all the equipment I would need to capture and compress it, but y’know, I like living, and acetylene isn’t THAT expensive. Risk≠reward.

    As long as you take the proper security procedures, this is fairly safe. One of my uncles work with car soldering, and he produces acetylene at home.

    Kind of hypocrite of me to say that, given that I have a scar on one of my arms from one of those reactions, but to be fair most people aren't as stupid as a 14yo mixing calcium carbide and water inside a glass bottle, and closing it. (It was 20 years ago. My family still mentions this.)

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