Oral Microbiome: Focus on What to Stop
The discussion frames oral health as removing disruptors rather than adding more products. Key emphasis is avoiding practices that harm nitric oxide producing oral bacteria.
Most Replayed Moment: Mouthwash REVERSES The Benefits Of Exercise! Dr Nathan Bryan
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Dr Nathan Bryan is a leading nitric oxide researcher and biochemist, known for his work on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and human physiology. In this moment, he reveals a surprising and controversial insight: everyday oral health habits like mouthwash and toothpaste …
Dr Nathan Bryan is a leading nitric oxide researcher and biochemist, known for his work on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and human physiology. In this moment, he reveals a surprising and controversial insight: everyday oral health habits like mouthwash and toothpaste may be disrupting your oral microbiome and blocking nitric oxide production. He explains how this directly impacts blood pressure, circulation, and even reverses the benefits of exercise - unpacking the science behind one of the most overlooked systems in human health. Listen to the full episode here: Spotify: https://g2ul0.app.link/JbS4DZVXV1b Apple: https://g2ul0.app.link/3WbhlB1XV1b Watch the Episodes On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos Nathan Bryan: https://n1o1.com/about-dr-nathan-bryan/?srsltid=AfmBOooOFqsJRAP7whrtk26AsE0bI1-NrNlxbJVP-uhBoHYLuAEPy673
Key Topics
- Oral Microbiome: Focus on What to Stop
- Fluoride in Toothpaste and Systemic Exposure
- Switching to Non-Fluoridated Toothpaste
- Tongue Scraping and Microbiome Diversity
- Tongue Scraping Plus Antiseptic Mouthwash as a Worst Case
- Dental Hygienist Visits Without Fluoride Rinses
- Mouthwash and Loss of Exercise Benefits
- Nitric Oxide Links to Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
- Sex Hormones, Vitamin D, and Nitric Oxide
- Diet: Avoid Sugar and High Glycemic Foods
- Nitric Oxide in Wound Healing and Skin Repair
- Balanced Eating Pattern Over Named Diets
- Beetroot, Nitrate, and Performance Claims
- Limits of Eating Beets for Nitric Oxide
- Antacids and Proton Pump Inhibitors
- Avoiding Aluminum-Containing Antacids
- Nasal Breathing, Mouth Breathing, and Nitric Oxide
- Mouth Taping Cautions and Airway Assessment
- Humming as a Nitric Oxide Stimulus
- Sunlight and Red or Infrared Light for Nitric Oxide
- Overall Strategy to Preserve Nitric Oxide
Fluoride in Toothpaste and Systemic Exposure
Fluoride is described as having risk without benefit, with claims about neurotoxicity, thyroid suppression, and IQ effects in children. The conversation notes absorption through the mouth and warns against using more than a pea-sized amount.
Switching to Non-Fluoridated Toothpaste
The recommended replacement is a non-fluorinated toothpaste to reduce interference with the oral microbiome. The advice is presented as a foundational step before other oral hygiene changes.
Tongue Scraping and Microbiome Diversity
Tongue scraping is portrayed as an ancient practice that can increase oral microbiome diversity by disrupting tongue biofilm. A copper tongue scraper is suggested, with technique reaching near the gag reflex.
Tongue Scraping Plus Antiseptic Mouthwash as a Worst Case
Combining tongue scraping with antiseptic mouthwash is described as especially harmful because it may let mouthwash penetrate deeper and kill more bacteria. The safer sequence suggested is scrape, then brush without fluoride, and skip antiseptic rinses.
Dental Hygienist Visits Without Fluoride Rinses
Routine professional cleaning is presented as helpful for gum health and plaque removal. The key caution is to decline fluoride rinses during dental visits.
Mouthwash and Loss of Exercise Benefits
The transcript claims mouthwash can remove the cardioprotective benefits of exercise by disrupting nitric oxide production. The proposed mechanism is reduced nitric oxide leading to blood vessel constriction and higher blood pressure.
Nitric Oxide Links to Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health
Nitric oxide is positioned as central to vascular dilation and healthy blood pressure. Disruption of oral bacteria is described as one pathway that reduces nitric oxide availability.
Sex Hormones, Vitamin D, and Nitric Oxide
Testosterone and estrogen are described as stimulators of nitric oxide production when vascular enzymes function properly. Vitamin D is also presented as an agonist, with nitric oxide tied to issues like erectile dysfunction when signaling is low.
Diet: Avoid Sugar and High Glycemic Foods
The main dietary message is to avoid sugar and foods that spike blood glucose. Sugar is described as binding to proteins and enzymes, impairing nitric oxide production and contributing to diabetic complications.
Nitric Oxide in Wound Healing and Skin Repair
Nitric oxide is discussed as supporting blood flow, cellular turnover, and remodeling during healing. A topical nitric oxide generating serum is mentioned as a way to deliver nitric oxide locally to wounds or scars.
Balanced Eating Pattern Over Named Diets
Ketogenic and vegetarian patterns are framed as helpful mainly because they reduce sugar and refined carbs. The proposed long-term approach is moderation with quality protein and fats and minimal carbs.
Beetroot, Nitrate, and Performance Claims
Beetroot juice is discussed as popularized by athletic performance research linked to nitrate-derived nitric oxide. The transcript criticizes many commercial beet powders as lacking meaningful nitrate or nitrite and therefore offering no nitric oxide benefit.
Limits of Eating Beets for Nitric Oxide
It is argued that most people cannot eat enough beets to get performance-relevant nitrate. Mouthwash, fluoride toothpaste, and fluoride-containing water are presented as factors that can negate any potential beet-related nitric oxide effects.
Antacids and Proton Pump Inhibitors
Suppressing stomach acid with PPIs is described as damaging because acid is framed as necessary for protein breakdown and micronutrient absorption. Differences are drawn between buffers like calcium carbonate and drugs that inhibit acid production.
Avoiding Aluminum-Containing Antacids
Products containing aluminum compounds are specifically discouraged. Gaviscon is discussed as acting like a buffer, but aluminum content is treated as a reason to avoid it.
Nasal Breathing, Mouth Breathing, and Nitric Oxide
Nasal breathing is presented as activating nitric oxide production in the sinuses and improving airway and pulmonary blood flow. Mouth breathing is described as changing saliva pH, altering the oral microbiome, and reducing nitric oxide production.
Mouth Taping Cautions and Airway Assessment
Mouth taping is discussed as potentially useful but risky if nasal airflow is obstructed. The recommendation is to assess airway anatomy first, since forcing nasal breathing with a blocked airway could be unsafe.
Humming as a Nitric Oxide Stimulus
Humming is described as increasing nitric oxide in exhaled breath through frequency-related activation in the sinuses. The effect is presented as variable by anatomy and reduced in older people if nitric oxide enzymes are impaired.
Sunlight and Red or Infrared Light for Nitric Oxide
Light exposure is framed as a trigger for nitric oxide release through UV and infrared mechanisms. The discussion recommends daily sunlight and mentions red light beds or infrared saunas as additional options.
Overall Strategy to Preserve Nitric Oxide
The closing checklist focuses on removing disruptors like fluoride, mouthwash, antacids, and sugar while supporting basics like balanced diet, moderate exercise, and light exposure. The underlying theme is maintaining functional nitric oxide pathways and supportive microbiomes.