In the Huberman Lab podcast episode, Dr. (I think he’s actually a professor?) Andrew Huberman discusses the role of oral health in overall brain and body – and your mouth & teeth etc.

Me smiling, with teeth and that^

Disclaimer – This is written with a tongue in cheek comical tone. Please confirm the information yourself before putting anything into action:

Here are the key takeaways from H-man:

• Oral Health’s Importance
• Oral health is crucial for mental & physical health. In some instances physical performance. Your teeth and mouth are linked to brain and body health both short-term and long-term. Poor oral hygiene is related to some neurodegenerative conditions. In summary – floss or die! Here’s a link to a study about oral health and brain health

• Causes of Cavities
• Despite what you may have been told as a kid, cavities are not directly caused by sugar. It’s the bacteria that feed on sugar and food. The bacteria cause an acidic environment that promotes demineralization – i.e. tooth decay. This can damage to the teeth, can be reversed in some instances – depending on how deep the cavity is. Here’s a study about toothpaste and remineralization of teeth It looks like nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste is a good shout/idea (according to the study).

• Fluoride Use
• Woah, controversial! While fluoride can strengthen teeth by replacing hydroxyapatite bonds, concerns exist about its high dosage effects on thyroid and brain health. The podcast suggests moderation in fluoride use.

Some studies here about fluoride and thyroid health

Study here about flouride and IQ

• Oral Hygiene Practices
• The podcast recommends avoiding alcohol-based and antiseptic mouthwashes. These mouthwashes can disrupt the oral microbiome. Instead you can use xylitol-based products to combat cavity-causing bacteria. You can get xylitol in a powder, in sweets and in chewing gum. Remember it’s deadly to some animals such as dogs.

• Diet and Oral Health
• If you want nice tooth, you should probably avoid alcohol, smoking, stimulants, dipping tobacco, sugar, and acidic foods, which can alter saliva pH and promote demineralization. Adderrall for example, changes the PH in your mouth. From personal experience, acidic drinks that you sip on – like sports drinks – have given me loads of cavities – and I’ve not had any since I stopped consuming these drinks.

• Oral Care Tips
• Key tips for better oral health include keeping the mouth less acidic, maintaining moisture through nasal breathing, allowing periods without food or drink to promote saliva production for remineralization. Consider mouth-taping at night! (to make sure your not mouth-breathing). Chewing xylitol gum is also a good idea after meals.

• Brushing and Flossing
• Soft bristle brushes are recommended for both teeth and gums,. You should focus on night-time brushing due to reduced saliva production during sleep.

Dr. Huberman highlights the interconnectedness of oral health with the gut microbiome and overall well-being. He promotes a holistic approach, for a complete overview and approach to oral hygiene that includes regular brushing and flossing.

It’s probably best to avoid commercial mouthwashes too.

See H-man’s website here.

Some notes I made whilst listening to the podcast:

• Complex carbohydrates, not just sugar, can damage your teeth (as acid producing bacteria can ‘feed’ on them)
• Brushing your teeth at night, is majorly important – more so than morning teeth brushing

 “Oral health is inextricably linked to all aspects of brain and bodily health both in the short term and long term and is perhaps the most overlooked aspect of mental health and physical health.” – Andrew Huberman

• Flouride is probably okay for your brain at low doses.
  Flouride replaces and reinforces some of the hydroxyapatite bonds in teeth. These bonds are what make them strong and resilient to cavities.

• consider using a separate brush to brush your tongue – to stop cross-contamination of bacteria.

• Ale is bad for your teeth – Alcohol puts the mouth in a demineralization state and kills some healthy cells of the mouth. So try and limit the amount of beer and other alcoholic drinks you consume, if you want healthy teeth.

You actually catch the bacteria that are bad for your teeth and produce acid – Strep Mutans

Apparently some dentists avoid kissing their kids near their mouths, so they don’t get strep mutans early in life – although there’s a 99% chance they’ll get it as an adult