#060

Chances are you've heard the word "fluoride" said in reference to your teeth. At the dentists office, on your bottle of mouthwash, maybe you've heard it's in tap water? But what is it, what's so special about it, and how does it help our teeth? Does it make them whiter, stronger, or what? Let's find out.

References from this episode

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/la4008558
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/fluoride-superhero
3. General Chemistry 2nd edition Flowers, Theopold, Langley, Robinson

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#194

In this episode of Chemistry for Your Life, Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind modern dental fillings. They explore how dentists use a combination of organic monomers and inorganic fillers to address cavities and the role of light-activated photoinitiators in hardening these materials. Melissa also shares her personal experiences and recent achievements, introduces new community members, and compares amusing dental scenes in pop culture.

00:00 Introduction and Dentist Experiences
00:38 Chemistry in Everyday Life
02:11 Community Updates and Announcements
04:44 Understanding Dental Fillings
08:39 The Science Behind Polymerization
19:08 The Role of Light in Dental Fillings
26:01 The Reaction Begins
26:22 Mixing Dental Materials
27:47 Personal Dental Experiences
30:51 Understanding Polymerization
35:42 Photo Initiators and Family Tangents
43:12 Pop Culture Dentist Moments
48:35 Wrapping Up and Community Shoutouts

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/ed076p1497?ref=article_openPDF
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7867280/

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

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Question and Response #59

Reddit's Chemistry Questions Answered In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam dive into Reddit to answer chemistry-related questions. They explore why ice in a fizzy drink causes more fizz, how stainless steel removes onion smells from hands, when to email professors for recommendation letters, and discuss a controversial prank by an organic chemistry professor. The hosts provide insightful and engaging explanations while also sharing personal anecdotes and practical advice for students.

00:00 Introduction to Reddit Chemistry Questions
00:55 Why Does Ice Make Fizzy Drinks Fizz More?
03:09 How Does Stainless Steel Remove Onion Smell?
06:53 When to Email Professors About Recommendation Letters
10:19 Am I the Jerk for Pranking My Students?
23:06 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

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• Chelsea M
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• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

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