The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka
152. Oral Health: Is Your Mouth Silently Sabotaging Your Health? Here’s How To Fix It!
Thu, 27 Mar 2025
Did you know that your oral health is directly linked to your heart, brain, and even lifespan? Most people stop thinking about their mouths after brushing and flossing, but your oral cavity is actually a mirror into your internal health. Your mouth isn’t just where digestion starts, it’s where disease often begins - from gum disease to heart problems to gut issues. Implement a serious oral care routine and you’ll protect far more than just your smile! Join the Ultimate Human VIP community and gain exclusive access to Gary Brecka's proven wellness protocols today!: https://bit.ly/4ai0Xwg Thank you to our partners: H2TABS - USE CODE “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4hMNdgg BODYHEALTH - USE CODE “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: http://bit.ly/4e5IjsV BAJA GOLD - USE CODE "ULTIMATE10" FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3WSBqUa EIGHT SLEEP - SAVE $350 ON THE POD 4 ULTRA WITH CODE “GARY”: https://bit.ly/3WkLd6E COLD LIFE - THE ULTIMATE HUMAN PLUNGE: https://bit.ly/4eULUKp WHOOP - GET 1 FREE MONTH WHEN YOU JOIN!: https://bit.ly/3VQ0nzW MASA CHIPS - GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST $50+ ORDER: https://bit.ly/40LVY4y VANDY - USE CODE “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: https://bit.ly/49Qr7WE PARKER PASTURES - PREMIUM GRASS-FED MEATS: https://bit.ly/4hHcbhc AION - USE CODE “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4h6KHAD HAPBEE - FEEL BETTER & PERFORM AT YOUR BEST: https://bit.ly/4a6glfo CARAWAY - USE CODE “ULTIMATE” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3Q1VmkC HEALF - GET 10% OFF YOUR ORDER: https://bit.ly/41HJg6S BIOPTIMIZERS - USE CODE “ULTIMATE” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4inFfd7 RHO NUTRITION - USE CODE “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: https://bit.ly/44fFza0 Watch the “Ultimate Human Podcast” every Tuesday & Thursday at 9AM EST: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPQYX8 Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3RQftU0 Connect with Gary Brecka: Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RPpnFs TikTok: https://bit.ly/4coJ8fo X.com: https://bit.ly/3Opc8tf Facebook: https://bit.ly/464VA1H LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4hH7Ri2 Website: https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU Merch: https://bit.ly/4aBpOM1 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/47ejrws Ask Gary: https://bit.ly/3PEAJuG Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:56 What is Oral Health? 01:31 Poor Oral Health Risks 02:44 Dangers of Vitamin D Deficiency 04:27 Oil Pulling Definition and Benefits 05:18 Oil Pulling Procedure 05:46 Practices for a Better Oral Health The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The Content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: Why is oral health important for overall wellness?
What's happening in your mouth isn't just about cavities. It could be a window into your overall health. We're diving into a topic most people overlook, and that's your oral health. Most of us stop thinking about our mouths after we brush and floss.
The health of your gums, your teeth, your tongue, even your saliva can tell us so much about your risk for chronic disease and even how long you're likely to live. Oral health is about more than just white teeth and fresh breath. Your mouth hosts a complex ecosystem of over 700 species of bacteria. Your mouth isn't just where digestion starts, it's where disease often begins.
Oral health plays such a pivotal role in how your entire body functions. Now let me leave you with some easy evidence-backed steps to upgrade your oral health and by extension, your brain, heart, gut, and your immune system. Switch to... Did you know that your oral health is directly linked to your heart, your brain, and even your lifespan? What's happening in your mouth isn't just about cavities.
It could be a window into your overall health. One simple ancient practice might just be the key to reducing harmful bacteria and inflammation. Welcome back to the Ultimate Human Podcast, guys. I'm your host, human biologist, and founder of The Ultimate Human, Gary Brekka. And today, we're diving into a topic most people overlook, and that's your oral health.
Most of us stop thinking about our mouths after we brush and floss, but your oral cavity is actually a mirror into your internal health. The health of your gums, your teeth, your tongue, even your saliva can tell us so much about your risk for chronic disease, your inflammatory load, and even how long you're likely to live.
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Chapter 2: How does poor oral health affect chronic diseases?
And get this, there's a fascinating ancient practice that's getting a lot of attention from modern science. It's called oil pulling. We'll break it down later in the show, but first let's dive into the science and explore how oral health is critical as a cornerstone of your whole body wellness. Oral health is about more than just white teeth and fresh breath.
Your mouth hosts a complex ecosystem of over 700 species of bacteria. A healthy oral microbiome, meaning a diverse, well-balanced community of microbes, is essential for proper digestion, for your immune defense, and your overall systemic health. When this balance is disrupted, something called oral dysbiosis occurs.
Chapter 3: What is oral dysbiosis and its systemic impact?
This is when harmful bacteria outnumber the good, leading to inflammation, cavities, gum disease, and even systemic infections. According to a study published in the Journal of the Indian Society of Periodontology, poor oral hygiene has been linked to serious systemic issues, including inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, and neurological decline. Chronic oral inflammation occurs
gingivitis, and periodontitis doesn't just stay confined to your mouth. It has ripple effects throughout your entire body. Inflammation in the gums allows harmful bacteria to enter your bloodstream and can lead to widespread systemic inflammation.
According to the NIH and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, this process may increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and even cognitive decline. A recent study from the National Institute of Aging followed over 8,000 adults over 65 and found that those with gum disease had significantly higher risks of dementia and Alzheimer's.
Remember, oral bacteria can migrate to the brain and trigger neuroinflammation, a hallmark of cognitive decline. Meanwhile, other studies have shown that oral bacteria can survive digestion, colonize in the gut, and contribute to things like irritable bowel disease. One review in the Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Chapter 4: How is vitamin D linked to oral health?
noticed how oral bacteria like Fusobacterium nucleatum can compromise gut health and impair immune response. Here's where things get really fascinating. Vitamin D is one of the most powerful micronutrients for the body. It's also one of the most underestimated tools for improving oral health. Let's break it down. First, you have your enamel and tooth strength.
Vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption and tooth mineralization. Remember, without adequate vitamin D3 and minerals, enamels become weak, porous, and increases your risk of tooth decay, cavities, and even fractures.
According to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to tooth demineralization and early childhood caries or cavities. Gum disease and immune function also follow this same path, with vitamin D3 modulating the immune response.
It upregulates antimicrobial peptides like cathelicidin and defensins, which help neutralize pathogenic bacteria in your mouth. It also reduces inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 markers directly involved in gum inflammation and gum disease.
A review published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology concluded that vitamin D supplementation could actually significantly reduce the severity of periodontitis. Pregnancy and pediatric oral health are also involved in this. Low vitamin D3 in pregnancy is associated with poor enamel development in the fetus, higher rates of childhood caries, and delayed tooth eruption.
A prenatal deficiency can set a child up for a lifelong history of oral health problems. Adequate vitamin D3 levels also lower systemic inflammation, which helps protect the heart, the brain, and the gut from the consequences of oral pathogens entering your circulation. Vitamin D literally shuts the door on the inflammatory cascade.
Now let's talk about one of the most powerful natural oral health practices. It's called oil pulling. Oil pulling is the ancient Ayurvedic practice of just swishing oil around in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes. I do it on a daily basis. I don't do it for 10 to 20 minutes. I'll do it for one to three minutes. But traditionally, it's done with a sesame or a sunflower oil.
But today, most people would prefer and I would prefer that you use an organic cold pressed coconut oil because of its high content of lauric acid, which has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Studies show that oil pulling with coconut oil reduces streptococcus mutans, candida albicans, can actually reduce these colony counts, it can lower your plaque index scores, it can improve gingival inflammation, and even help prevent bad breath and oral thrush. And unlike chlorhexidine mouthwash, oil pulling doesn't cause tooth staining or alter taste perception. Here's how to start oil pulling.
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