I shared the story of losing my parents to early onset dementia in last week’s newsletter (link in case you missed it) and I was blown away by the response. Hundreds of you wrote back. Many shared your own stories of watching loved ones suffer through dementia, cancer, or chronic disease. So that’s what today …
The post What I wish my parents knew before they got sick appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

I want to share something I was never taught in dental school, but I wish I had been. It would’ve changed how I practiced from day one, and it might change how you think about your own health. Your mouth isn’t dirty—it’s alive. I was trained to treat the mouth like a battlefield. Kill the …
The post What I Wish Dental School Had Taught Me About the Oral Microbiome appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

Both of my parents died of dementia-related illnesses. Watching them lose their memory, personality, and ultimately independence twice over was devastating. But it also lit a fire in me. I’ve realized: dementia isn’t just something that “happens” in old age. It’s the accumulation of decades of small hits—chronic inflammation, mitochondrial decline, poor sleep, oral disease, …
The post After losing both of my parents to dementia, this one thing became non-negotiable… appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

Today’s newsletter is more technical than usual. If you love data, you’ll enjoy this deep dive—it exposes one of the biggest myths in oral health right now. For those who prefer the plain-English version, here’s a simple breakdown of what you’ll learn: There’s a funny thing that happens in the world of health… Someone misreads the …
The post Why I refused to add 10% hydroxyapatite to our toothpaste… appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

Back in dental school, I’d stay up late studying with a plate of my wife’s chocolate chip cookies as fuel. I brushed at 1am, but still woke up with dragon breath. I chalked it up to stress and exhaustion, but now I know it was an early lesson in how the oral microbiome drives bad breath. …
The post What finally fixed my dragon breath appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

I love skiing in the winter. But every time I’m out on the slopes, I cringe when I see the water vapor people lose on every exhale. I can’t help but think: they’re losing water fast, they’ll feel it in sore muscles later, and when they get home? Bad breath. Mouth breathing dries out the …
The post No One’s Explained Your Bad Breath Like This Before… appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

If you live with dry mouth, you’ll recognize these struggles right away. Dry mouth can happen for many reasons—common medications, aging, or autoimmune conditions like Sjögren’s (where dry mouth is one of the hallmark symptoms). Here’s what’s really happening—and what you can do about it. What’s Really Going OnDry mouth is a symptom, not a …
The post Why your mouth feels like cotton at 2am appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

When I first started seeing patients in Silicon Valley, I noticed something odd.  Many of my South Asian patients had mild yellow-orange staining, often along the gumline or on the surface of molars on their teeth.  When I asked about their diets, turmeric came up again and again. I reassured them the stains weren’t a …
The post Why I Take Turmeric Every Day appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

I’m always testing new ways to optimize my health, but some habits become non-negotiables—things I’d never skip. This week, I’m sharing a few that have made a real difference in my brain health, longevity, and energy. Before we begin, let’s kick things off with a quick quiz: Q: What small oral health tool may reduce …
The post The One Supplement I’ll Never Skip + My Must-Haves This Week appeared first on Ask the Dentist.

This issue is sponsored by Fatty15 – the first pure C15:0 fatty acid supplement, clinically shown to support cell health, longevity, and metabolic function. Learn why NASA scientists take Fatty15 and see the clinical research. Eight years ago, I told you something that made a lot of people raise their eyebrows: The mouthwash sitting on your …
The post Skip the rinse, save your heart appeared first on Ask the Dentist.