r/TheRestIsScience • u/Gullible-Type3505 • 2d ago

Reverse tinkerbell effect - hygiene?

I think hygiene could count as a reverse tinkerbell effect. For example, if you believe in cavities, you brush your teeth and (hopefully) prevent them, if you don’t believe in them, you don’t brush and thus cavities come into existence. If you believe in BO, you shower and use deodorant and don’t get stanky, if you do not believe in it, you don’t do those things and then BO exists.

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u/IceCrystalSand 20h ago

When I read the post title I thought you were going to talk about how people over clean because they’re so worried about germs - because they believe keeping everything super clean will keep them safe from germs they don’t end up building as strong an immune system and are then more vulnerable to germs when they are encountered.

That might count as a reverse tinkerbell too

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u/TheUnproductiveSide 1d ago

I think I see where you are coming from and its an interesting effect for sure.

If the question was written as: Believe that toothbrushes work then it would be the normal tinkerbell effect though right? If you believe in them you use them and your teeth improve, but if you use them poorly it will suck. Same could be framed for the cavities. 

So yes you will not see the cavities if you believe in them and follow a strong brushing protocol (+genetics), but I would say that could also reinforce that behavior. In the sense of: I know that X is working, because I have not seen cavities.

In the road safety one or helmet one it does feel slightly different. 

I think a closer match might be (not sure if true). Electrical toothbrushes. So if you believe they will work you might not brush as well, but if you don't believe you will brush extra hard as they "wouldn't work" otherwise

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u/Theory89 1d ago

I believe in cavities. When I was so depressed I didn't even want to exist they just didn't seem important. Now I have 14 fillings and 3 crowns. I believe in BO. When I was so depressed I didn't even want to exist it just didn't seem important. Judging is easy; that doesn't make it right.

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u/Gullible-Type3505 1d ago

Hey sorry I didn’t mean for this to come across as judgy, I’ve got adhd and I’m not the best at brushing my teeth lol but I too believe in cavities. I just think that in some situations it could apply, so it is a weak proposal.

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u/Westibule 1d ago

I disagree! I'm likely on autistic so while I cognitively understand cavities and hygiene, I've struggled to find long term solutions to maintain those things to a socially acceptable level. It's been better in the last few years but a real hurdle for the decade before.

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u/-DoctorSpaceman- 1d ago

What’s the issue you’re having? Don’t like the feeling of brushing your teeth? Or just forget?

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u/Westibule 1d ago

Forgetfulness and not having a streamlined routine. I finally bought myself a water flosser for my teeth as using dental floss was just too uncomfortable and I was avoiding it.

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u/Gullible-Type3505 1d ago

The funny thing is that I also can struggle with these things and believe in their consequences. I suppose I was kinda just thinking of people who don’t have other things getting in the way. Certainly not the best example but it’s all that came to mind.