How To Stop Cavities, Gum Recession & Snoring To Increase Your Lifespan | Mark Burhenne

Summary

In this enlightening discussion, the importance of oral health is underscored, with a spotlight on the impact of diet and hygiene practices on dental health. The conversation delves into the significance of balancing demineralization and remineralization, the role of the oral microbiome, and the pitfalls of traditional dental advice. It challenges common misconceptions about dental care, such as the overemphasis on brushing and flossing, and highlights emerging insights from functional dentistry, including the use of hydroxyapatite and the potential risks associated with fluoride and certain mouthwashes.

Takeaways

• 🦷 The balance between demineralization and remineralization in the mouth is crucial for dental health, and a pH imbalance can lead to tooth decay.
• 😟 Traditional dental advice like brushing twice daily and flossing may not address newer understandings of oral health, including the importance of the oral microbiome.
• 🍽 Diet plays a significant role in dental health; the consumption of certain foods like crackers and bread can contribute to plaque formation and tooth decay.
• 🌱 The shift to a Western diet and the Neolithic era's food processing are linked to the increase in dental cavities, highlighting the impact of diet on oral health.
• 👶 Early childhood dental habits and diet can set the stage for lifelong oral health, with the potential to affect bone and teeth development.
• 🍏 Acidic foods like tomatoes can affect tooth enamel, but the overall diet and oral pH management are more critical factors in dental health.
• 🚫 Certain mouthwashes may contain ingredients that are harmful to the oral microbiome and have been linked to systemic health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.
• 🍋 While chewing on limes or lemons can be harmful due to their acidity, maintaining proper oral pH and remineralizing practices can mitigate the effects.
• 🪥 Flossing is essential for removing debris between teeth and supporting gum health, but the method and type of floss used can impact effectiveness.
• 👨‍⚕️ The role of a dentist extends beyond traditional procedures to include recognizing and addressing systemic health issues related to oral health.
• 🌿 Natural alternatives like hydroxyapatite in toothpaste can offer remineralizing benefits and are a safer choice compared to fluoride.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the pH level in our mouth?

The main issue is that if the pH level gets too low, below 5.5, teeth can start to demineralize. If the mouth doesn't have enough saliva to maintain a proper pH level, teeth can dissolve, and the balance between demineralization and remineralization is disrupted.

Why is dental plaque, now often referred to as biofilm, important for teeth?

Biofilm is important because it covers the tooth and is composed of oral bacteria, enzymes, and proteins that help remineralize and protect the teeth, preventing sensitivity and aiding in the overall health of the mouth.

What is the impact of diet on dental health?

Diet has a significant impact on dental health. Consuming cariogenic foods, such as those high in sugar or acid, can lead to tooth decay. On the other hand, a diet with a focus on vegetables and proteins, possibly following a paleolithic diet, can help prevent dental issues.

Why are some people skeptical about the benefits of fluoride?

Some people are skeptical about fluoride due to studies suggesting it may have negative health effects, including potential harm to the developing brain, and the fact that it is a byproduct of aluminum smelting and fertilizer production.

What is the controversy surrounding root canals?

The controversy lies in the belief that root canals may not be done properly in many cases, potentially leading to bacterial leakage and serious health issues, including sepsis. However, when done correctly by a specialist, root canals can be a viable treatment for infected teeth.

How does mouth breathing affect dental health?

Mouth breathing can lead to a dry mouth, which can disrupt the oral microbiome and pH balance. This can result in increased plaque and tartar buildup, potentially leading to gum disease and other oral health problems.

What is the connection between oral health and systemic health?

Oral health is connected to systemic health through the oral microbiome, which can influence the body's overall health. Conditions like gum disease have been linked to other health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Why is it recommended to floss before brushing with certain toothpastes?

Flossing before brushing with toothpastes containing certain therapeutic ingredients, like calcium or fluoride, can help clear away debris and make room for the toothpaste to work effectively on the teeth, promoting remineralization.

What are some common misconceptions about dental health?

Common misconceptions include the belief that brushing and flossing are the most important aspects of dental care, when in fact diet plays a much larger role. Another misconception is that fluoride is universally beneficial, despite evidence suggesting potential health risks.

How can the use of mouthwash potentially impact health negatively?

Mouthwash can potentially harm health by disrupting the oral microbiome, leading to a decrease in beneficial bacteria that produce nitric oxide, which is linked to various health issues including high blood pressure and diabetes.

What is the significance of the oral microbiome in overall health?

The oral microbiome is significant in overall health as it is the second most diverse microbiome in the body and plays a role in filtering and sampling the environment. It is connected to the gut microbiome and can influence systemic health.

Outlines

00:00

🦷 Oral Health and the Impact of Diet

The paragraph emphasizes the significance of diet on oral health, discussing how the pH levels in the mouth can affect tooth decay and gum recession. It critiques traditional dental advice like brushing and flossing, suggesting they are outdated and don't address modern understanding of the oral microbiome. The speaker explains the historical evolution of dental care, from the invention of toothpaste to address the poor oral health of soldiers in WWI to the current focus on the balance between demineralization and remineralization. The paragraph also touches on how the Western diet, particularly processed foods, contributes to dental issues and the importance of allowing the mouth to remineralize naturally.

05:01

🍪 The Surprising Impact of Certain Foods on Dental Health

This section delves into how specific foods, particularly crackers, can negatively affect dental health by causing cavities. The speaker argues that the frequency of snacking on such foods contributes more to dental carries than the quantity, emphasizing the importance of mouth pH balance. The discussion extends to the role of saliva in protecting teeth and the influence of acidic foods like tomatoes. The paragraph also addresses the misconceptions around the necessity of brushing immediately after consuming acidic foods, suggesting that waiting and rinsing with water can be more beneficial. It concludes with a discussion on the role of fats and oils in dental health, hinting at their systemic importance rather than direct contact with teeth.

10:02

🌿 Holistic Approaches to Dental Care

The paragraph discusses the importance of a holistic approach to dental care, moving beyond traditional methods like brushing and flossing. It highlights the role of diet in oral health, suggesting that certain easily retained foods near the gum line can be particularly harmful. The speaker also addresses the pH levels of beverages and their potential to cause demineralization, advocating for the use of water to neutralize acids in the mouth. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the practice of chewing citrus fruits like limes and the potential damage they can cause to tooth enamel, recommending waiting before brushing after such snacks.

15:03

🚫 The Downsides of Fluoride and Modern Dental Practices

This section critically examines the use of fluoride in toothpaste and water, linking it to potential neurological issues and developmental problems. The speaker advocates for the use of hydroxyapatite as a safer alternative for remineralization. The paragraph also discusses the controversy around root canals, emphasizing the importance of proper technique to prevent bacterial leakage and subsequent health risks. The speaker encourages seeking out endodontists for root canal procedures and questions the widespread endorsement of fluoride by dental associations despite emerging evidence against its safety.

20:04

🌱 Natural and Effective Dental Care Practices

The paragraph focuses on natural methods for dental care, such as oil pulling and the use of saltwater as a mouthwash. It discusses the benefits of these traditional practices, suggesting they are milder and more selective than commercial mouthwashes. The speaker also addresses the importance of maintaining a healthy oral microbiome and the potential issues with overdoing oil pulling. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on toothpaste ingredients, advocating for non-fluoridated options and the use of hydroxyapatite as a remineralizing agent.

25:05

🍴 The Connection Between Diet and Dental Health

This section underscores the profound connection between diet and dental health, suggesting that a diet high in processed carbohydrates contributes to dental issues. The speaker recommends a diet low in carbs and rich in proteins and vegetables for better oral health. The paragraph also touches on the importance of chewing food properly for facial development and the potential longevity benefits of maintaining good dental health. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to oral care that considers the mouth's connection to the rest of the body.

Keywords

💡pH

pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is, with values ranging from 0 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly basic), and 7 being neutral. In the context of the video, it is crucial for understanding dental health as it relates to the balance between demineralization and remineralization of teeth. A lower pH can lead to tooth dissolution, as mentioned when discussing the importance of not letting the mouth dry out after consuming acidic foods or drinks.

💡Dental plaque

Dental plaque, also referred to as biofilm in the video, is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth, especially around the gum line. It is a key concept discussed in the video as it can lead to dental diseases if not properly managed through brushing, flossing, and maintaining a healthy diet. The video emphasizes that plaque is not just an issue of aesthetics but is linked to the overall health of the oral microbiome.

💡Oral microbiome

The oral microbiome refers to the collection of microorganisms that live in the mouth, playing a significant role in dental and overall health. The video discusses how modern dentistry is increasingly recognizing the importance of this microbiome, and how dietary choices can impact the balance of bacteria in the mouth, potentially leading to dental issues.

💡Remineralization

Remineralization is a process where minerals, such as calcium and phosphate, are redeposited into the tooth enamel to repair minor damages and prevent decay. The video script discusses the importance of remineralization in maintaining dental health and how certain practices and dietary habits can either support or hinder this process.

💡Demineralization

Demineralization is the opposite of remineralization, where minerals are lost from the tooth enamel, making it more susceptible to decay. The video explains that an imbalance between demineralization and remineralization, often due to dietary habits or lack of saliva, can lead to cavities and other dental problems.

💡Flossing

Flossing is the practice of cleaning between the teeth and under the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. The video emphasizes the importance of flossing for maintaining good oral health and discusses the best practices for flossing, including the type of floss to use and the order in which to floss in relation to brushing.

💡Diet

The video script repeatedly highlights the impact of diet on dental health. It suggests that certain dietary choices, particularly the consumption of ultra-processed foods, grains, and cariogenic foods, can contribute to dental problems like cavities and plaque buildup. The video encourages a dietary shift towards more natural and less processed foods to improve oral health.

💡Acidic foods

Acidic foods, such as tomatoes or those with a low pH, are mentioned in the video as potentially harmful to teeth if consumed in excess. The video explains that acidic substances can lead to tooth sensitivity and demineralization, emphasizing the importance of moderation and the potential need for neutralizing the pH in the mouth after consumption.

💡Gum recession

Gum recession is a condition where the gum line pulls away from the teeth, leading to exposure of the tooth root and potential sensitivity. The video script discusses gum recession in the context of over-brushing and the importance of gentle oral hygiene practices to prevent this condition.

💡Mouthwash

Mouthwash is a liquid solution used to rinse the mouth for improved oral hygiene or fresh breath. The video script questions the necessity of mouthwash, especially when it comes to its impact on the oral microbiome and overall health. It suggests that mouthwash may disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the mouth and potentially contribute to health issues.

💡Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral that is commonly added to toothpaste and public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay. However, the video script expresses concerns about the use of fluoride, citing its potential toxicity to the developing brain and questioning its effectiveness in preventing cavities, suggesting that diet and oral hygiene practices are more critical.

Highlights

The importance of balancing the equation between demineralization and remineralization in maintaining dental health.

Dental plaque, now often referred to as biofilm, is a natural part of the oral microbiome and plays a role in tooth protection.

The shift in understanding dental plaque from a harmful debris to a necessary component for oral health.

The historical context of dental health and the invention of toothpaste, including Pepsodent's role in improving oral hygiene during World War I.

The impact of diet on dental health, emphasizing that a Western diet and processed foods contribute to dental issues.

The misconception that brushing and flossing are the ultimate solutions for dental health, while diet plays a more significant role.

The role of the oral microbiome in dental health and how it is affected by what we eat.

The potential harm of over-brushing and the use of abrasive toothpaste, which can lead to gum recession and sensitivity.

The significance of the Neolithic era in the shift of human diet and the subsequent increase in cavities.

The impact of certain foods like crackers and bread on dental health, due to their potential to cause cavities.

The role of pH in dental health and how acidic foods can contribute to tooth demineralization.

The importance of saliva in maintaining oral pH and the potential issues arising from a dry mouth.

The debate on the use of fluoride in toothpaste and its potential negative effects on brain health.

The benefits of using hydroxyapatite in toothpaste as a remineralizing agent.

The controversy surrounding root canals and the importance of proper technique to prevent complications.

The interconnectedness of oral health and overall health, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to dental care.

Transcripts

it's really about the pH teeth will

dissolve and then if you don't let the

mouth remineralize the teeth then that

equation of demonization versus

remineralization is weighted towards the

demonization side what are the best ways

to reduce Dental plaque Dental plaque is

a big issue and then I think a lot of

people suffer today from receding gums

right so how do we reduce our Dental

plaque burden and stop or regrow

receding gums well the the typical

answer answer from the profession is to

brush twice daily floss uh that's kind

of gotten old uh and it doesn't really

work and it doesn't really address

certainly the newer side of Dentistry

what we've discovered about the oral

microbiome a lot of is based on what you

eat um but this plaque burden and by the

way plaque now we call bofilm we keep

renaming it every 10 you know every uh

every decade uh and and for good reason

because we understand more about it

before it was just this unsightly

visible

debris that would show up on your gums

and in between your teeth the inner

proximal areas the areas in between the

teeth and floss would bring it out

sometimes we would see it on our floss

we would brush it and then you know

after the toothbrush was invented I

think it was before World War I people

felt better they they felt that gleam

they literally had a name for it and

pepsodent was the first toothpaste and

wow and dental health generally went up

but you know we were eating that's we

were eating a lot of junk the gis that

was the main concern in World War I they

were going to into the army with

terrible oral health rotting teeth and

in a lot of pain and that just doesn't

make a good soldier so they the America

got its act together invented a

toothpaste invented a advertising

campaign to feel the gleam and uh

there's some great old footage from um

in New York uh the Apollo Theater with

that uh advertisement in uh Kevin Burns

Jazz series and it was a big uh big deal

and but since then we've we've really

gotten down to Brass Hax we know what

we're doing so it's not about the plaque

it's not necessarily about removing it

in fact plaque or that bofilm we need

that bofilm that is a covering that

covers this inert thing that erupts

through our Jawbone and that is a tooth

it's the only place in the body that

that happens fingernails not the same um

and so how does the tooth protect that

well it lays uh soon as the soon as the

kid is teething and the tooth comes in

it's covered with this bofilm that

bofilm is covered with oral bacteria and

enzymes and proteins that help

remineralize the teeth help protect it

uh it it prevents

sensitivity and we've been telling you

the wrong thing all this time is to

scrub it away use an abrasive toothpaste

use an abrasive toothbrush flossing is

good but so it's it's got to

be I mean the message is too simple and

it's it's we're stirring now into to an

area where we're overdoing it and that's

where a lot of this gum recession comes

from and dentinal sensitivity from over

brushing wow so plaque is a good thing

plaque is a good thing it it was there

long before we needed to brush and

that's when we went to the Western diet

and the Neolithic era you know we

ironically it was uh dental calculus

that researchers now are using you know

they pull out a skull from the right

time period they see a little calculus

you know that hard Tarter Dent tart I

get buildup of that I I believe on my at

the front of my bottom teeth Bott the

inside that's pretty common and that's

from calcium in your saliva we can talk

more about that why some people get it

more than others but ironically that is

the basis for what researchers are

trying to figure out when did our diet

change because they can see that diet

change in the tarar so Neolithic era

According to some researchers 6 to 4,000

BC and that's when we started getting

cavities and because we were processing

our food food we were grinding corn and

wheat and we were we were sitting around

watching our crops that wasn't good for

us instead of throwing Spears and you

know running around chasing animals um

and that changed everything for oral

health and hence the toothbrush and so

now we've kind of taken a step backwards

and we tell everyone just keep rushing

and flossing but then patients come in

to the dentist and they always get

cavities and they say the same thing all

the time it's like I've been doing what

you've been telling me and I still get

cavities my kid is still getting Cav

cavities and that's because we're not

really giving the right message and that

is it's about your diet H yeah growing

up I mean I every single time I would go

to the dentist I would have a new cavity

MH it was the bane of my existence and

since I changed my diet and I stopped or

I I reduced the my intake of ultra

processed foods predominantly grain

based primarily grain based Ultra

processed foods yeah I haven't had a

cavity in years now I've gotten older

and I think my dental habits have

improved obviously as an adult I think

it's your diet I mean the same thing

happened to me and I had cavities as a

kid I didn't eat well I mean my mother

was pretty good about what she fed us I

mean we were raised

on uh Brew yeast and Castor castor oil

and and cod liver oil and all that but

we still we were still eating junk and I

was a kid and I would talk my mom into a

box of cookies and they'd be gone inow

20 minutes and crackers crackers are bad

bread of course so so uh it really is

about your diet the brushing twice a day

flossing once a day see see your dentist

twice a year that's not the big part of

the equation it's not toothpaste it's

flossing tongue scraping then brushing

then actually it's diet and then the

very end the very bottom of the list is

seeing your dentist wow so what so what

are I do want to dive in and get more

granular but what are the worst foods

for dental health crackers crackers and

I say that that and I pick on certain

brands like goldfish and U Saltines I

mean everyone expects me to say candy

and it's sticky and yes there is sugar

in it but but I pick on crackers because

no one would expect that and we're

eating more of that thinking that it's

just a cracker it's salty maybe maybe

it's got the wrong fat in there like an

industrial seed oil but it's not sweet

but it is actually a very aerogenic food

cavity causing food fact I think it's

it's uh for kids especially and if your

mouth breathing and your mouth is dry

and this little kid is being fed these

crackers that are coming out of the

little cup holder and the carriage that

he's being pushed around in and and he

eats that over a long period of time

it's really uh Dental carries is based

on frequency not quantity Where if you

just have a quick little snack if you

want to eat something that is cavity

causing just down it real quickly drink

some water don't brush for 30 minutes

you should be fine I mean it's bad for

the rest of you systemically of course I

mean your uh you know glucose uh all

that stuff right but but uh but a lot of

my patients are engineers in the Silicon

Valley they Sip and snack on these

things Google Apple provide all sorts of

healthy snacks that are high in sugar

and oatmeal for example bars and you

snack on that all day long your teeth

will literally dissolve out of your

mouth decalcify demineralize wow so it's

it's it's it is diet and so Foods

um it's it's it's what you would expect

except crackers bread pastas are on the

list uh candies certainly uh acidic

Foods uh foods that are low in PH U

kombucha well give me some examples of

acidic foods like tomatoes are acidic

tomatoes are acidic are those not good

for your teeth um in moderation I mean

if you're eating a lot of tomatoes over

the day it could be bad for you it is

acidic I mean it will make your teeth

sensitive wow uh it will anything so the

the teeth are made up of this hydroxy

appetite it's a globular form with

hydrogen ions and calcium carbonate it's

it's calcium uh just like our bones but

it's harder and it's denser and it's

firmer um and any acid well you remember

the experiment in high school where you

put your tooth into a glass of Coke

maybe you didn't do that I mean that was

big in my day yeah I I think I remember

that almost every school does that and

you come back the next day and the tooth

is still there but it's barely there I

mean teeth can dissolve and but you've

got saliva in the mouth you've got

forces in the mouth you've got the oral

microbiome trying to restore the pH all

of that so if the pH is around s

everything should be fine but there are

times in the mouth where the pH can get

down to 2.9 and that's too much for the

tooth the tooth is slowly dissolving

it's

demineralizing uh but if the pH comes

back up again let's say you want to chew

let's say you have some coffee that's

slightly acidic um or a glass of wine um

you could choose some zoto gum or drink

water at the same time the Europeans are

always drinking mineral water with their

drinks and their coffees right when I go

to Europe they always serve a little

mineral water with a cappuccino that

kind of thing well at least my wife when

she drinks coffee because I don't drink

coffee uh just haven't gotten gotten

there yet um oh man I love coffee I know

I mean I wish I could love coffee right

it's good for you um but anyway um so

it's really about the pH teeth will

dissolve and then if you don't let the

mouth

remineralize the teeth then that

equation of demineralization versus

remineralization is weighted towards the

demonization side keep eating Goldfish

crackers as a kid sleep with your mouth

open pH is dry the saliva the mouth is

dry you're going to end up with cavities

in 6 weeks wow it can it can be a rice

snack I I got my first real bad cavity

uh as a 25-year-old I was eating a

little Japanese rice snack very healthy

all the right oils in it or no oils and

I would just snack on that for an hour

at lunch and that that's enough to to

set off that that cycle where your teeth

literally can't catch up they can't fix

themselves wait do do oils play a role

in Dental Health um fats and oils well

fats and oils do uh saturated fats are

very important a lot of K2 a lot of good

vitamins in there to help the teeth

formed to begin with and Bones uh but

directly upon contact no not really got

it so it's more more of a systemic

Health exactly yeah developmental yeah

super interesting wow I read a review a

couple years ago that pointed to foods

that are easily able to be retained

within the gum line as being

particularly egregious from the

standpoint of dental health so it's like

the starches right you know it's not

necessarily even as you said I mean

sugar like sugar sweetened beverages as

horrible as they are for your health

population Health systemic Health

they're actually not that terrible from

a dental health standpoint according to

this review because they're just it's

like in and out of your mouth you just

like gulp it down you know so the sugar

doesn't have a lot of time to stick to

the teeth right in proximity and contact

with the teeth but it's like the potato

chips and the wheat snacks and that's

true um I would be more worried about

the pH of the beverage rather than the

sweetness I mean we're talking about

contact in the mouth and the tooth

obviously high sugar drinks are not good

for you um but potato chips are also on

the list very very mulchy breaks down

already processed the bacteria in your

mouth consume these Foods I mean

digestion starts in the mouth and it

starts within seconds and if it's if

these bacteria are digesting a cracker

or a potato chip which is already broken

down they byproduct of metabolism of

consuming that is an acid wow their

excrement essentially yeah so it really

is like all about acid it is about acid

I mean uh the cariogenic process is

about pH yes fascinating when I'm in a

restaurant and I get a water or

sparkling water and it comes with a lime

chances are I'm chewing on that lime is

that the like the worst thing that I can

be doing for my teeth I thought you were

going to say you were squeezing it in

the drink F I do that too but then I

chew on the lime right um I mean Citrus

certainly is good in moderation uh

systemically um it doesn't alter the pH

of your blood or because the body

self-regulates pH I wouldn't worry about

that a lot of people are concerned about

low PH or high pH they spend a lot of

money on like alkaline Waters yes is

that BS it's BS yeah yeah it's BS just

get high quality water yeah uh if you're

sipping for long periods of time like at

your desk uh and the pH is at around 3.5

or four that is below a critical pH if

you're below 5.5 teth start

demineralizing so stay at 5.5 or higher

there are not many Waters that are below

that but if you make your own carbonated

water at home with the carbonic acid

machine and inject that sometimes can if

you if you start off with a low pH water

like your tap water is low I've seen

that actually where I've lived in

certain areas I'm always measuring the

pH of beverages wow uh so that could be

a problem but chewing on the lime or the

lemon uh that is a problem that can be

uh we have a lot of patients from

certain parts of the world that that's

very common that they do that daily and

their teeth literally have divots and

shallowed out areas and they're very

sensitive some gum recession but it

would you would really have to work hard

at it uh a good dentist would see it

right away it's a very unusual lesion

it's not like a lesion that would be

caused by grinding or by a cavity and

they would pick up on that it's an

erosive lesion and hopefully your

dentist would mention that that's a

problem but if you if you want to chew

on that lemon don't brush afterwards a

lot of people will do that you're

brushing away enamel because you've

lifted enamel off the with that acid

don't brush don't brush for 30 minutes

after coffee wine tea My IC teas uh even

if you're eating uh you know some

crackers there is an acid attack in the

mouth from the bacteria that have

consumed that easily fittable uh

consumed U carbohydrate they're

producing acid your pH is dropping your

mouth could be very dry when you wake up

in the morning if your mouth has been

open all night don't brush in the

morning wait rinse with water first

drink that first glass of water

stabilize the pH wait 30 minutes so that

that little slurry layer of calcium on

the other side outer part of the tooth

let it reintegrate with the tooth after

you eat the lime so if you eat a lime

just keep drinking the water wow keep

drinking the water well this is actually

music to my ears because I actually do I

don't brush first thing in the morning I

go downstairs I drink water I drink

coffee I don't brush generally until

maybe I have to go out for a meeting or

something or I head to the gym but I'm

not brushing as soon as I wake up that's

fine so you're saying brushing as soon

as you wake up it can be I mean if your

mouth has been open all night and you

have a very dry sticky mouth that that's

a low PH mouth if if you don't have if

you don't have the right quantity of

saliva in your mouth you're not at 6.8

to 7.2 I can tell you that's what's

stabilizing the pH in your mouth again

this this is the only part of the body

that can open wide and stay open for

long periods of time maybe the nostrils

that would be second in line and it can

get dried out and that alters the oral

microbiome it makes it slightly

dysbiotic uh but it can also uh cause

demineralization uh people that will

snack before they go to bed maybe they

don't floss they mouth breathe all night

long their mouth Falls open when they

sleep um they they're going to be cavity

prone there there be other issues too

but but absolutely so lemon or lime if

you want to chew on it go for it just

drink the water right away swish it

around I get the uh apple cider vinegar

question all the time my wife drinks

that every morning swishes with I mean

drinks it and and it's great lowers your

your uh blood glucose and and it's a

health drink it's wonderful don't brush

swish with

water amazing I'm talking about a minute

really make sure you've upped the pH wow

buffer that acid buffer that acid buffer

the acid damn I love this I want to talk

about flossing cuz I am a i floss

religiously before I go to sleep okay

what do people need to know about

flossing and is there a correct way of

doing it is there a wrong way of doing

it right there is a good and bad way of

doing it of course not doing it at all

is the worst uh it is important it's

it's um I think it's more important than

brushing um flossing is a very difficult

thing to do so more people brush their

teeth and they than they floss and

that's simply because flossing is very

difficult a lot of people don't have the

dexterity certainly kids or the elderly

to wrap that floss around and get it in

there and sometimes they don't want to

put their fingers in their hand they

can't reach in back they can't visualize

it uh it's a it requires a lot of

coordination and it's a little icky for

some people some people literally don't

like wrapping the floss run their

fingers and then blood gets in there and

it feels uncomfortable I've heard all

these crazy phobias about flossing so

also there's that whole idea of passing

the floss in between the teeth and into

the gum that freaks people out you can

you can produce a floss cut by flossing

incorrectly uh typically we heal from

that but sometimes you can do some

permanent damage so people get a little

nervous so but they're all sorts of

gimmicks and gadgets not gimmicks

gadgets out there now and I'd love to be

able to talk about one I'm I have no

association with it but flossing is

easier now but it is key and when you

want to floss it doesn't matter if you

want to floss before you go to bed

that's probably ideal I don't care when

you floss and flossing twice a day is

fine once a day is enough just spend the

time to do it right and make sure you

get in between the teeth and clean it

all out so I mean I do it once a day

well actually no I mean I if I'm I do it

generally I like to keep it on hand when

I'm traveling if I've eaten at an

airport or something before I get on a

long flight I like to floss um but I I

mean this this might sound gross so

trigger warning but when I like all I

need to do is see what I'm able to pull

out after a day of eating with the floss

and to me that is enough yes of a

motivation of a motivation to do it

every single freaking night you know

that's what people need to see um in

many ways I wish FL if I were to produce

floss it would be black so you could see

everything that that's coming out of

your mouth um it's whatever makes you

floss it's great I I think I floss

before certain moments and meetings and

you don't want something stuck in

between your teeth no and also you're

massaging the gums you're you're milking

lymph channels in the gums I mean you're

you're promoting health and of course

that leads to good brain health good

cardiovascular health so absolutely

floss make it fun figure out what works

for you floss sticks are the way to go I

think floss sticks floss sticks it's a

handle with a little shaped thing on it

and you can get in there it's great for

kids the elderly it's great for people

that don't like to floss that's the way

to go I'm a string on the fingers kind

guy and if that works and plus it's

simple you can put it in your back

pocket super simple all right here's a

million-dollar question do you floss

before or after okay brushing okay so if

you're using toothpaste with a

therapeutic ingredient a recal recalcify

agent some would say fluoride I'm I'm

not keen on fluoride but Cal any form of

calcium or any kind of mineral then you

want to floss before floss before yes

because you're going to open up a lot of

you're going to make room you're going

to make room and clear a lot of that

stuff so that to get in the past can

remineralize in the areas that typically

where the cavities start so all right

guys you heard it from the dentist's

mouth because we've had a debate about

this me and Sydney me and me and my

assistant Sydney we've had a debate

about this and she she flosses after she

brushes like what are you doing okay but

then I put that on social media and

apparently a lot of people do it that

way yes they do so and a lot of people

don't care they just do it when they do

it and it's there's no specific order

again that's just the best way to do it

if you're going to floss afterwards and

it's working for you and you're not

getting cavities and you're eating well

again it's all about what you eat now if

you're eating a terrible cariogenic a

diet that promotes uh cavities then I

would definitely uh find tune that and

floss before just out of paranoia you

know just to get it done right yeah

definitely now you also want to use and

correct me if I'm wrong if there's like

new research that has updated this but

as far as I can remember the last time I

looked into this you want to make sure

that you're using dental floss and not

tape right because tape isn't tape made

of like past chemicals oh absolutely so

they're it's not about the structure of

the some people like tape because it's

bigger a lot of hygienists like tape but

there is a very popular uh it's made by

orb um a proor and gamble company I

think and they bought it from the gortex

company and they that was their secret

ingredient they put in Teflon a a uh it

it it made it easier to floss and it did

work but you should not be you should be

using a PFA free uh to um uh um floss

for absolutely even nylon I worry about

nylon we've been talking about this on

our website for about maybe 10 years now

I think nylon little pieces of nylon

break off when you're flossing where do

they go they don't leave your body

that's a microplastic it becomes a

microplastic plastic so absolutely uh we

recommend a silk floss 100% silk it's

not as easy to use as the as the as as

tape that has that that shiny surface on

it um but they're alsoas they're not as

effective right because they're not as

abrasive well I would disagree with that

but there is you've you've read that and

a lot of hygienists don't like that tape

because it's not as a bracer they like a

floss that as soon as it becomes wet it

expands and then the little filaments

break open and your each filament is

scraping the side of the tooth and and I

I get that that's fine why do you

disagree with it because floss is floss

I mean if you're going to get floss in

there you're going to do a pretty good

job I I I would stay away from the uh

pasos uh loaded also any kind of BPA it

has to be a safe uh polyester I think

it's still plastic U use the Silk try

try that first and they have that it's

like fairly easy you can buy that at

Whole Foods I've seen it I've actually

seen it uh at other grocery stores but

uh try that first it it takes a while to

get used to uh it is very abrasive I

mean not very abrasive but it is more

it's a little bit more difficult to use

and it does kind of unravel which is

nice because then you've got multiple

strands of getting in there so depends

on which hygienist you speak to

hygienist are on top of it though they

are the the anal retentive uh uh u u

teachers of our profession and God love

them yeah they're had some amazing Dent

dental hygienists yeah and sometimes

when you like your hygienist you really

you come back six months later and you

want to do a good job for them exactly

right you want to impress them that's a

great way to motivate people why not I

actually really like getting my teeth

cleaned I don't know if that's a weird

thing or it's not a weird thing I would

say you're probably in about the 20%

group 20% group most people don't like

it they'd rather have their haircut or

you know what's the uh what is the best

interval to go and get a a dental

cleaning or does it vary person to

person it varies person to person but

unfortunately we've rubber stamped it

with an arbitrary twice a year if you

have gum disease then every 3 months and

and I think there's a lot lot of

variability there sometimes it's more

often than that I have a lot of patients

that I can see every two years wow from

a gumpo health sometimes they may have a

question about something but but it it

does vary uh but the industry standard

is twice a year are you what they call

like a biological dentist is that what

you consider yourself I mean I don't

like that term I don't like homeopathic

or holistic uh I like the term

functional and I think that I mean

Functional Medicine Dr Heyman I mean

I've followed his work and and I've

modeled a lot of my uh kind of uh

talking points on what Dentistry where

it should go and it should be in that

functional route I mean a dentist that

connects all all the dots yeah

systemically and and so functional

functional dentist absolutely but there

are many different titles but you

definitely don't want to see a

conventionally trained dentist a fill

and drill tooth Carpenter there are all

sorts of terms I mean clinically we need

good dentists but when you see your

dentist because of the involvement and

the connection to systemic Health you

really want a dentist that can

recognize uh diseases like um well um

sleep apnea we we can see it decades

before a physician can wow uh and that's

just because we're trained to look at

different things uh erectile dysfunction

you had a guest on a few weeks ago uh

Nathan he's wonderful he's he's the guy

he has great products I recommend them

all the time and that's a has become a

big part of dentistry and so I I don't

think the canary and the co mine is

rectile dysfunction it's actually gum

disease I don't early age gingivitis

that chronic gingivitis that's a sign

that the no levels at nitric oxide are

low so so there are things that a

well-trained dentist can pick out for

you and pick out and and then refer you

to the the right or sometimes I'm a

sleep medicine sleep Dental Medicine

trained dentist and so I would refer to

a physician but then that patient would

get referred back to me and there's

certain things as a dentist if you're

trained correctly that you can do for

sleep apnea so but I can recognize it

decades before a physician can wow how

do you how are you able to identify

sleep apnea Anatomy essentially I mean

short answer is the shape of the face

how well did that child develop uh is it

a downward forward progression with a

certain width of the maxilla if this uh

if the mouth portion doesn't develop to

its full potential then the other two

little boxes in back the nasal passages

and the uh Airway they also are very

narrow it's all about that bony

structure uh it can I scallop Tong

um mouth breathing uh High Decay rate uh

certain codings to the tongue I mean

there all sorts of little even at a

conversational distance a well-trained

uh sleep medicine dentist can pick out

sleep apum are you a fan of uh mouth

taping totally you are oh absolutely

tell us about that so about 15 years ago

I came across mouth taping and it didn't

seem ludicrous to me but I right away

integrated it into my practice as a

differential diagnosis so I needed to

know right away whether my patients were

mouth breathing during the day at night

or not because there's this connection

between mouth breathing and Decay rate

and other oral diseases again it's about

the pH saliva and um so typically when I

ask a young healthy male do you snore

they would say are you kidding I don't

snore then I would ask their partner and

they would say yes so I I just wanted to

cut through the and um so we

would mouth tape in the office I would

ask them to mouth tape for 3 minutes if

they could do that then I would say

listen mouth tape at night I would give

them a roll of tape I would have them

text me in the morning did you make it

through the night can you can you keep

your mouth closed for six seven8 hours

and there are different scenarios but it

told me right away what kind of patient

I'm dealing with and I could go from

there it also told me if that patient

probably had sleep apnea and that was

another great thing I could do for my

patients and and do the triage for that

get them in to see the physician get

them the sleep study which is difficult

to do in the Pro dral phase of sleep

apnea or any disease because medicine

wants to see symptoms or actually it's

not medicine it's the insurance

companies um anyway that was quite a

challenge but Dentistry Can can see that

early on wow absolutely we can see it in

kids uh we want to see your kid at as

soon as possible within weeks of birth

tongue tie if there's a tongue tie the

tongue is Tethered and not allowed to

move around properly that will affect

breastfeeding if they're not

breastfeeding then this whole

musculature of the Hye bone and how all

the muscles the eight muscles of the

tongue are attached to it that's all

going to be affected we won't be able to

swallow correctly as we get older we

won't be breathing properly and hence

you know we we start snoring and the

airway collapses at night and and it it

it just goes down and then maybe if

you're lucky when you're 16 you've got

already comorbidity of sleep apnea like

heart disease or diabetes or just

pre-diabetes uh maybe your physician

will catch it they're they're still not

great at it

um well apne is a major risk factor for

Alzheimer's diseas cardiovascular

disease yeah y all the things that you

don't want pretty much pretty much yeah

wow super interesting yeah make make

sure you're seeing the right dentist see

a functional dentist asking these

questions and this is what our website's

all about we're educating all these

people they go out they ask their

dentist actually my daughter and I we

created this website about 10 years ago

and we've educated millions of people on

functional dentistry and about five

years ago it got to be a problem because

nobody could find a functional dentist

so we created a directory and we have a

directory now of functional dentist

that's a growing field just like what Dr

heyman's doing I mean it's it's great I

mean it's really a better way to to uh

treat oral health and certainly how it's

linked to systemic health I love it I

use an app occasionally called Sleep

Cycle well I use sleep cycle as my alarm

clock I have no affiliation but it's a

great alarm clock it wakes you up within

a window of when it detect it has a

microphone it basically listens to you

sleep and it detects when you're in your

lighter a lighter phase of sleep and

that's when it wakes you up as opposed

to when you're like deep in like in deep

RM but the app also I believe

automatically lets you know if you snore

yes yeah and according to the app your

boy doesn't snore so I'm happy about

that good good get an Ora ring though

check I have one of those oh good

they're great uh no snoring is a I mean

we I wrote a book uh six years ago and

that was before the aura ring and all

the great trackers and we had I actually

have three sleep trackers so I have um I

use sleep cycle occasionally I have an e

sleep air uh mattress pad so that

automatically tracks every night and

then I have an AA ring yeah I mean I I

think everyone should be tracking their

sleep I mean that is a major problem in

today's world 90% of sleep apne is uh is

undiagnosed in this country 90% 90% 0%

if you have it it's chances are it has

not been diagnosed wow and you spent a

third of your life asleep exactly so if

you're not sleeping well do it well

absolutely exactly when it comes to

mouth tape um there's obviously a lot of

brands on the market now but is there

like a a cheap simple type of tape that

people can go so I I prefer the 3M next

care it's a light blue tape it's on on a

on a spool you can cut you can just tear

away whatever you want it's sticky it's

good for facial hair uh you know uh it

rips off easily without pulling off your

skin I mean it's convenient um doesn't

look like hostage tape um and so yeah so

mouth taping is absolutely fantastic I

do recommend it and even if you think

you're sleeping well our mouths do fall

open your respiratory rate will go will

go down and again my aura ring estab

supports this I mean can recognize it

high altitudes will change this of

course but Mouth tape I mean even if

you're a good nose breather I would

recommend mouth taping it does make you

sleep better and I know it's a Tik Tok

phenomen now and all that but I mean the

studies have supported this a lot of

Physicians are not on board they're a

little ticked off about it I'm not sure

why uh just make sure it's safe try it

while you're awake um mouth taping can

can transform your life it could also be

really helpful to use one of those like

nose expander things absolutely depends

on where the construction is the

construction may be here it may be back

by the cone or down as the nasal

passages the nasal palentine areas it

goes down to the airway and it could be

the airway itself it could be

combination of all of that find out what

making you snore I mean snoring is an

early sign that there is a constriction

you're making noise it's like a it's

like an OBO read right you know it's

going to it's going to vibrate so and as

we go into deep sleep our muscles go

limp and uh so if you haven't developed

with a nice broad width of the upper jaw

chances are the skeletal portion of your

Airway is also small and so the muscles

that form there when they go limp at

night during REM they will collapse and

if it's a small space they will touch

touching means vibration and when they

get sucked closed especially if you're

mouth breathing that tissue is very dry

and when it touches and it and it it

sticks to itself so that's another

reason you should nose breathe keep all

that in your lungs keep it all moist the

noise is filtering the air it's

humidifying the air so keep it I mean

for what an opportunity six to seven

hours a day when you can breathe your

nose you can't over breathe CO2 uh it it

balances your um pH of the blood because

your O2 CO2 mix is correct it's a great

opportunity nitri oxide nitric oxide

exactly because the nasal passages are

loaded with that noos synthes pathway

enzyme that produces that no gas that

opens up the nose even more it fights

infection absolutely you're right did

you see that article that came out in

the in the Atlantic today about how that

you know the fenel or pseudo iDine oh

yes waste of time pseudo well no Pudo

pseudo iDine is the one that they you

now have to show your ID to get oh

because of the fentanyl because you can

make turn it into meth apparently but

that's that's effective as a nasal

decongestant but it's the one that you

don't have to sign the over the counter

suit effect the over the counter stuff

yeah it's been around forever right

completely ineffective except in Europe

they don't sell it in Europe because

they know it's ineffective BS it doesn't

do anything it's A2 billion year

business totally I mean how many other

yeah totally how many other medications

do you think are probably fall in that

same category

I know yeah insane yeah exactly but it's

like people love to you know and I don't

have like a dog in this fight but people

love to talk about the supplement

industry as like being completely

unregulated well MH drug this is FDA

approved and it's A2 billion your

business it does absolutely nothing yeah

regulation isn't all so cracked up to be

in fact it can really limit certain good

products that should be out on the

market so absolutely no you're right no

I did read that not in the Atlantic but

somewhere else and it doesn't surprise

me pseudoephedrine works like when I'm

congested I'll go and I'll buy the the

you know behind the at the at the

pharmacy um behind the Pharmacy Counter

the pseudoephedrine stuff that works it

works short term there's a rebound

effect and then you have to take more

but if you absolutely have to get clear

um I was a little congested before I

came here today and so I just picked up

some xclear with the capson powder in it

and that's just uh that's xylol it's a

little grapefruit extract little bit of

the pepper W just it in opens you up and

so that works I mean there are lots of

options that where you don't need a drug

or pharmaceutical but of course they

want you to think that yeah yeah right

regulation is is yeah and and but there

is no regulation in the dental industry

I mean toothpaste is not regulated uh

mouthwash is not regulated I mean if it

has fluoride in it the Ada and the FDA

wants to look at it just to make sure

it's the right ingredient but after that

you can put whatever you want in there

so you're right regulation is is a is a

joke yeah tell me about mouthwash cuz

obviously we had Nathan briyan on and

you know he's one of the first people

that that really um that really brought

this issue to the Forefront for me but

as a dentist do we need mouthwash well

he's an author of one of the first

studies I think it was 2010 and he

definitely is leading the charge and

thank goodness I mean it should be the

profession of Dentistry but we are

promoting these mouthwashes I think it's

two-thirds of America are using

mouthwash once or twice a day um and

it's it's junk it's crap and it's

probably costing us billions of dollars

in terms of healthcare costs and you

heard what Nathan what he connected it

to uh all sorts of diseases high blood

pressure um even diabetes so so high

blood pressure and diabetes are the the

main connections right now because it's

linked to nitric oxide production um and

so it from the dental perspective it's

interesting and it's great for us I mean

we mentioned this about 10 12 years ago

but because we're oral health oral

health gets forgotten I mean we we got

kicked out of the club by physicians in

1839 and we're just kind of drilling and

filling right I mean yeah and that's a

problem that that parallel those two

parallel universes uh and with no

interconnective tissue in between is a

real problem but um but the bacteria on

the back of the tongue just to keep it

very simple they're the ones that are

producing a lot of this nitric oxide gas

there is production in the endothelial

cells in the blood vessels but by age 40

that decreases and your one chance at n

production is by pulling air through

your no nasal passages assuming your

nosal nasal mucosas moist and working

well and all the Celia are working well

and the mucus the it's a bofilm it's a

it's a biome if it has the right

consistency and the pH is correct um

then you can get no from that as well

but it really is coming from based on

what you eat like beets

natto chicken liver pate um dark Le

green oh arugula aruga with a blue

cheese crumble and some olive oil I mean

you that's an no balm right there right

but and noog gas only lasts for what is

it one or two milliseconds so it's very

shortlived so you have to keep producing

it it's actually an endogenous um

Prebiotic that the body is producing

that's pretty cool right that's crazy

yeah Nathan said that it was a and when

by the way when we keep referencing

Nathan we're talking about Nathan Bryan

it was episode 324 of the show but yeah

it's a it's an endogenous Prebiotic

which means what essentially well for

the mouth it's wonderful because we've

got this oral microbiome second most

diverse in the body connected to the gut

microbiome and in charge of keeping the

mouth healthy and actually filtering and

sampling the environment because it

everything passes by the mouth first I

mean saliva is a universal solvent it's

dissolving things and checking and

sniffing and smelling for toxins and

poisons and you know the ability to

smell and and and filter through the

nose I mean that's all very important um

you know that's there's been a huge

impact on that based on our environment

we're not doing that as well our mouth

isn't working as well as I said our

faces aren't developing correctly um uh

because of diet and and other factors

but but um yeah I mean Nathan's amazing

and this whole mouthwash connection is

wonderful because it's really going to

point out to Physicians or the medical

world that there's going on yeah in

the mouth that is that you should be

worried about and it's affecting your

patients and all those high blood uh

high blood pressure medications you're

giving are for not because you haven't

addressed the root cause and that is

Diet those those bacteria on the back of

the tongue and the the disbiosis of that

oral microbiome because of this W this

blast of mouthwash that comes in and

kills them yeah there's another study

and I think I think Nathan was an author

on this too and it just came out it's

fascinating if you scrape your your

tongue more this is assuming you're not

using mouthwash although it did there

was a part of the study that you could

scrape your tongue even and take

mouthwash and it decreases your blood

pressure within six days wow so by

revitalizing that reorganizing that oral

microbiome on the back of your tongue

and again this is sitting underneath

little mushroom shaped P pil and it's a

thick carpet down there and I don't know

if you've ever scraped your tongue but

for people that have done it the first

time a lot of crap comes off the tongue

scraper but if you do it then you don't

see it but it's a good preventative

thing um but why not do that a it

produces better breath that's typically

the number one reason for bad breath

because those bacteria if not well taken

care of and if they're being bombarded

with these bacterio Cals it could be

alcohol or uh eucalyptus oil essential

oils there are other things trand

detergents emulsifiers in these

mouthwashes they're under attack they

start producing ammonia and then you get

the sulfi bonds and that's where you get

that kind of fruity breath smell so the

irony is that we're using mouthwash you

get that little burn you get that little

minty overlay smell and then in 10

minutes you're worse off than you were

before what the heck what are we doing

and it's creating chronic

diseases like high blood pressure um

erectile dysfunction

um uh diabetes I mean nitric oxide is

important because it um lack of it

uh makes you more uh insulin resistant

yeah resistant right exactly right so

why are we doing this and why isn't

Dentistry just waking up here and going

we should not be recommending these

products I mean Ada American Dental

Association gives its seal approval to

all these mouthwashes it's on the lower

right I mean what is that about well are

there not like clinical indications that

would necessitate it in specific use

cases there are um although we we

wouldn't use an over-the-counter

we would use something a lot more

specific like chlorexidine or something

chlorexidine actually there are a lot of

studies saying that uh that's like the

xylol works as well as chlorexidine

chlorexidine is quite cytotoxic I mean

it takes everything out it's a it's a

nuke and and it's it stains your teeth

as well so

so I I think what you're asking is why

isn't the profession being more

scientific about this Dentistry is not

as evidence-based as some other healthc

care professions unfortunately I think

Dentistry is better at it um but

um we do so if you test your oral

microbiome and we have that ability now

um and you get you get the full picture

a metagenomic shotgun view of the mouth

like all the bacteria and if your

dentist or researcher is good enough at

analyzing that and he sees little blips

in the wrong area in terms of colonies

and then he can match that to certain

diseases in the mouth if that's all

possible and we're working on that it's

not as easy as it sounds then there is a

protocol where you would give a specific

mouthwash for a period of time retest

and then make it's like what Dr Mark

Heyman and any functional medicine

doctor that specializes in gut health

would do I mean you try and

feed feed weed and seed essentially

that's what we try and do the mouth and

mouthwash is part of that yes wow yeah

people can make also at home like a

saltwater mouthwash right is that fairly

effective for bad breath hypertonic

solution um super saturated solution

we've got a formula or a recipe on our

website it's been up for about 10 12

years I've been using it for 30 years

with my patients after an extraction

none of

this cytotoxic staining expensive

mouthwash I mean it's 40 bucks and and

most patients use 10% of it and then

throw it away because it's absolutely

wow disgusting but it's essentially a

liquid uh wound disinfectant it's after

surgery and that's and you don't want to

have an infection occur after you've

been stitched up after gum surgery and

and in some cases but the studies now

saying that chlorexidine is not as

effective as everyone has once believed

of course that's a big product by a

major manufacturer and they don't want

you to believe that so salt water is

wonderful uh it can cure pretty much

anything in the mouth and it has to be a

super saturated solution in other words

keep mixing in high quality salt uh into

a glass of water until it no longer

dissolves and that's your high tonic

solution and that will heal open wounds

in the mouth like a can crur uh post

extraction site uh post extra you don't

want to switch to aggressively you could

get a dry socket Etc but absolutely it's

wonderful and it's been used for a long

time

atically it has a great history it has a

great uh track record super interesting

so key so as much salt as the water will

essentially take before it stops

dissolving interesting warm water helps

uh dissolve more yeah yeah what's the

skinny on oil pulling this is something

that always comes up is it BS I don't do

it so I have no dog in this fight but is

it something that like is there any

evidence or is it just some ayurvedic

thing that people like for whatever

reason it is arotic based um it okay so

it works there there is a benefit there

is a mechanism of action but the problem

is and and I get this all the time on

the Instagram feed people haven't seen

their dentist in six seven years they

have bleeding gums and they think that

oil pulling for 12 16 minutes which is

hard to do I don't know if you ever

tried that I've tried yeah it's hard

cheek muscles get sore and you have to

spit it out you can't spit it in the

sink because it could clog the sink and

and a lot there are toxins in it it's an

absorbent not not an absorbent adsorbent

and it is an emulsifier coconut I mean

coconut oil is a is an emulsifier very

gentle emulsifier it does break down the

bofilm sometimes you can do it too much

or for too long cuz you do need bofilm

um and but it is not the solution for

gum disease it doesn't remove the Tartar

and the calculus that is firing up your

gums I mean setting them on fire and

they're bleeding and so a lot of people

think it's the solution that they don't

have to see a dentist oil pulling is

enough and that's where the disconnect

occurs but oil pulling absolutely if you

wake up with a dry mouth in the morning

instead of brushing oil pull for about 2

or three minutes good for dental health

good for breath yep absolutely it's a

mild emulsifier it's better than

mouthwash it's good for the back of the

tongue absolutely wow yeah very mild

very

selective can be overdone but it's not

this end all solution that most people

expect yeah yeah when it comes to

toothpastes M you mentioned briefly that

you're not a fan of fluoride MH but your

industry nine out of 10 dentists agree

right exactly brush with fluoride

multiple time you know what's the deal

it's toxic to a developing brain and

that's all I I that's all I needed to

know we have why do they put in our

water it's in our water it's in our

toothpaste it's in some foods um it's a

great question I mean it doesn't make

sense right it's stupid uh we've had it

in our water since the 60s um the reason

we put it in there as a profession we

promoted it is be on

a based on Association we thought that

it would decrease the amount of cavities

in children uh it does not and a lot of

the new data that supports

uh brain health issues uh and we have

about 70 studies 90% of them have been

approved by the ntp that arm of the CDC

that looks at the science and then and

then approves it for methodology and

sanctity and so that when legislation is

is put forth those are the studies that

they can look at and that just happened

recently it was withheld for for that

report was withheld for a year um so and

that those studies are also by

association but they're much better uh

much better methodology than the Early

Times where literally a dentist was

living in a small town in Colorado and

you notice that there was a lot of

fluoride in the water and that the kids

weren't getting Decay but they were

getting spots in their teeth and brown

spots and dental fosis and but I mean in

Europe all of Europe is pretty much non-

floridated except for England and they

have the same Decay rate that we do

Decay is Decay it's based on diet back

to what we were talking about earlier

it's not about brushing and flossing and

fluoride in the water and there is no

Magic Bullet yeah and it's like putting

lipstick on a pig pig the pig being the

standard American cariogenic diet

totally yes absolutely but then The Big

Industry that makes fluoride by the way

as a byproduct of their making aluminum

smelting uh uh fertilizer industry I

mean they were told in the 70s that they

had to put filters on the Smoke Stacks

that's all fluoride fyc acid and then

they put it in a truck and they truck it

to a water Municipal Water Supply and

they say here it is it's not uh cleaned

up for for human consumption or Med it's

not made into a medical grade version of

it they put it in the water they measure

the amount the amount was 1.4 parts per

million and then in the late 90s they

realized that that was too much and they

haved it and I think they're going to

have it again very soon there's a

lawsuit against the EP that nobody knows

about in fact I just had I mentioned had

a dinner with a very high up uh official

in the profession and he had no idea

that that lawsuit existed this is a

federal lawsuit uh

plaintiff suing the

EPA uh fluoride brain damage to their

child um and trying to get fluoride out

of the water and it's going very well it

started right before coid we've got two

weeks coming up in January and we have

on record EPA

officials um and CDC officials saying

yeah there's a problem there's a problem

with fluoride and it it doesn't work as

well as it should and and it does cause

brain damage they agree with the studies

that's insane yeah so why doesn't anyone

hear about this if you Google it uh

Google um EPA fluoride lawsuit well yeah

and it's there but but no one talks

about it and no one knows about it

including high-ups in the profession and

the Ada doesn't want any any noise I

mean they don't want to be told that

fluide was a mistake so I'm hoping that

fluide will be taken out of the water

Max I raised my three daughters without

fluoride the minute Katherine was born

my oldest that was 30 6 37 years ago uh

while my wife was laboring I literally

went down the street uh I did a little

research I knew it was there but I

bought a commercial distiller from

Canada it's a big tank with a metal tank

and it's got pre-filtration in it and

then it heats the water and then it goes

through fins cooling fins and then it

drops into a container and then there's

a N9 G gallon tank underneath it and

you've got clean pure water no minerals

unfortunately but we would add that back

and that's what they were raised on and

when they went over to a friend's house

we give them water bottles we say don't

drink the water at your friend's house

cuz it's tap water so they don't have

cavities I mean that this this is a myth

that needs to go away and now it's

causing brain damage IQ points of six

to9 point Sorry 4 to9 drop IQ points

that's crazy and this is not a communist

plot anymore or a or a you know

conspiracy theory which is kind of how

you were branded as a dentist if you

believed that fluoride was a problem

back in its day now it's all science and

I think we're going to see some change I

mean you have you have the mechanistic

plausibility and then I could be wrong

but I remember reading observational

research finding an association between

fluoride levels in Municipal drinking

water supplies and IQs in children

you're right yeah these are from all

over the world Canada Mexico the US Asia

I mean I grew up drinking tap water I

grew up in New York City I don't know

the water quality in New York City but I

grew up in a in a major building and you

know I I drank tap water my entire

childhood right but now I drink

primarily I drink spring water filtered

water or spring water but New Yorkers

like to brag about their water I know

San franciscans like to brag about their

water um I just know I mean it tasted

good well it tasted great and and that's

all the government wants they they just

want to make sure it tastes good it's

not that it's clear and that it doesn't

have the eoli and all the bugs in it

that can get you sick but after that I

mean you've read all the recent reports

I mean it's load to 62% of the water

supply is loaded with microplastics and

FAS and I mean it's not safe and what do

people do so we on our website we

provide a solution for inexpensive

countertop filtration units that will

take the fluoride out and microplastics

and all that ironically one of the

filters added microplastics after it did

the filtration so we changed our

recommendation but you can easily filter

so if you're a mom

preconception one of the things you

should plan for one is good dental

health because if you have inflamed gums

or any form of gum disease your baby

will be born prematurely will have a low

birth weight there's a high incidence of

that with any kind of inflammation in

the mouth certain vitamins you should be

taking and certain nutrients and all

that certainly all that counseling is

very important um but don't drink

fluoride don't drink fluoridated water

while you're pregnant as well because it

crosses the placental barrier it crosses

the blood brain barrier while the kids

in your womb and it I mean there are 14

that that I have found uh and I've had a

conversation with Dr peotter about this

there are 14 things that I have found in

studies that fluoride does to the brain

and if you read through that list I can

share that with you later if you want

it's it's like the first big hit is the

mitochondria of the brain it's the last

thing we want to affect right right and

then the my and sheath and the

endothelial cytoplasm and of dendrites I

mean it just goes on and on it's like

why would do we want to do that to our

brains so it's it's one of the easiest

hacks just get rid of fluoride don't

worry about your teeth they'll be fine

just eat properly eat properly drink

clean water clean water yeah mineral

water I mean if you can't afford one of

these systems like I get it like don't

don't 30 bucks for a countertop filter

that filters out fluoride and most uh

most of the things that we worry about

these countertop are you talking about

like a reverse osmosis no no no it's a

pitcher a and you you go to your sink

and you fill up the p the top part of

the picture and then via gravity it goes

to the filter and then the bottom like

you're not talking about like a like a

charcoal like a brda right those don't

reduce bro doesn't work very well the

what's the other one there's like a

lawsuit now right against yeah all so

burrito was developed in Europe for old

pipes to get lead out that's all it was

and it has silver nitrite silver nitrite

in it and that's all and then it became

a big brand and yeah very misleading in

their advertising but all the other ones

do the ones you get at Costco are not

good there there are two there's

actually only one that I like and I

think it's made down here in La what's a

was Dr clearly filtered clearly filtered

yeah they do reverse osmosis they do a

little water bottle for kids so if they

do go to school and they fill up with

water it's filtering out fluoride they

filter out fluide yeah Plastics

microplastics you know those are a

little bit more expensive but I

mean an IQ change of 4 to9 Points what

does that cost that person in their

lifetime I mean yeah just like the peace

of mind you know I'm I'm totally on

board what about so as a replacement for

fluoride um are you a fan of

hydroxyapatite I brush with hydroxy AIT

is that a good thing it's wonderful it's

amazing um there's a little controversy

as to the particle size and which

version you're using it's been in use

for 40 years it was developed by NASA I

mean the Nano version was developed by

uh NASA so it's a smaller version so

that's synthetic they take basically uh

hydroxy appetite which is what's in our

teeth right now that's what our teeth

are made up of and our bones and you can

get get that from many different natural

sources you can put that in toothpaste

but it's better if it's a smaller

particle size because the that

remineralization demineralization

equilibrium is really improved with Nano

hydroxy appetite um but some people get

nervous with the word Nano Nano has been

approved there's one version of Nano

that has been approved by the EU the

sccs which is kind of a very elite group

of scientists I don't think they get

paid for their work they rotate out

every 3 years and they look everything

and if they don't like it doesn't matter

what the corporation has to say they ban

it I love that we need that here we need

something like that here I don't think

the corporations would would allow that

I'm not sure if you think they would or

not but but anyway um and so they have

approved this one version of Nano

hydroxy appetite it's in some toothpaste

here in the US all Boutique Brands

Colgate doesn't want to get involved

with it not yet they're watching I

wonder why because Colgate and Crest and

all these uni lever I mean they are do

you know how much it costs to put a tube

of just standard toothpaste on the Shelf

in the Box including all marketing I

have no idea 35 to 45 cents what does it

cost four or five bucks I mean I I mean

yeah the boutique brands are more of

course I mean this is a huge business

they're already also why would you want

to mess with it until the competition

comes in and starts stealing some of

your customers that hasn't really

happened yet the boutique Brands don't

have that clout yet but they will

eventually and some of the brands have

been purchased I think hello was

purchased but they don't have hydroxy

appetite I don't think but there are

still a lot of other problems with

toothpaste the emulsifiers the

surfactants all the essential oils and

we we throw a lot of stuff into

toothpaste and the more we throw in

there to make it look good in the

ingredient label the worse we're making

it so toothpaste is an unregulated

Market if you're using a non-f

fluoridated toothpaste that's a great

step if you can get the next step would

be using a remineralizing agent which

would replace that and that would be

either a micro version which is just

standard hydroxy appetite ground up

um make sure it's from a good source um

and then and then the Nano version would

be the best so if you have a kid getting

cavities or if you're getting a lot of

cavities your mouth breathing you've got

those kind of issues definitely use the

Nano the stuff works and we have studies

plenty of studies I have uh we have a

database on our website of Nano hydroxy

appetite and micro hydroxy appetite

studies they've been around for 15 20

years it's been in use in Japan for 40

years they bought the patent or they

licensed the patent from now NASA NASA

developed it for zero gravity they were

worried about bone density and zero

gravity so they developed the nanop

particle but make sure your toothpaste

has this version of Nano which is made

by fluid Nova in Portugal that is the

best and safest and it works and that's

the toothpaste you should be using

that's the toothpaste that everyone

should be using I wonder if there is

hydroxy in bone broth cuz bone broth is

made of Bones and bones are made of

hydroxy appeti um that'd be an

interesting thing to yeah it would be I

don't so hydroxy appetite is not that

soluble so I don't I think it stays in

the bone although there there is there

there's got to be some mineral coming in

from there there's a lot of gelatin of

course yeah and uh a lot of goodness

there um but yeah I don't I haven't seen

that yeah I wouldn't use bone broth and

put it in your toothpaste and count on

it being as a good remineralizing Agent

but I mean it's good for your gut it's

good for many things yeah no bone broth

bone broth is is is great what's the

deal with root canals root canals for

you know longevity I feel like this is

something that is allegedly highly

controversial within the field of

Dentistry MH what's like from a high

level 30,000 foot what is what is the

controversy and yeah what's the deal

well the controversy is based on and

this is so typical um a journal or a

little pamphlet very small book written

by an endodontist actually no a

dentist and

and I mean it it it demonized it based

on a few experiences so n of two or

three or four uh and that's not

scientific so a so in a nutshell a

poorly done R canel can take you down it

can cause sepsis it can

slowly leak bacteria uh into your

bloodstream and that can get into your

brain it can get into heart tissue it

can uh take down a liver um I mean

seriously uh it can kill you well sepsis

is awful oh awful deadly it's deadly

yeah it's deadly it's awful women like

lose limbs from sepsis and Absolut that

just happened did you hear about the I

forget where I saw fish or something all

four limbs yeah sepsis is very bad yeah

sepsis is a bad thing and and but root

canals are I mean you know the it's very

close to the blood supply um and if it

is poorly done and if bacteria can leak

back in So essentially what a root canal

is there's living tissue in a tooth

pulple tissue and there's mezan kimal

tissue that tissue was there that helped

the tooth form the enamel organ it has

blood vessels it has an artery going in

and some veins leaving it and there's

tissue in there oono blast that help

produce the tooth it grows outwardly and

that's all in the gum and then that

tissue lives up to a certain point as we

get older that that space gets smaller

there's internal calcification and

sometimes the tooth will naturally die

on its own but if that tissue gets

infected like from a deep cavity or from

trauma to the tooth with a fracture the

fracture allows bacteria it can also the

once the U Integrity of the shell of the

tooth is is is uh disrupted then that

tissue starts going nuts and that's why

tooth pain is so uh painful I mean it's

shaped world history I'm convinced of it

when you get inflammation in a closed

space and it has nowhere to go I mean

you feel like putting your fist through

the the wall right I mean I I've seen

that I've seen people suffer immensely

from tooth pain and then because it's a

closed space all that inflammation shuts

down the blood vessels it squashes

everything it necroses it dies and then

you've got this festering dead tissue

that the body can't get to and

antibiotics can't get to and then it

starts developing its own bacterial

colonies and then it spills out the tip

of the root where all the blood vessels

used to come in and then that's where

you you get the problem so a dentist

will go in there a well-trained dentist

and clean everything out they're not dis

they're not sterilizing the tooth that

would be very hard to do but they remove

all that tissue and then they fill it

they opter it so that no other fluid can

get in there and if that's properly done

a root canal can last the lifetime your

lifetime the problem is is that most

root canals are not done being done

properly um and they're newer techniques

there's a there's a a very well uh um

trained dentist here in LA and she uses

ozone and she uses lasers to get in

there where typically a dentist would

just take a little file with a kind of a

a twirly blade to it and push it in and

out and clean it out but you're not

getting all the tissue they're accessory

canals to the main canals and upper

first mher has tortuous Maze of canals

and you're not going to get them all so

it's really about which teeth you're

doing and if it's a simpl to and it has

one canal with some accessory canals and

if it's done properly a root canal can

be done well but it's really about how

we've treated root canals with the lack

of regard to how well they're done and

rot canals can really be quite bad now

if you don't want the rot Canal you have

to remove the tooth you can't leave it

there and a lot of people are like well

I don't want that well you have to

remove it if you don't want the root

canal and if you don't have the

confidence in your in your provider to

do a good job then you're kind of in a

catch 22 situation because you're you're

going to do poorly in both situations so

then remove it put an implant in that's

expensive it takes time and implants

aren't perfect either that's still a

man-made structure that get you know

screwed into the jaw bone you can get

gum disease around an implant we call it

perimplantitis so so the best thing to

do is not get into that position to

begin with take care of your teeth stop

eating crap I me we as a kid tell your

keep your kids away from that stop

getting these deep cavities now

unfortunately there are cases where

where you get into a car accident you're

going to fracture some teeth those teeth

will fracture those are difficult teeth

to ranel in fact I would be very careful

relling teeth after an accident let's

say you fall off a horse and as you fall

you may not hit your face but uh and

this happened to someone in the in the

functional Community very well-known

physician um and and you just slam your

teeth together maybe your bites off a

little bit as you hit the ground one of

those teeth or both of those teeth we

see it often in fact whenever I see a

craze line or a crack in a tooth I'll

ask where did you fall did you hit the

ground suddenly did you get fall off

your bike did you get involved in a car

accident did an airbag hit you um

because if there is a fracture root

caning that tooth is probably not a good

idea because that fracture will

eventually allow bacteria to leak in and

there's simple ways of finding it an

x-ray won't find it but you could use a

very bright fiber optic flashlight we

call that transillumination we point the

little tip on the tooth move it around a

little bit and all of a sudden you see

all these lines those are the fracture

lines W little spider lines fracture and

you you don't want to rot Canal that

tooth if you do you're going to end up

in the hospital eventually they're going

to give you Clint Amin it's going to

wipe out your gut uh you're going to get

colitis I mean and most dentists hang in

there too long uh because if

you you know if you're willing to take

out the tooth that you root canaled I

mean patient's going to wonder you spent

$2,000 in the root canal six weeks later

you're taking it out and then you need a

$6,000 implant wow so a root canal is a

way of preserving the tooth is that like

what it comes down it's mummifying the

tooth interesting so what are what are

like just some some quick questions to

ask like just to make sure that your

dentist knows what they what they're

doing I would automatically I don't care

how much you love your dentist I would

see an endodontist I would see someone

who does root canals all day long that's

an endodontist endodontist someone that

does r canals only it's a specialty got

it uh it may cost a little bit more but

it will be worth it uh make sure they

have a big microscope on Wheels in the

corner a r Canal I mean there little

canals you can't see the dentist will be

sitting upright and be looking through a

microscope and you'll be underneath the

microscope uh make sure make sure all

the right techniques are done rubber Dam

disinfection I if they have a laser like

a LightWave laser that gets in there and

cleans everything and they're using

ozone these are all very Advanced

Techniques but I would say only 5% of

maybe 10% of idonis are using that now

so so it's hard I I realize it's very

difficult for patients and I deal with

this on Instagram all the time they

they're really upset I mean they're in

tears and they they know

they know well enough that a root canal

can cause them problems and so they get

nervous um yeah wow take care of your

teeth people definitely yeah it's

ultimately what it what it comes down to

you only get one set well you get two

but you get that starter set you get the

starter set right but you're right it's

one set and if you lose a few and the

more you lose the shorter your life is I

mean there all these longevity studies

and teeth are important I mean you

digest your food uh it gives you

stabilization kind of a

uh kind of an overall Dynamic

neuromuscular stabilization proper bite

that's so important down to your feet

the tongue is connected uh so the the

the feet have all those nerve endings in

it and if you don't let your feet spread

out properly and and you're going to

lose that stability over time same thing

with your bite and also the position of

your tongue the nerve endings to the

tongue rival the nerve endings to the

feet and hands wow it's a a lot of

connections between the mouth and the

body oh absolutely I'm the more I learn

about the oral microbiome and and dental

health and the mouth and I mean just

it's to me it's it's it's abundantly

clear that what that we need to protect

the health of the of our oral cavity you

know the microbiome Dental Health what's

good for the mouth is is good for the

body good for the body everything yep

overall health and likely the inverse as

well right what's of the body is going

oh there's a two-way connection between

diabetes and gum disease there's a

two-way connection if you gum disease

can aggravate and cause diabetes get you

there sooner but if you have diabetes uh

sorry if you have gum disease it's hard

it's harder for you and these are all

based on studies old studies uh it's

harder for you to stabilize your blood

sugar levels as a diabetic whether it's

with diet or with medication um I mean

the it's it's hard to describe what gum

disease is to a patient and it's it's

70% of the population over age 60 it's

40 to 50% in in your age group uh I mean

it's uh it's pretty common it's one of

the more common diseases and it leads to

so many different things including

Alzheimer's but the only way the best

way to describe it is that imagine

having a sore the size of your palm

anywhere on your body so if you have gum

disease that's how big the sore is an

ulceration an open wound this big and

what passes through that what are the

toxins that get through that and into

the bloodstream I mean and then how

uncomfortable is that how difficult is

that to heal uh it's not easy so gum

disease is a big player and

unfortunately it is very very common and

it's Al very difficult for dentist to to

reverse we we're better at arresting it

and then of course you get all the gum

recession and and bone loss and then you

start looking long in the tooth and then

you need cosmetic dentistry and so yeah

I think it's important I think we really

need good oral health education early on

make sure your family is seeing a good

functional dentist they really will work

they they will work Upstream with you on

all this they will try and help you

prevent this uh and a lot of people say

they're eating the right diet they're

not you really have to I think paleo is

probably the best vegetables proteins no

carbs uh or very few carbs I mean if

you're going to go out and enjoy

yourself with friends have a glass of

wine drink water with it uh drink one

glass well I think it's about the the

the quality of the carbs I do I'm doing

a fair amount of carbs these days but

like it's the quality Ian it's not it's

what's a good quality carb give it give

me an example and I'll tell you a sweet

potato oh yeah the Japanese sweet potato

great example that's a good example oh

that's fine for what about rice I'm a

little nervous about rice yeah yeah if

it's cooked properly and the difference

between brown and white rice well it's

cuz you're a dentist it's like and it

gets caught in your I mean it's easily

retained I'm not worried about that you

know yeah I'm just worried about the the

the reaction that the oral microbiome

has to it but basati I think has a lower

glycemic index so some Rices well cooked

with lots of protein dress it with

proteins definitely well yeah I mean

it's from from the standpoint of like

Dental Health there's probably nothing

better than a steak right I mean you're

giving your jaw muscles a workout it's

not cariogenic in any Capac for facial

development yeah yep lots of great stuff

in a ribeye I mean you're like when you

ask a a dermatologist what's the worst

thing for your health they say the sun

yeah don't go outside that's ridiculous

yeah so I get I get I get where the

tration and the sunblocks typically have

you know carens in them oh yeah yeah a

benzone or oxy benzone I mean I'll wear

I'll wear I'll put a sun on if I know

that I'm going to get torched by the sun

exactly but zinc oxide what's wrong with

zinc oxide non- Nano zinc oxide is great

yeah if I have that luxury but if you're

if you're like traveling and you're in

some like third world country it's like

that's going to be hard to find it's

going to be a spray on with all sorts of

goodies in it who the hell knows

fragrances on top of that exactly the

slurry of industrial chemical

nightmarish it's scary there's a lot to

worry about unfortunately yeah wild well

thanks so much for coming in this was

amazing it was great thanks for having

me and thanks for showing interest in

oral health I mean you you talk about it

often and and um oral health is is you

you can't achieve overall health if

you're if you're not on it with oral

health it's so intimately connected and

you really have to be on top of all that

information and unfortunately it's being

treated and regarded as a separate part

of the body and that's that's that

division between medicine and Dentistry

it's the same part of the body it should

not be looked at or treated as in a

vacuum it's ridiculous yeah yeah totally

interconnected y y hey if you like that

video you need to check out this one

here and I'll see you

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