How to Improve Oral Health & It's Critical Role in Brain & Body Health

Electric Toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes offer significant advantages over manual brushing, particularly in gum care. Andrew Huberman highlights the importance of using an electric toothbrush with gentle pressure to enhance blood circulation in the gums, which can improve nutrient delivery to the deeper parts of the teeth 1. This practice is especially beneficial for those with sensitive teeth, as it can reduce sensitivity to temperature and pressure.

When you massage or lightly brush the gums around there, you're encouraging a lot of blood flow to those deeper components of the tooth, which are really the live and active components of the tooth that require blood flow and nutrients.

--- Andrew Huberman

Huberman suggests that brushing gums lightly can promote resilience and reduce tooth sensitivity, making it a valuable addition to oral hygiene routines.

   

Fasting & Saliva

Intermittent fasting can play a crucial role in enhancing oral health by optimizing the saliva environment. Andrew Huberman explains that avoiding constant snacking or sipping on acidic beverages allows saliva to maintain a pH level conducive to tooth remineralization 2. He emphasizes the importance of having periods during the day when no food or acidic drinks are consumed, as this helps maintain the optimal pH for saliva, which is crucial for oral health.

There are certain times in the 24 hours circadian period in which your mouth makes the maximum amount of saliva, and that the saliva has an opportunity to be the optimal ph, that is, chemistry, for encouraging remineralization of your teeth.

--- Andrew Huberman

Huberman suggests intermittent fasting as a practical approach to leverage these natural saliva production cycles, thereby supporting overall oral health.