How to Improve Oral Health & Its Critical Role in Brain & Body Health

Andrew Huberman

Feb 12, 2024

Episode description

In this episode, I discuss the importance of oral health for dental and microbiome health and general physical and mental well-being. I explain science-supported protocols for strengthening your teeth and gums, including how to remineralize your teeth. I cover the best approaches and timing for brushing and flossing, tongue, gum, and oral microbiome care and how oral health is critically important to offset metabolic, cardiac, and brain diseases, including dementia. I also discuss proper nutrition for oral health, fluoride, and how sugar and mouth breathing can accelerate tooth decay. This episode ought to be of interest to everyone seeking to improve their physical health, mental health, and lifespan, given the critical role that oral health plays in all of these.

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ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman
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Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
How to Optimize Your Water Quality & Intake for Health: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-optimize-your-water-quality-and-intake-for-health
Fluoride in Water (timestamp): https://youtu.be/at37Y8rKDlA?si=DgET0UUH3p_HVBWm&t=5375
What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/what-alcohol-does-to-your-body-brain-health
The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/the-effects-of-cannabis-marijuana-on-the-brain-and-body
Dr. Justin Sonnenburg: How to Build, Maintain & Repair Gut Health: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-justin-sonnenburg-how-to-build-maintain-and-repair-gut-health

Other Resources
Zero fluoride toothpastes on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bBFHSo
Zellies’s Xylitol (no affiliation): https://zellies.com/collections
Biöm (no affiliation): https://betterbiom.com
Fygg (no affiliation): https://fygg.com

People Mentioned and Special Thanks To
Dr. Anastacia ("Staci") Whitman (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/doctor_staci
Dr. Mark Burheene (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/askthedentist
@BowTiedGatorDDS (X/Twitter): https://twitter.com/BowTiedGatorDDS
Dr. Kathryn Mueller (Instagram)‍: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynm_fit
Dr. Ellie Phillips: https://drellie.com

Timestamps
00:00:00 Oral Health
00:03:28 Sponsors: Mateina, ROKA & Helix Sleep
00:07:13 Oral Health Quiz
00:13:53 Teeth Biology, Cavity Repair
00:20:01 Mouth, Gums, Saliva
00:27:23 Sponsor: AG1
00:28:51 Cavity Formation, Bacteria, Sugar, Acidity
00:35:10 Teeth Remineralization, Fluoride, Water
00:42:57 Sponsor: InsideTracker
00:43:58 Tools: The “Do Nots” of Oral Health, Mouth Breathing
00:54:48 Tools: Fasting & Teeth Remineralization; Nighttime Toothbrushing
01:03:23 Proper Teeth Brushing; Tooth Sensitivity & Gums
01:08:16 Bacteria, Plaque & Tartar; Tooth Polishing
01:11:02 Proper Flossing Technique, Waterpik; Children & Flossing
01:14:23 Tool: Xylitol, Bacteria & Cavity Prevention
01:19:43 Toothpastes: Xylitol, Fluoride, Hydroxyapatite
01:22:38 Mouthwash & Alcohol, Antiseptic Mouthwash
01:26:29 Tools: Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide?, Salt Water Rinse
01:32:36 Alcohol-Based Mouthwash, Nitric Oxide
01:34:52 Tools: Canker Sore Prevention & Gut Microbiome; Sleep
01:37:47 Tools: Tongue Brushing; Toothbrush Care
01:41:38 Teeth Sealants; Metal Fillings, Mercury, Mastic Gum; Root Canals
01:48:43 Dentist Visits, Daily Routines & Oral Health
01:54:17 Practices for Oral Health, Oil Pulling
01:58:21 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #OralHealth #Health

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com

Disclaimer: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Enable teeth to remineralize and repair cavities naturally

Your teeth can naturally fill in cavities that have started to form, a process called remineralization, as long as they haven't penetrated too deeply.

#dental-health

Integrate oral health as seventh pillar of overall wellness

Oral health and gut health are being added as the seventh pillar of mental and physical health, alongside pillars like sleep and exercise.

#oral-health

#wellness

Utilize xylitol to eliminate cavity-causing bacteria

The sugar substitute xylitol is uniquely beneficial because cavity-causing bacteria eat it, which prevents them from producing acid and also kills them.

#bacteria

#xylitol

Prioritize nighttime brushing for optimal dental health

If you only brush and floss once per day, doing so at night is most critical because saliva production, which protects teeth, dramatically decreases during sleep.

#dental-health

#oral-health

Use salt rinse to promote oral microbiome health

A zero-cost alternative to harmful mouthwash is a high-salt water solution, which you swish and spit to promote a healthy oral microbiome.

#microbiome

#oral-health

Avoid commercial mouthwashes to protect oral health

Most commercial mouthwashes, especially those with alcohol, are terrible for your oral health because they disrupt the healthy oral microbiome and reduce nitric oxide production.

#microbiome

#oral-health

Avoid stimulants to protect oral health

Stimulants like Adderall and even caffeine negatively affect oral health by making saliva more acidic and by encouraging mouth breathing, which dries the mouth.

#oral-health

#stimulant

Minimize acidity duration to reduce cavity risk

The risk of cavities depends less on what you eat and more on the total amount of time your mouth remains in an acidic, demineralizing state.

#oral-health

Recognize cavity bacteria as a communicable disease

The primary cavity-causing bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, is not something you are born with but is transmitted between people through sharing drinks or kissing.