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How to Improve Your Teeth & Oral Microbiome for Brain & Body Health | Dr. Staci Whitman

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Mar 24, 2025

Guest

Staci Whitman

Dr. Staci Whitman, a board-certified functional dentist, shares insights on the surprising connections between oral health and overall well-being. She discusses the dangers of common oral care ingredients and explores alternatives for better dental hygiene. The conversation delves into how diet affects tooth remineralization and the role of the oral microbiome in serious health issues. Listeners learn about innovative treatments, the impact of fluoride, and how oral health relates to fertility and systemic diseases. It's a comprehensive guide to enhancing both oral and overall health.

02:54:46

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Transcript

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Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

Gentle Oral Care

Avoid harsh oral care products with astringents, alcohol, and strong essential oils.
These can harm the delicate oral microbiome and worsen oral health.

00:00 / 00:00

Tooth Remineralization

Teeth constantly undergo demineralization and remineralization, influenced by pH levels.
Frequent snacking hinders remineralization and can lead to cavities.

00:00 / 00:00

Sugar's Role in Cavities

Sugar and flour feed pathogenic bacteria in the mouth, leading to acid release.
This acid, not sugar directly, causes cavities by demineralizing teeth.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Rethinking Oral Health Practices

02:03 • 7min

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Optimizing Sleep and Dental Health

08:44 • 7min

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Teeth, Diet, and Dental Health

15:14 • 17min

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Aging and Dental Discoloration

32:38 • 7min

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Enhancing Oral Health Through Saliva Chemistry

39:55 • 3min

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The Essential Role of Saliva and Breathing in Oral Health

43:12 • 22min

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Airway Health and Chewing Insights

01:05:06 • 6min

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Exploring Oral Microbiome Health and Comprehensive Lab Testing

01:11:27 • 3min

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The Oral-Systemic Health Connection

01:14:26 • 20min

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Revamping Oral Health: Diet and Microbiome Insights

01:34:15 • 5min

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Fluoride Controversies and Oral Health

01:39:03 • 19min

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Navigating Public Health and Fluoride: A Critical Examination

01:58:31 • 3min

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The Controversy Surrounding Water Fluoridation and Community Health

02:01:47 • 2min

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Oral Health and Fertility: The Hidden Connection

02:04:04 • 22min

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Navigating Oral Function and Tongue Ties

02:26:20 • 8min

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Rethinking Dental Health

02:34:18 • 18min

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Final Thoughts and Future Insights on Health

02:51:54 • 3min

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Sleep Wrecked Kids

Sharon Moore

Sleep Wrecked Kids by Sharon Moore explores the importance of healthy sleep for children's development and provides techniques to identify and address sleep disorders. The book highlights how sleep problems can impact a child's physical, mental, and social development and offers strategies for parents to ensure their children get the sleep they need.

Jaws

Peter Benchley

Published in 1974, 'Jaws' tells the story of a great white shark that preys upon the fictional town of Amity, a small seaside resort on Long Island. The novel follows the efforts of Police Chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint as they try to stop the shark. The book explores themes of public safety versus economic survival, marital strife, and the primal fear of nature's brutality. Despite mixed critical reviews, the novel was a huge commercial success and led to a iconic film adaptation by Steven Spielberg[1][3][5].

Breath

The New Science of a Lost Art

James Nestor

In 'Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,' James Nestor delves into the history and science of breathing, revealing how modern humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly. The book takes readers on a global journey to ancient burial sites, secret Soviet facilities, and other unusual locations to uncover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, and Tummo. Nestor collaborates with pulmonary experts to test long-held beliefs about breathing and presents evidence that slight adjustments in breathing can significantly improve athletic performance, rejuvenate internal organs, and alleviate various health issues such as snoring, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.

My guest is Dr. Staci Whitman, DMD, a board-certified dentist for kids and adults. We discuss the critical importance of oral care and the oral microbiome for brain and bodily health. We examine the negative effects of common oral care product ingredients such as alcohol, astringents, and bleaches. We also explore the history and real impact of fluoridated drinking water on oral, bone, and systemic health.

Then we discuss healthy, lesser-known solutions for bad breath, canker sores, cavities, and teeth whitening. We cover how teeth can be made to repair their own cavities and the connection between oral health and cardiovascular health, male and female fertility, dementia, and cancer.

This episode goes far beyond the best approaches to brushing and flossing and will be a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their oral health and appearance at any age.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman

Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman

BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman

Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman

Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Timestamps

00:00:00 Dr. Staci Whitman

00:02:04 Oral Health & Oral Microbiome

00:05:01 Oral Healthcare Ingredients, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS); Canker Sores

00:08:45 Sponsors: Eight Sleep & BetterHelp

00:11:38 Cavities & Teeth De-/Remineralization, Fluoride

00:19:14 Cavities, Tool: Meal Frequency, Fasting

00:21:51 Sugar, “Dissolvable” Carbs & Cavities, Tools: Feed the Rainbow, Clean Diet

00:27:41 White Teeth, Bleaching, Hydroxyapatite, Mouth Breathing

00:34:34 Antibiotics, Gut & Oral Microbiome, Tool: Probiotics

00:36:20 Mouthwash, Alcohol, Astringents, Cardiovascular Risk, Bad Breath

00:39:54 Sponsors: AG1 & Joovv

00:42:21 Saliva, Dry Mouth, Salivary Analysis, Tools: Hydration; Nasal Breathing

00:47:23 Mouth vs. Nasal Breathing, Hard & Soft Tissue Issues

00:54:19 Deviated Septum, Therapies, Kids & Adults, Mouth Breathing & Sleep Disorders

01:00:42 Gum Health, Flossing; Sexual Health

01:01:50 Shifting to Nasal Breathing, Mouth Taping, Tools: 3-Minute Test, Kiss The Sky

01:05:53 Chewing Gum, Mastic Gum, Tool: Xylitol; Chewing Food, Breastfeeding

01:11:28 Sponsor: Function

01:13:15 Gum Disease, “Leaky Gums”, Cardiovascular Disease, Dementia, Cancer

01:20:05 Antibiotics, Ozone Therapy, Oil Pulling, Mold, Tool: Coconut Oil; Facial Trauma

01:28:07 Nicotine Gum & Pouches, Oral Health; Coffee, Teeth Whitening

01:34:16 Whole Foods, Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste; Tool: Testing Oral Microbiome

01:39:39 Water Fluoridation, History, Other Fluoride Sources, Neurocognitive Issues

01:54:57 Drinking Water & Fluoride, Toothpaste, Cavities

01:59:51 Sponsor: LMNT

02:01:07 Water Fluoridation & Levels

02:04:52 Oral Health & Fertility

02:07:03 Toothbrushing, Flossing, Waterpik, Tool: Toothbrushing & Meals

02:13:23 Teeth Spots & Markings, Fluorosis, Hypoplastic Enamel

02:19:10 Oral Health, Women, Pregnancy, Menopause & Burning Mouth

02:23:16 Geographic Tongue; Lip Balm; Mouth Breathing, Symmetrical Chewing

02:27:09 Tongue Tie, Chewing & Speech Function, Intervention

02:32:27 Red Light Therapy, Peptides & Exosomes

02:34:40 Mercury Fillings, Ceramic Composites, Retainers, Sealants

02:39:08 Dentists, Depression, Anxiety, Suicide; Insurance

02:45:05 Recap, Top Behavioral Tools for Oral Health, Tongue Scrapping

02:52:10 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures

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