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

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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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

[joxyn]

IN A NUTSHELL (if you can't afford list 2 hrs podcast)

-What causes tooth decay: Sugar and starches in general
-Acidic foods: Like lemon, orange or coffee cause a drop in pH, better to consume them by straw.

-During the middle of the day saliva production is at its highest.

-During the day try not to eat for 2+ hours and keep your mouth clean to stimulate remineralization.
-If you only brush once a day, do it at night before going to bed for best results.
-Gently brush your gums as well for sensitive teeth to circulate blood.
-Use both a toothbrush and floss for clean your teeth.
-Prefer a toothbrush with soft bristles.
-After eating: Rinse your mouth with water and salt within 30 minutes.
-After a meal: Chew gum with xylitol if you can't brush your teeth.

-Toothpaste ingredients to look at if you want to avoid fluoride: Xylitol, hydroxyapatite
-Brush your teeth with baking soda and water, rinse with salt water.

[rachellopez]

Hygienist here! Great compilation of info! One small thing I would add is to be careful about brushing when ph is low and teeth are in demin. The enamel is softer at this stage and it is easier to brush minerals out of the teeth. I advise my patients to rinse instead of brush after acidic or sweet foods or drinks (or vomiting for those pregnant ladies out there). After 30 min to an hour, it should be safe to brush.

[INDIANDENTISTRAPPER]

Thank you for doing this. As a proud pediatric dentist, I would like to reiterate that we do want to do the best for our patients, not only for their oral health, but for their overall health. This podcast helps me find better words that I can use to explain to our patients about the valuable lessons they can take home to enhance oral and overall health

Thank you, Dr. Huberman

[mmkay]

A '7 pillars of health' playlist would be spectacular! Excited to work my way back to take notes on all of the pillars.

[SegnoongeS]

Noble prize for Andrew Huberman, for being just the best human being on earth

[kongkongball]

Please Dr. Huberman, do an episode on skin health and sunscreen!

I'm ever so grateful for your podcasts. I have become very healthy as a result of watching them from the very beginning!

[JVCharisma]

Professor Huberman,

I just wanted to thank you for your passion for providing information to the public. I technically have MS, and through watching your videos, I have been able to lose 60 pounds, stop taking all of the medications I was on, and feel better than I ever remember feeling. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your interest in relaying your knowledge of science. I am truly grateful for you and I just wanted you to know that you have made a massive change in (possibly many, many lives, but at the very least) my life.

Thank you.

[djdrisco]

My wife is going to go nuts when she watches this! She has been working on educating folks on the Mouth/Body connection for years as a director at a major national dental company. This information is so great!

[jopo]

Dr. Huberman's scope of knowledge is a breath of fresh air.

[vale_]

Good Morning Dr.Huberman… I have been waiting for this one 🦷 I’m a dental hygienist, my patient will enjoy this one in particular… every Monday all my patients listen to your podcast while I’m cleaning their teeth… Thank you!!

[francinegagnon]

Excellent, I am a Dental Hygienist and agree with everything you mentioned, you really did your homework. My only concern is why you never mentioned our profession, registered dental hygienists, we are the experts in prevention and homecare. We are the ones who talk with patients day in and day out and have those crucial conversations. Dentists have the knowledge but it is through us Hygienists that the message gets across. I still remain a fan of your work. Francine

[Bittzen]

I noticed from a young age how much brushing my teeth reduced mental fog, increased focus, reduced stress, and gave me energy.

[DrMZK]

Dr. Andrew. Hope this comment finds you well. My name is Dr. Mohammad Al Khairo, I am a Restorative Implantologist Dentist. I have great interest in Oral Fitness. I found your video as one of the greatest pillars serving this new term. Oral fitness, as I define it, is the attainment of a state free from dental diseases, encompassing dental decay, gum disease, and oral tumors. This achievement is realized through the dissemination and application of knowledge, inspiring a shift in both individual and societal attitudes and behaviors towards maximizing oral health. In order to accomplish this, individuals in all walks of life must collectively commit to taking proactive measures to alleviate future generations from the burdens of dental disease, following the principles of Oral Fitness is the fundamental of what can be called Oral Fitness Movement. This video is all about this new movement and its principles. I enjoyed every second of it. I would like to thank you and the sponsors for such a great art and I will be looking forward for more videos in this regards.

[kristic]

Dr.Ellie Phillips is a genius on oral health! She completely turned my oral health around.

[Healthyimmunedoc]

Thank you for addressing oral health. As an infectious disease physician, I commonly treat heart valve infections and occasionally brain abscesses, sinusitis, facial cellulitis, pneumonia, infectious arthritis, osteomyelitis and sepsis due to poor oral hygiene from untreated cavities, broken teeth, dental abscesses, irritated gums, tongue and oral ulcers from trauma/viruses/food/chemo or accidental self bites. Just as limiting exposure time prevents cavities, prolonged oral irritation raises the risk of systemic infections. The oral mucosa should begin noticeable healing within 24 hours and if it is struggling, there is often an irritant and/or nutritional deficiency(-ies). Toothpaste, mouthwashes, medicines and food allergies are common irritants, especially chlorhexidine. I usually recommend against chronic chlorhexidine exposure on any mucosal surface. A commonly overlooked critical essential vitamin for oral health is vitamin b2, riboflavin, which is critical for the health of the tongue, gingiva, lips and mucosa. Ironically people who struggle the most with oral health/dental issues, commonly get vitamin b2 deficiency because it inhibits them from eating. As the deficiency worsens, they lose their tongue papillae and get a diffuse redness (strawberry colored) throughout their mouth, tongue and lips.

[carolmeyer]

While brushing and flossing after eating is important it is also important to wait 30 minutes before doing so, specially after acidic foods. As you said the ph in our mouth is lowered after acidic foods and the enamel is vulnerable to abrasion of brushing. After 30 minutes the ph has risen and it is safer for our teeth to then brush.

[ChlebRazowy]

What a biomachine of a human being. I can't imagine myself doing 2 hours like that in one go. Really professional.

[Mr.Feckless]

Hubermans deadpan jokes are getting better every episode. Also fascinating content so much I never knew and a bunch I'd never really consolidated with reason or understood the chain effects.

[luisricardososamartinez]

Dr. I'm a Dentist and its delightful to see oral health coming to the forefront of Health itself! Looking forward to follow up!

[lisaharvey]

Great podcast! While Xylitol is beneficial for humans, one thing to keep in mind if you have Xylitol containing products in your home (gums, mint, etc) is to keep them out of reach of your dog! It is very toxic to dogs even in low doses. They react to it differently than humans and can develop life threatening hyperglycaemia.

Also watch out for it in food products such as nut butters, it is commonly found in them. So make sure you check the label before giving your dog a peanut butter treat! 🙂

This is not an issue for humans though so do not fear. Just dogs and possibly other animals.