🦷Mondays with Mark: Why Your Toothpaste Should Save Your Heart

What if I told you the health of your mouth is directly linked to the health of your heart?

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Nitric oxide (NO), a tiny molecule, plays a massive role in your body. It keeps your blood vessels flexible, your blood pressure steady, and even impacts your memory, immunity, and sleep. But here’s the kicker—your ability to produce enough nitric oxide starts in your mouth.

The oral microbiome, the community of bacteria in your mouth, is where NO production begins. And the problem? Many of us are unknowingly destroying it.

How We Sabotage Nitric Oxide Production

Three common habits wreak havoc on your oral microbiome and stop your body from producing enough nitric oxide:

• Antibacterial mouthwash: Kills the bacteria you need to produce nitric oxide.
• mouth breathing: Bypasses your nose, where NO production starts, and dries out your mouth.
• Essential oils and surfactants in dental products: These ingredients may seem harmless, but they contribute to the constant degrading of your oral microbiome. Every time it tries to thrive, it’s knocked down by emulsifiers, surfactants, and essential oils. Over time, this can wreak havoc on the delicate balance of good bacteria.

These habits don’t just affect your mouth—they impact your heart health, brain function, and overall wellness.

Practical Steps to Support Nitric Oxide (and Your Health)

Here’s how you can protect your oral microbiome and naturally boost nitric oxide:

• Avoid antibacterial mouthwash. Switch to a microbiome-friendly oral care routine.
• Breathe through your nose. Try mouth taping at night to encourage nasal breathing and better NO production.
• Use a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping promotes a healthy oral microbiome, and supports NO production. It also feels amazing!
• Eat nitrate-rich foods. Leafy greens, beets, and arugula are powerful nitric oxide boosters.
• Exercise regularly. Movement stimulates nitric oxide release, improving circulation and oxygen delivery.
• Use Fygg toothpaste. It’s specifically designed to nourish your oral microbiome—something I’ve prioritized in its development.

Read more on my website about ways to get enough nitric oxide

My Personal Nitric Oxide Hack

When I first learned about the connection between nitric oxide and oral health, I realized that many of my patients were unknowingly sabotaging their health. That’s why I started incorporating nitric oxide-boosting strategies into my own routine.

One of my favorites? This daily salad, which is not only incredible for your oral microbiome but also supports your gut microbiome. It’s simple, delicious, and packed with nutrients:

My Daily Go-to Salad Recipe:

• Chop up endive, frisée, arugula, and radicchio into bite-sized pieces.
• Stuff them into a Ziploc bag and pour in a generous amount of olive oil.
• Seal the bag, squish it around to coat the greens evenly, and refrigerate to cool.
• Toss the greens in a bowl and add roasted walnuts or candied pecans.
• Finish with thinly sliced aged provolone or blue cheese. Or, for protein, add this 5-minute paleo tuna or salmon salad. Ridiculously easy to make!

Let me know if you give this salad a try!

Protecting Your Oral Microbiome = Better Health

Taking care of your oral microbiome isn’t just about better dental checkups. It’s about supporting your heart, brain, and overall well-being.

Want a dentist who thinks like this? Find one on my Functional Dentist Directory.

For more newsletters like this one, head over to AsktheDentist.com.

Warmly,
Dr. Mark Burhenne

P.S. Start your journey to better oral health with my #1 favorite magnesium supplement —click here to unlock Black Friday discounts and gifts with purchase with code ASKTHEDENTIST.