Huberman Lab

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

Feb 12, 2024

This podcast explores the connection between oral health and overall bodily health, including mental well-being. It discusses protocols for strengthening teeth and gums, the importance of saliva and bacteria, cavity formation, and remineralization techniques. The debate surrounding fluoride and its impact on thyroid and brain health is also addressed. Additionally, the podcast covers the effects of stimulants on oral health, proper brushing techniques, mouthwash alternatives, and the safety of sealants and metal fillings.

01:56:06

Creator website

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Maintaining good oral health includes avoiding habits such as excessive alcohol consumption, stimulant drug use, smoking or vaping, and excessive sugar intake.

Proper saliva flow and alkaline pH levels are crucial for preventing tooth decay and promoting remineralization.

Individuals can make personal choices about fluoride use based on their own research and understanding of the benefits and risks.

Establishing and maintaining good oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups, is essential for oral health.

Xylitol can be advantageous for oral health by inhibiting cavity-causing bacteria and reducing inflammation in gum tissue.

Deep dives

Avoiding Harmful Habits

In order to maintain good oral health, it is important to avoid certain habits. These include consuming excessive alcohol, using stimulant drugs, smoking or vaping, and consuming excessive sugar. It is also important to avoid mouth breathing and acidic foods, as these can negatively impact the teeth and overall oral health.

Strep mutans feeding on xylitol doesn't produce acid, and is killed

00:58

What's crucial is the length of time the mouth is acidic

00:44

Clean your tongue

01:16

Soft brush gentle circular motion

00:44

Introduction

5min

Various sponsors and their offerings

2min

The Importance of Oral Health and Its Connection to Body and Brain Health

4min

Categories of Oral Health Practices

15min

The Role of Oral Health in Overall Well-being

7min

The Role of Acidity in Oral Health and Cavities

9min

The Concerns and Personal Decision of Using Fluoride

7min

The Impact of Stimulants on Oral Health

17min

Proper brushing techniques and the benefits of using an electric toothbrush

19min

10.

The Effects of Mouthwashes on Oral Health

17min

11.

The Safety of Sealants and Metal Fillings

17min

12.

Importance of Oral Health and Supporting the Podcast

2min

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.

Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab

Timestamps

00:00:00 Oral Health

00:03:44 Sponsor: LMNT

00:07:13 Oral Health Quiz

00:13:53 Teeth Biology, Cavity Repair

00:20:01 Mouth, Gums, Saliva

00:23:54 Sponsor: AG1

00:28:51 Cavity Formation, Bacteria, Sugar, Acidity

00:35:10 Teeth Remineralization, Fluoride, Water

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

Disclaimer & Disclosures

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Huberman Lab

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

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Avoiding Harmful Habits

Importance of Saliva and pH Balance

Fluoride and Its Controversies

Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene Practices

Maintaining Optimal pH for Oral Health

The Role of Xylitol in Oral Health

Toothpaste, Fillings, and Tongue Care

The importance of oral health and its connection to overall health

Effective toothpaste alternatives and the importance of routine dental check-ups

Strep mutans feeding on xylitol doesn't produce acid, and is killed

What's crucial is the length of time the mouth is acidic

Clean your tongue

Soft brush gentle circular motion

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Huberman Lab

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

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Avoiding Harmful Habits

Importance of Saliva and pH Balance

Fluoride and Its Controversies

Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene Practices

Maintaining Optimal pH for Oral Health

The Role of Xylitol in Oral Health

Toothpaste, Fillings, and Tongue Care

The importance of oral health and its connection to overall health

Effective toothpaste alternatives and the importance of routine dental check-ups

Strep mutans feeding on xylitol doesn't produce acid, and is killed

What's crucial is the length of time the mouth is acidic

Clean your tongue

Soft brush gentle circular motion

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Get the Snipd
podcast app

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights

Save any
moment

Share
& Export

AI-powered
podcast player

Discover
highlights