How to Improve Oral Health & Its Critical Role in Brain & Body Health
Huberman Lab Podcast Recap
Published:
Duration: 1 hr 56 min
Guests: Dr. Ellie Phillips, Justin Sonnenberg, Dr. Mark Berheen
Summary
Andrew Huberman explores oral health's impact on overall body health, including its connections to cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health. The episode unveils simple, cost-effective oral health practices that can significantly enhance overall well-being.
What Happened
Oral health is being recognized as the seventh pillar of health, joining sleep, sunlight exposure, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and relationships. Andrew Huberman emphasizes its critical role in maintaining cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health. Oral health encompasses the entire oral cavity, including the microbiome, tonsils, and palates.
Teeth possess an outer enamel layer and a dentin layer beneath, with cavities forming from the outside in. Saliva plays a crucial role in the remineralization of teeth and overall oral and gut health. It is noted that cavities are caused by bacteria like Streptococcus mutans feeding on sugars and producing acid, which demineralizes teeth.
The episode stresses that oral health practices can be zero or low cost, such as using soft toothbrushes and xylitol-based products. Xylitol prevents Streptococcus mutans from producing acid and can reduce gum inflammation. Baking soda is also recommended as a safe alternative to commercial toothpaste.
Fluoride, although effective in strengthening teeth, has sparked debates due to potential health concerns, including effects on thyroid and brain health. Legal actions concerning fluoride levels in drinking water are ongoing in places like California and Buffalo, New York.
Alcohol, stimulants, smoking, and vaping are identified as threats to oral health due to their effects on the oral microbiome and saliva pH. Intermittent fasting emerges as a beneficial practice, as it allows saliva to optimally remineralize teeth.
Routine dental visits are advised twice a year to maintain oral health, identify cavities, and assess the effectiveness of daily oral care routines. The role of periodontal disease in increasing the risk for conditions like Alzheimer's is highlighted, underscoring the connection between oral and overall health.
Saliva production decreases significantly at night, making brushing and flossing before bed crucial in preventing cavities. Non-alcohol-based mouthwashes are recommended to maintain the oral microbiome, while water picks serve as gentle alternatives to traditional flossing.
The podcast concludes with advice on evaluating and modifying oral health practices to enhance not only oral but also heart, gut, skin, and brain health. The addition of oral health as a critical pillar underscores its far-reaching impact on overall well-being.
Key Insights
- Oral health is now considered the seventh pillar of health, alongside sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management, relationships, and light exposure, due to its significant impact on cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health.
- Cavities are not directly caused by sugar but by bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans that feed on sugar, producing acid that demineralizes teeth. Rinsing the mouth with water after consuming sugary or acidic foods can help mitigate this effect.
- Fluoride's role in dental health is debated, with concerns about its potential impact on thyroid and brain health. Despite its benefits in reducing tooth decay, there are ongoing legal cases regarding its levels in drinking water.
- Intermittent fasting is beneficial for oral health as it allows periods for saliva to remineralize teeth effectively. Nighttime oral hygiene is particularly critical due to reduced saliva production, increasing the risk of cavities.