Ask the Dentist How to Fix Your Mouth & Disease with Better Nutrition and Oral Care
Dr Mark Burhenne and The Primal Podcast
Learn how Dr. Mark Burhenne’s science-based oral care routine can transform your oral microbiome, lower inflammation, and help protect your heart, brain, and overall health.
Summary
This long-form interview with functional dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne explores how the oral microbiome sits at the front line of your immune system and powerfully influences whole-body health. He explains how dysbiosis in the mouth is linked to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, and more, primarily through chronic gum inflammation and the constant seeding of oral bacteria into the bloodstream. The conversation covers why conventional products like antiseptic mouthwash and many mainstream toothpastes can damage the microbiome and reduce nitric oxide production, and instead walks through a low-cost, practical oral care routine based on removing harmful inputs, feeding beneficial bacteria, and using targeted tools like tongue scraping, nano-hydroxyapatite, xylitol, and flossing. Listeners come away with a clear understanding of the mouth–body connection and simple daily habits that can improve oral health while reducing their long-term risk for chronic disease.
Summary
- The oral microbiome is a complex community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes in the mouth that seeds the gut microbiome, supports immunity, remineralizes teeth, and maintains the oral mucosa, yet it has been historically ignored in medicine and dentistry.
- Chronic gum disease and bleeding gums allow oral bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis to enter the bloodstream, drive systemic inflammation, infect blood vessel linings, worsen arterial plaque, and are associated with cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
- Specific oral pathogens and their toxins, particularly P. gingivalis and its “gingipain” proteins, can cross the blood–brain barrier, stimulate amyloid plaque formation, and may contribute to the development and progression of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions over time.
- Over-the-counter antiseptic mouthwashes and some conventional toothpastes kill beneficial tongue and oral bacteria that convert dietary nitrates to nitric oxide, which can raise blood pressure and impair vascular health, whereas strategies like tongue scraping can help restore nitric-oxide–producing microbes.
- Dr. Burhenne’s “perfect oral care routine” focuses on subtracting harmful products, avoiding frequent acidic drinks and refined carbohydrates, using safer pastes such as nano-hydroxyapatite, flossing effectively, scraping the tongue, and chewing xylitol gum to support a balanced microbiome.
- The episode emphasizes the need to integrate dentistry and medicine, since the mouth is truly part of the gut and systemic health, and encourages people to seek functional dentists who recognize and treat oral conditions in the context of metabolic and inflammatory diseases.
- Host Rina also highlights lifestyle levers like low-carb or carnivore-style nutrition and high-quality electrolytes as complementary strategies to reduce systemic inflammation while viewers upgrade their oral care habits.
Description
Oral bacteria and oral health are closely linked to chronic disease. Dr. Burhenne explains the perfect oral care routine to improve the oral microbiome. Head to http://DrinkLMNT.com/theprimalpodcast to get your free sample pack with any purchase.
Dr. B’s Perfect Oral Care Routine with links: https://www.theprimal.com/lab/improve-oral-bacteria-fix-blood-pressure-and-inflammation-naturally
Dr. Mark Burhenne is a bestselling author. He’s a family and sleep medicine dentist who has been in private practice nearly 35 years. Dr. B has focused on patient-centered and preventative dental healthcare. He is the creator of Ask the Dentist, which is dedicated to exploring the mouth-body connection and the role of the oral microbiome.
Primal Resources
GoCarnivore App: https://www.gocarnivore.com/
4-Week Fat Loss Course: https://academy.5minutebody.com/carnivore-fat-loss-masterclass-4-week-kick-starter?coupon=YT20&action=description
7-Day Fasting Course For Fat Loss: https://academy.5minutebody.com/fasting-101-for-fat-loss?coupon=YT20&action=description
The Primal Podcast
Website: https://www.theprimal.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprimal.podcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/ThePrimal_Pod
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:03 Mouth and body connection
07:18 What is the oral microbiome
12:22 An oral bug controls pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease
16:35 Oral bacteria connected to 7 chronic diseases
26:20 Oral bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease
30:55 Dr Burhenne’s story
36:26 Bad breath is a sign of a dysfunctional oral microbiome
40:02 Periodontal disease
43:19 Tool: Don’t use mouthwash, and why
47:34 Tool: Toothpaste to not use
53:26 Tool: Avoid acidic drinks
01:01:54 Carnivore Diet for Oral Health
01:10:36 Tool: The Perfect Oral Health Routine
01:20:57 Tool: Nano-hydroxyapatite for oral health
01:28:37 Tool: Flossing and oral health
01:29:38 Tool: Tongue scraping and oral health
01:32:29 Tool: Xylitol gum to fix oral health
01:34:12 How to find a functional dentist
01:38:15 Free guide to chemical-free oral care products; support the podcast, watch next
About Rina – The Primal Podcast
The Primal Podcast (previously known as 5 Minute Body) is hosted by Rina. For the past 3 years, Rina has been committed to improving people’s health with nutrition by working with the best doctors and experts in health.
Her mission is to empower you with the knowledge, inspiration, and science-based tools to improve your health. We provide more health information, and Carnivore challenges at https://www.theprimal.com/
Transcript Summary
Fix Your Oral Microbiome with a Functional Oral Care Routine
Your mouth is not just about white teeth and fresh breath; it is the front line of your gut, immune system, and overall health. In this article, we explore key insights from functional dentist Dr Mark Burhenne on how a targeted oral care routine can rebalance your oral microbiome, lower inflammation, and protect your heart, brain, and metabolic health.
Why Your Oral Microbiome Matters
The oral microbiome is the complex community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes living in your mouth that helps remineralize teeth, protect your gums, support your thin oral mucosa, and seed the gut microbiome downstream. When this ecosystem is balanced, it keeps pathogens under control and supports healthy immune responses while maintaining strong teeth and resilient gums. When the oral microbiome becomes imbalanced, chronic gum inflammation, bleeding, and bad breath appear as warning signs that harmful bacteria may be migrating into the bloodstream and contributing to cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, and other chronic illnesses.
The Mouth Body Connection and Chronic Disease
For decades, modern medicine separated the mouth from the rest of the body, treating dental issues as isolated local problems instead of as part of a larger system. Functional dentistry reverses this mindset by asking how oral inflammation and infection affect systemic health, recognizing that chronic bleeding gums, periodontal disease, and recurrent oral infections are not just “mouth problems.” In the discussion with Dr Burhenne, the mouth body connection is clearly linked to at least seven major chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Oral Microbiome, Heart Disease, and Blood Pressure
How Oral Bacteria Reach the Heart
Healthy gums act as a barrier that prevents bacteria from entering the bloodstream, but inflamed, bleeding gum tissue provides an easy entry point. Tiny blood vessels sit just beneath damaged gum surfaces, allowing oral bacteria to leak into the bloodstream each time you chew or brush. Over time, these microbes can colonize the lining of blood vessels, increase plaque formation, and raise inflammatory markers that are strongly associated with heart disease and hypertension.
Dentists have long known about the acute risk of bacterial endocarditis in susceptible patients, but chronic low grade seeding of bacteria from “spitting pink” gums has often been overlooked. Functional dentistry treats persistent bleeding gums as a cardiovascular risk factor and a sign that the oral microbiome needs attention.
Nitric Oxide, Tongue Bacteria, and Blood Pressure
Another key cardiovascular link involves nitric oxide, a molecule that helps relax blood vessels and regulate blood pressure. Certain beneficial bacteria on the back of the tongue convert dietary nitrates into nitrites and then into nitric oxide, a pathway that grows more important after about age 40 as other nitric oxide pathways decline. When strong antiseptic mouthwashes are used regularly, they can kill these nitrate reducing bacteria and impair nitric oxide production over time. This may contribute to higher blood pressure and reduced vascular resilience, which is why preserving and supporting beneficial tongue microbes is so important for heart health.
Oral Microbiome and Alzheimer’s Disease
A Pathway from Gums to Brain
Research has found that specific oral bacteria, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis, are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These microbes produce toxic enzymes like gingipains that can trigger inflammatory responses in the brain and promote the formation of amyloid plaques. Experimental evidence suggests that in the presence of chronic gum disease, these bacteria can penetrate oral tissues and reach the brain relatively quickly. Repeated exposures over years may drive chronic neuroinflammation and progressively erode the structure and function of brain cells.
Bleeding Gums as a Brain Health Signal
Regular gum bleeding is a red flag for more than just local gum disease. In a functional context, it signals ongoing systemic stress and potential repeated exposure of the brain to oral pathogens via the bloodstream. Each episode of bleeding gums may represent another opportunity for harmful microbes to enter circulation, contributing to long term cognitive risk. Protecting brain health therefore includes restoring gum health and rebalancing the oral microbiome.
Signs Your Oral Microbiome Is Out of Balance
A dysfunctional oral microbiome often reveals itself through simple, practical signs. Chronic bad breath is one of the most obvious, as volatile compounds created by imbalanced bacteria, especially on the back of the tongue and between teeth, signal an unhealthy microbial environment. Other warning signs include gums that bleed with brushing or flossing, swollen or tender gum tissue, and recurrent cavities despite consistent brushing habits. Functional dental hygienists sometimes advise patients to “smell the floss” after use because a strong foul odor can reveal areas of infection or dysbiosis that need extra attention.
Why Conventional Mouthwash and Toothpaste Can Backfire
Traditional dental care often focused on killing germs rather than balancing ecosystems, which led to widespread use of strong antiseptic mouthwashes and certain toothpaste formulations. Functional dentistry now recognizes that overuse of these products can damage beneficial microbes, reduce microbial diversity, and weaken the mouth’s natural self regulation. Over the counter mouthwashes containing alcohol and broad spectrum antimicrobial agents can blunt nitric oxide production by wiping out nitrate reducing bacteria on the tongue, leaving you with a temporary “clean” sensation but a more vulnerable cardiovascular system. Fluoride and certain chemicals in common toothpastes are also criticized for their potential to disturb both oral and gut microbiomes, especially when swallowed by children.
A Subtractive, Functional Oral Care Routine
Instead of simply adding more products, Dr Burhenne emphasizes a “subtractive” approach to oral care that begins with stopping the most damaging habits. This means discontinuing harsh antiseptic mouthwashes used daily, avoiding toothpastes with unnecessary or harsh chemicals, and reducing or eliminating acidic drinks and frequent snacking on refined carbohydrates. Once these stressors are removed, you can build a simple, sustainable routine that supports the oral microbiome. This minimalist strategy is often zero cost because it centers on no longer purchasing products that undermine oral and systemic health.
Practical Daily Oral Care Habits
Step 1 – Mechanical Cleaning and Flossing
Gentle mechanical cleaning is still a cornerstone of oral care. Brushing with a soft toothbrush and a non abrasive, microbiome friendly toothpaste helps disrupt plaque while protecting enamel and tender gum tissue. Flossing once per day cleans the tight spaces between teeth where brushes cannot reach and where infection often hides. Paying attention to bleeding or strong odor when flossing can give early feedback on gum health, allowing you to respond before problems escalate.
Step 2 – Tongue Scraping for Microbial Balance
Tongue scraping is one of the simplest and most effective tools to support the oral microbiome. Using a metal tongue scraper once or twice per day removes the biofilm layer, food debris, and volatile compounds from the back of the tongue. This leaves a cleaner surface for beneficial nitrate reducing bacteria to recolonize, helping restore nitric oxide production and freshening breath at the same time. It is a low cost, low effort habit with disproportionate benefits for cardiovascular and oral health.
Step 3 – Supportive Foods and Xylitol Gum
Diet plays a major role in oral microbiome health. Emphasizing whole foods, reducing sugar and refined carbohydrates, and including tooth friendly foods like cheese can help stabilize oral pH and support remineralization. Chewing xylitol gum after meals may also support oral health because xylitol can reduce cavity causing bacteria and stimulate saliva flow, which naturally buffers acids and supports a healthier oral environment.
Diet, Low Carb Patterns, and Oral Health
Functional dentistry often intersects with nutritional strategies like low carb and carnivore diets. Lowering refined carbohydrate and sugar intake reduces the fuel available for acid producing bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, which can lower cavity risk and ease the burden on both oral and gut microbiomes. In the conversation, low carb and carnivore patterns are positioned as part of broader metabolic health strategies. Although transitioning to these diets can bring temporary “keto flu” type symptoms, adequate electrolytes help ease that shift. Over time, a nutrient dense, low sugar diet supports healthier teeth and gums along with improved blood sugar control, weight management, and cardiovascular resilience.
Functional Dentistry, Sleep, Airway, and Metabolism
Dr Burhenne’s path into functional dentistry deepened when he discovered he had sleep apnea despite being lean and health conscious, which highlighted how closely oral structures, jaw development, and airway anatomy relate to sleep quality and systemic health. Functional dentists are uniquely positioned to spot early signs of airway problems, narrow palates, and other structural issues long before they show up as clear medical diagnoses. Integrating sleep medicine, airway focused dentistry, and metabolic health into routine dental care transforms dentistry from “drill and fill” into prevention focused, systems based care that supports long term resilience.ctual posts.)
