I have a major announcement coming this Friday, December 15. I can’t share the details yet, but you’ll be the first to know. Please join me for an Instagram Live at 11:30 am Pacific on Friday, December 15 for the reveal.
Now, two new studies have sparked an intriguing idea: what if your oral care routine could help with weight control? 🍔🍟🌭🍕
If you haven’t been paying attention to your oral microbiome, it might be affecting your appetite and leading to overeating.
A recent study challenges the traditional view of appetite control. This research suggests that our sense of taste — not signals from the stomach — plays a central role in regulating how much we eat.
We once believed that stretch receptors in the stomach signaled fullness (satiety) and told us when to stop eating.
But this new work indicates it’s not the volume of food in the stomach that determines satisfaction after a meal; rather, it’s the quality of taste.
So how do you know whether your taste receptors are functioning optimally?
Research shows that oral microbiome dysbiosis can blunt your ability to taste certain flavors. When taste sensitivity declines, you may eat more to chase satisfaction.
What can you do to support a healthy oral microbiome and preserve taste?
1) Use the right toothpaste. Avoid toothpastes that contain essential oils or other ingredients that can disrupt the oral microbiome. Choosing gentler, microbiome-friendly formulations helps protect your taste and oral health.
2) Floss. Regular flossing removes food and bacterial buildup between teeth and along the gum line, supporting a balanced oral ecosystem.
3) Tongue scraping. Scraping the tongue reduces bacterial load on the tongue surface, where many microbes that affect taste reside.
4) Take an oral probiotic. Targeted oral probiotics can help rebalance the oral microbiome and support healthy taste function.
5) Nourish with prebiotic foods. Prebiotic foods for the mouth can help feed beneficial oral microbes and support a resilient microbiome.
6) Consider an oral microbiome program. Structured programs or courses focused on resetting and maintaining the oral microbiome can provide practical guidance and routines to follow.
In Episode #105 of the podcast, I discuss hydroxyapatite and whether it’s safe. If this topic interests you, give the episode a listen and feel free to reply with any questions. I try to respond to as many messages as I can.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been sharing this information. I recently appeared on the Ultimate Health Podcast, and the host told me the episode performed exceptionally well. We may be reaching a turning point in public awareness about oral health — and that’s because of your support and for sharing these ideas with friends and family.
The holidays often put extra stress on the oral microbiome. I did an Instagram Live with oral microbiome expert Dr. David Lin; the recording is available if you missed it, and you can leave follow-up questions in the comments.
Thanks for reading this week. I’d love to hear from you: what would you like to see more of in this newsletter? Shorter, more concise emails usually get a faster reply from me, so keep that in mind if you’re hoping for a direct response.
P.S. Would you prefer a “Dr. B’s gift guide” or a “What’s in my vitamin cabinet” post? I’d love to know which you’d like to see next.