Using a basic "phage"-like micro-organism, and reprogramming it's eating habits to remove plaque from your teeth. It could also be used to aid in healing mouth ulcers, reset the PH value in your mouth (no more halitosis) and possibly even bleach your teeth whiter than they've ever been before!
-- thelumberjack, May 31 2002

HB: Preening Shrimp http://www.halfbake...a/Preening_20Shrimp
Shrimp that do the same thing. [pottedstu, May 31 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

(?) GM dental bacteria http://www.sunone.c...les/03-12-00d.shtml
Scientists have developed mouth-dwelling bacteria that instead of rotting your teeth, do nothing. Wow! [pottedstu, May 31 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Better Teeth Through Biochemistry http://www.wired.co...06/start.html?pg=11
"How Mutant Bacteria Will Win The Fight Against Cavities" [phoenix, May 31 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

By word of (bacterial) mouth.
-- neelandan, May 31 2002


No, Rods, it's a plaque that eats bacteria. If if was bacteria eating plaques, there would be a hyphen.
-- pottedstu, May 31 2002


Hey! We could use a similar method dure to cure world hunger! Just "reprogram the eating habits" of all the hungry people in the world to eat rocks or something. In fact, it's kind of astounding that scientists haven't used the, obviously very simple, "reprogram eating habits" thing to cause all the pesky wolves bothering farmers to just feed off sagebrush or Coke cans!
-- jester, May 31 2002


Hmpf.
-- phoenix, May 31 2002


Thanks everyone, really positive feedback. I thought the idea of this site was to discuss things rationally, while still keeping it lighthearted. I don't claim to have all the answers - that's why it's HALFbakery ya morons.
-- thelumberjack, Jun 01 2002


[thelumberjack] Perhaps the rest of us are aware that this very 'invention' has been in the news lately, per [pottedstu]'s and my link. Subtle ways of telling you your idea is Baked. I'm sorry the subtlety was lost on you.

I strongly urge you to review the tone of this site by reading some of the other ideas and annotations, then contrast it with your annotation. Calling us morons is not a good way to get along here.
-- phoenix, Jun 02 2002


Non, Non, Non, Monsieur Lumberjack,

You can NOT remove plaque with Bacteria.
You must scale and caretage the Plaque.
When bacteria becomes a jack hammer, then your far-fethed idea will come to fruition.

-- Bixbyte, Jun 02 2002


Hang on, ordinary oral bacteria live on plaque. It's the by-products that gives you dental caries.

Anyway, I visited a Manta-ray cleaning station ona Scuba trip. The diveguide pulled his regulator and a cleaner-fish had no qualms about swimming into his mouth.
-- FloridaManatee, Jan 21 2003



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