h2ct

Early Access

Added 2021-11-17 20:30:59 +0000 UTC

Be careful what you believe. Information from studies taken out of context can misinform viewers. This is not disinformation, where people deliberately tell you the wrong thing. This is misinformation, where the person thinks what they are telling you is true, but they are misinformed or don't understand.

FOR EXAMPLE: Currently there are a lot of videos on tiktok saying Manuka honey prevents tooth decay so to eat a teaspoon of Manuka honey every day. The only human study on Manuka honey and tooth decay had people chew on a leather made from Manuka honey (made specifically for the study) for a full 10 minutes after each meal. The effectiveness was compared to people chewing on sugar free gum for 10 minutes. The Manuka leather group had less plaque and gingivitis.

This can not be extrapolated to say that eating a teaspoon of honey a day prevents tooth decay. That is likely to be untrue for two reasons, firstly - 10 minutes of chewing increases saliva in the mouth which helps dilute any acids. Secondly antibacterial agents need to be in contact with bacteria for a longer time to be effective.

The other problem with this study is it compares the Manuka leather to chewing sugar free gum. It does not compare to known highly effective methods such as brushing your teeth or using mouthwash.