Introduction

Did you know that your oral health has a profound impact on healthspan and longevity?

Do you want to learn about the connections between oral health, healthspan, and longevity and what you can do to improve your oral health to help you live longer and add more healthy years to your life?

This episode of Longevity by Design is an Ask Me Anything (AMA) between Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver, MS, RD, CSSD, where they dive into the often-overlooked importance of oral health for healthspan and longevity. They gathered and answered questions asked by the Longevity by Design audience, with the scientific evidence indicating that oral health is not just about a nice smile but also has a startling link with healthspan and longevity.

Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver begin by defining what oral health and oral frailty are. They discuss that good oral health is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being, whereas poor oral health can lead to various dental and health problems. They then answer questions on the oral microbiome and what you should know about it. They also answer questions on how oral health is connected to the health of the rest of the body, healthspan, and longevity–with an emphasis on mortality, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Importantly, Dr. Blander and Ashley answer questions backed by science on what you can do to improve your oral health. They conclude by addressing questions on the influence of nutrition on oral health and the not-so-obvious but intriguing evidence on the link between oral health and physical fitness and function.

Listen to all episodes of Longevity by Design at https://info.insidetracker.com/longevitybydesign 

Episode timestamps:

• Introduction: 00:00-01:44
• What is the reason for choosing the topic of oral health, healthspan, and longevity: 01:44-03:11
• What is oral health: 03:12-04:23
• How is oral health connected to healthspan and longevity: 04:24-09:01
• What is oral frailty: 09:02-10:04
• What is the oral microbiome and what is known about the oral microbiome: 10:05-14:59
• What is the relationship between oral health and cognitive health: 15:00-19:36
• What is the relationship between oral health and cardiovascular diseases: 19:37-23:43
• What is the relationship between oral health and diabetes: 23:44-28:01
• Preventing versus treating diseases: 28:02-30:54
• How to improve oral health: 30:55-31:42
  • When should I brush my teeth in the morning, before or after breakfast: 31:43-33:51
  • How long should I brush my teeth? How do I know if I am brushing them correctly and for the right amount of time: 33:52-35:38
  • Should I use toothpaste with fluoride in it: 35:38-36:15
  • How often should I floss? What is a water flosser, and is it beneficial: 36:16-38:15
  • Should I use a mouthwash: 38:15-42:27
• What is the influence of nutrition on oral health: 42:28-48:35
• Is there a connection between oral health and physical fitness and physical function: 48:36-51:14
• Summary: 51:15-55:42