12/16/24: Good-bye Toothbrush...Hello Microbot - THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUTURE with Ric Edelman

Podcast Summary

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FUTURE with Ric Edelman

Episode: Good-bye Toothbrush...Hello Microbot
Date: December 16, 2024
Host: Ric Edelman

Main Theme

This episode explores groundbreaking innovations in oral health, specifically the advent of microbot technology that could replace toothbrushes and floss—potentially transforming dental care. Ric also highlights new research into the human oral microbiome and exciting advances in dental implants, all of which are emblematic of the broader revolution in exponential health technologies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shifting Landscape of Dental Care

Traditional Business of Dentistry:
Ric opens by reflecting on past dental practices where most revenue came from repairing cavities (“drill them, fill them, and bill them”). However, thanks to improved hygiene and fluoridated water, there are fewer cavities these days, and the focus has shifted toward cosmetic procedures.

2. Microbot Technology: The Future of Tooth Cleaning

Introduction of Nanobots in Oral Care:
Researchers at the Center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry (University of Pennsylvania) are developing micro robots that clean teeth.
How It Works:
- Users would gargle a liquid containing nanobots, which could act as a toothbrush, flosser, and mouthwash simultaneously.
- The FDA has already approved these nanoparticles for safe use—common in imaging and food coloring due to their color versatility (“They can take on red, yellow, and brown shades” [01:16]).
- Nanobots can reconfigure into various forms: bristles for brushing, threads for flossing. Activation is as simple as pressing a button.
- Mechanics: Some prototypes resemble mouthguards or toothbrushes; magnets activate the bots and hydrogen peroxide is used to kill bacteria and break down plaque.
- Effectiveness: In rat studies, plaque removal was 100% effective, though the cleaning currently takes about ten minutes—an area under active research for improvement.
Who Benefits Most:
- Especially promising for individuals with disabilities or those who dislike manual brushing.
Memorable Quote:

“You just push a button to activate them to do what you want them to do.” – Ric Edelman [02:00]

3. Oral Microbiome Transplants – Nature’s Cavity Fighter

The Mystery of Naturally Healthy Teeth:
Scientists studied a person who brushes once daily, never flosses, rarely visits a dentist, yet has no cavities.
Root Cause:
- His oral microbiome was found to be exceptionally healthy, conferring natural immunity to decay.
Experimental Breakthrough:
- Researchers transplanted his oral plaque (in gel form) onto rats' teeth and observed a marked drop in tooth decay.
- Human trials are imminent.
Memorable Quote:

“His personal oral hygiene habits really didn’t make any difference. In other words, he had natural immunities to cavities.” – Ric Edelman [03:00]

4. Next-Gen Tooth Implants & Enamel Engineering

Red Light Therapy in Implants:
- Developed tooth implants emit red light therapy to boost the immune system.
- No battery required; mouth movements power the device, helping to stave off infection after implantation.
- Especially valuable in reducing infection rates, gum, and bone tissue damage.
Bio-Engineered Enamel:
- Scientists are engineering stronger teeth using natural enamel components.
- The ultimate goal: regrowing real human teeth.
Memorable Quote:

“In other words, you will actually regrow your teeth.” – Ric Edelman [04:50]

5. Broader Reflections & Personal Note

Ric expresses excitement and optimism about the future of health innovation:

“All of this indications of the incredible medical advances...that are going to lead us to have healthier, happier, pain free lives.” [05:10]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

On microbot ease of use:

“You just push a button to activate them to do what you want them to do.” – Ric Edelman [02:00]
On discovering natural immunity to cavities:

“His personal oral hygiene habits really didn’t make any difference. In other words, he had natural immunities to cavities.” – Ric Edelman [03:00]
On regrowing teeth:

“In other words, you will actually regrow your teeth.” – Ric Edelman [04:50]
On the significance of these advances:

“All of this [is] indications of the incredible medical advances...that are going to lead us to have healthier, happier, pain free lives.” – Ric Edelman [05:10]

Key Segment Timestamps

Microbot technology and dental care future: [00:29 – 03:35]
Oral microbiota transplant research: [03:36 – 04:20]
Tooth implants, red light therapy, regrowing teeth: [04:21 – 05:15]
Personal reflections and episode wrap: [05:16 – 06:03]

Tone & Style

Ric delivers the episode in his usual accessible, energetic, and slightly humorous style, making complex science approachable for all listeners.

Takeaway

Dental care is on the verge of exponential change, with microbots, oral microbiome therapies, and advanced implants redefining hygiene and preventative health. These technologies aren’t just novelties—they signal a future where oral health is easier, more effective, and deeply personalized, carrying broad implications for wellbeing and longevity.

Transcript

A (0:00)

This program provides education, not advice. Sponsors pay a fee for endorsements and interviews. See the Truthayf.com disclosure page for details.

B (0:09)

This is where technology, innovation, and personal finance come together. This is the truth about your future with Rick edelman.

A (0:29)

It's Monday, December 16th. Pretty cool research coming out of the center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania. You know, it used to be back in the day that dentists made all their money from repairing cavities. You know, drill them, fill them, and bill them. Nowadays, it's cosmetic procedures as we're trying to whiten our teeth because our hygiene is so much better and we have fluoride in our water that, that we're not amassing the number of cavities that we used to amass. And dentists are now doing other things to stay in business and make our oral care even better. Well, there's a lot of new tech that's going to even increase this further. Micro robots that are going to clean your teeth. You're going to gargle the liquid that's filled with nanobots. They act as a toothbrush, a flosser, and a mouthwash that the nanoparticles are already approved by the fda. They're safe to eat. They're in use already for uses from imaging to food coloring. And that's because they can take on red, yellow, and brown shades. But when you combine these nanoparticles, they can form a micro robot. They can form different shapes, like bristles for brushing, a long thread for flossing. You just push a button to activate them to do what you want them to do. One prototype is like a mouth guard. Another one looks like a toothbrush. There are magnets that activate these nanobots. They use hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and break down plaque. In tests with rats, they've been 100% effective. But there is a downside. It takes 10 minutes. So the researchers are working on making all this faster. And, and this tech, think about it, you might say, oh, come on, I can do my own brushing and flossing, etc. How about people who have disabilities? Or for people who simply, frankly, hate to brush? There's another innovation coming. Using the bacteria in your mouth to serve as an oral microbiota transplant. In other words, this could help people who have tooth decay or gum disease. Scientists have found a person who only brushes once a day, who never flosses, and who hasn't been to the dentist in years and yet has no cavities. The researchers were trying to figure out how could this be this person has all the earmarks of somebody who should have a lot of holes in their teeth, but they don't. What the scientists found out is that this person's microbiome is so healthy that his personal oral hygiene habits really didn't make any difference. In other words, he had natural immunities to cavities. So scientists took some of the plaque from his teeth, mixed it with a gel and painted it onto the teeth of rats and the tooth decay in the rats dropped significantly. So guess what? Human trials are underway in a few months. We'll be back with more here on the TRUTH ABOUT YOUR Future. Stay with us. Foreign hey financial advisors. Are you fluent in crypto? Blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, tokenization, and most importantly, crypto, Taxation, estate planning and asset allocation. Take the online course. Become certified in blockchain and digital assets. Thousands of financial professionals from 37 countries have enrolled. Become fluent in crypto so you can help your clients and build your practice. Enroll today and get your CBDA designation. Welcome back to the Truth about yout Future. Also, imagine a tooth implant that gives you a red light therapy to help you boost your overall immune system. The light doesn't need a battery. It's powered by the movements of your mouth. This can help people who get tooth implants to reduce their risk of getting infections that destroy gums and bone tissue. All pretty cool stuff. Scientists say they're trying to engineer stronger teeth by creating enamel with natural components just like your real teeth. In other words, you will actually regrow your teeth. All of this indications of the incredible medical advances, this group of innovations focusing on your mouth that are going to lead us to have healthier, happier, pain free lives. A lot more to come in the field of exponential technologies. Just a couple of reasons why I'm so excited about the future. It's hard to believe that it's been 35 years on the air. I've done more than 1500 radio broadcasts over the last three decades. More than 500 podcasts in the last three years alone, and my podcasts are winding down. My last one, as I've told you, is December 27th. I'm so glad you've been with me all these years. If you want to stay connected with me, be sure to join my distribution list. Just click on the link in the show notes. I'll make sure you continue to get the latest that I offer on exponential technologies, crypto, Alzheimer's, longevity, investing, all the topics that matter most to us all. Thank you for being with me all these years. I'm looking forward to to many more with you. Please subscribe today so we can stay connected.