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

TL;DR

Improving oral health requires daily care for the teeth, gums, saliva, oral microbiome, and entire oral cavity, not merely fresher breath or whiter teeth. Andrew Huberman presents oral and gut health as a seventh pillar alongside sleep, light exposure, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and relationships. He also explains that saliva and balanced oral pH can support remineralization of early cavities. Read on for practical guidance on these connections and protective habits.

Transcript

welcome to the huberman Lab podcast where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life I'm Andrew huberman and I'm a professor of neurobiology and Opthalmology at Stanford school of medicine today we are discussing oral health now when most people hear oral health they immediately think tooth health and appearance and presumably fre... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍⚕️ Oral health is intricately linked to overall bodily health, including mental health and performance.
• 🤑 Remineralization of teeth is possible by maintaining a proper pH balance in the mouth and following good oral care practices.
• 🫤 Certain lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, stimulant use, smoking, and mouth breathing, can negatively impact oral health.
• ✳️ While sugars and acidic foods can increase the risk of cavities, proper oral care and timing can help mitigate these risks.
• 💉 The debate around fluoride highlights the need for individual assessment and decision-making based on personal health considerations.
• 😅 A stretch of time without eating or drinking can encourage optimal saliva production and support remineralization processes.
• 🪸 Mouthwashes, especially those containing alcohol, may disrupt the oral microbiome and should be used sparingly.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can you improve oral health and support overall bodily health?

Use daily protocols that support the teeth, gums, saliva, oral microbiome, and the entire oral cavity. Maintaining an appropriate oral pH and allowing stretches without eating or drinking can support saliva production and tooth remineralization.

Q: Why is oral health important for brain and body health?

Oral health extends beyond tooth appearance and fresh breath to cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health. The mouth and gut are contiguous, so Andrew Huberman presents oral and gut health as a seventh pillar of mental health, physical health, and performance.

Q: What are the seven pillars of mental health, physical health, and performance?

The original six are sleep, sunlight and light exposure, nutrition, exercise or movement, stress management, and relationships and social engagement. The episode adds oral and gut health as the seventh pillar.

Q: Can teeth remineralize and fill in cavities?

Teeth can rebuild mineral strength and potentially fill in cavities when the damage has not progressed too deeply into the tooth layers. This process depends on supportive oral-care practices, saliva, and an appropriate pH balance.

Q: How does saliva support oral health?

Saliva contains substances that help rebuild tooth strength and support the oral cavity, oral microbiome, gut microbiome, and the body more generally. A stretch without eating or drinking can encourage saliva production and support remineralization.

Q: How do sugar and acidic foods contribute to cavities?

Specific oral bacteria can consume sugar and produce acid, causing tooth demineralization and cavity formation. Proper oral care, balanced pH, and attention to when these foods are consumed can help reduce the risk.

Q: How can smoking, stimulants, and mouth breathing affect oral health?

Smoking and stimulants can make saliva more acidic and may contribute to mouth breathing. Mouth breathing can dry the mouth and reduce saliva, disrupting conditions that protect the teeth, gums, and oral microbiome.

Q: Should alcohol-based mouthwash be used for oral health?

Alcohol-containing mouthwash may disrupt the oral microbiome and should be used sparingly. Oral-care choices should support the microbial environment of the entire mouth, not focus only on breath freshness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Oral health is not limited to tooth health and appearance but is integral to overall bodily health, including cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and brain health.

• The oral microbiome, saliva, and the health of teeth, gums, and the entire oral cavity play a significant role in maintaining general well-being.

• Cavities can be formed by specific bacteria that thrive on sugar and produce acid, leading to demineralization of teeth. However, remineralization is possible with the right protocols and pH balance.