Chasing Life: “Why You Should Brush Your Teeth Before Breakfast”
Podcast: Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Guest: Dr. Kami Haas, dentist and orthodontic specialist, author of If Your Mouth Could Talk
Date: January 30, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode digs deep into oral health, challenging long-held hygiene habits and revealing surprising connections between dental care and overall well-being. Dr. Sanjay Gupta and expert guest Dr. Kami Haas discuss optimal daily routines, the science behind fluoride and its alternatives, dental product myths, and how a healthy mouth impacts the rest of your body. Listeners walk away with actionable tips and a better understanding of how to keep their smiles—and themselves—healthier for life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dental Anxiety and Prevalence of Tooth Decay
- Dental Anxiety: Nearly three-quarters of Americans have some degree of dental fear, likely fueled by pop culture depictions (00:16).
- Prevalence: Tooth decay is the world’s most common health condition, surpassing cancer and heart disease. Untreated cavities top the list for both kids and adults (00:17–01:09).
- “The number one most common health condition in the world is … tooth decay.” (Dr. Sanjay Gupta, 00:16)
2. The Complexity of Oral Health
- The mouth is an “organ with multiple things that are functioning with a whole world of oral microbes” (Dr. Haas, 01:09).
- Oral health is far more than just brushing and avoiding sugar; it involves care for teeth, gums, tongue, and oral flora.
3. Dr. Haas’s Optimal Oral Care Routine
Morning Routine (Before Breakfast)
- Non-Antimicrobial Mouthwash: Use an alkaline mouthwash (not one that kills 99% of germs) to freshen up and loosen plaque (03:38–03:44).
- Flossing: Once daily—either morning or night (04:45).
- Tongue Cleaning: Use a proper tongue cleaner for best results—Dr. Haas prefers those with a brush and scoop combination (03:45–04:55).
- Brushing Teeth: Safe brush and toothpaste.
Nighttime Routine (Before Bed)
- Floss First: Especially critical—you get most cavities between teeth; prefer floss with infused toothpaste ingredients (05:21–06:24).
- Brushing Teeth: Use a gentle, effective toothpaste.
- Mouthwash Last: Swish and do not rinse with water afterward, so it protects the teeth overnight.
“In the morning—before breakfast, not after—I start with a very safe and effective mouthwash…” (Dr. Kami Haas, 03:38)
“At night… do everything you did in the morning, but backwards. You do the flossing first… The last thing you do at night is use the mouthwash and swish it around really vigorously and spit it out. Don’t rinse anymore with water.” (Dr. Kami Haas, 05:21)
4. Fluoride: Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives
- Fluoride’s Role: Naturally occurring mineral that prevents and can reverse early tooth decay by aiding remineralization (02:10–03:25).
- Controversy: Fluoride makes teeth acid-resistant but can cause enamel discoloration (fluorosis) or toxicity at high doses or with overexposure in children (08:04–08:22).
- Personalization: Use fluoride when benefits outweigh risks—e.g., teens with braces, people at high risk for decay. Not recommended for babies/pregnant women if risk is unnecessary (08:22–10:18).
- Alternatives: Nano hydroxyapatite—a “liquid enamel” that remineralizes, whitens, desensitizes, and promotes oral health without killing beneficial microbes (10:18–13:26, 27:13–28:54).
“Fluoride works. It’s not a controversial thing. We know that fluoride makes the teeth more acid-resistant. … Why all the controversy? Because it also has some side effects.” (Dr. Kami Haas, 08:04)
“Nano hydroxyapatite… is a biomimetic version of your own enamel. It naturally whitens teeth … reduces sensitivity because it’s literally liquid enamel.” (Dr. Kami Haas, 13:11 & 27:21)
- Customization is Key: There’s no “one-size-fits-all;” family members may have radically different needs—pregnant women, elders, teens with braces, etc. (10:28–13:26).
5. The Oral Microbiome, Nutrients, and pH
- Oral health is determined by more than enamel care or a single ingredient (like fluoride).
- Consider supporting the oral biome and teeth through:
- Alkaline pH
- Nutrients: Vitamin D, K2, calcium
- Prebiotics for healthy oral flora (14:35–15:44, 13:26–15:44)
6. Flossing and Dental Education
- Flossing prevents interproximal (between-the-teeth) cavities; not all flosses are equal. Use flosses that expand and avoid those with “forever chemicals” (18:00–18:35).
- Dental professionals get shockingly little education about prevention and products—often only a single hour in dental school (19:07).
“We had one hour on oral care products. All I remember they said, use something with fluoride. That was it. … I think it’s shocking.” (Dr. Kami Haas, 19:07)
7. Oral Health’s Impact on Overall Health
- Poor oral health can impact heart, pregnancy (preterm birth, preeclampsia), respiratory tract (e.g., increased pneumonia risk if tongue is not cleaned), and even COVID-19 outcomes (23:35–24:59).
- “Your mouth is not just enamel… it is one of the most important organs in your body.” (Dr. Haas, 24:59)
8. Bad Breath and Teeth Whitening
- Bad Breath: Primarily from tongue and between teeth; tongue cleaning and flossing are essential (26:07–27:10).
- Teeth Whitening:
- Hydrogen peroxide bleaches work but can increase sensitivity and long-term damage.
- Nano hydroxyapatite naturally whitens and strengthens teeth—Dr. Haas (jokingly) says, “If I wasn’t married, I would marry nano hydroxyapatite.” (27:13–28:54)
Notable Quotes
-
On Oral Health’s Complexity:
“Your mouth is more complex. It’s an organ with multiple things that are functioning with a whole world of oral microbes.”
(Dr. Kami Haas, 01:09) -
On Rethinking Fluoride:
“By obsessing over this one ingredient, it doesn’t allow us to focus on the rest of the ingredients, on the rest of the mouth, on how the body works and how the mouth works.”
(Dr. Kami Haas, 09:43) -
On Customization and the Risk of the “One-size-fits-all” Model:
“If something that’s almost entirely preventable is the most prevalent disease on the planet among adults and kids, maybe we should reconsider what we’ve been telling people, right?”
(Dr. Kami Haas, 14:35) -
On Bad Breath:
“I can just being in the distance of talking, I can smell if there are types of person that flosses their teeth or not.”
(Dr. Kami Haas, 27:01) -
On Ingredient Obsession:
“It would be as if in medicine, the only thing we talked about for 30 years was the benefits of broccoli. One thing.”
(Dr. Kami Haas, 06:53) -
On Nano Hydroxyapatite:
“If I wasn’t married, I would marry Nano hydroxyapatite just because it has so many benefits. My wife, I hope she doesn’t listen to this podcast.”
(Dr. Kami Haas, 28:44)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Dental Anxiety & Prevalence: 00:02–01:09
- The Oral Microbiome Explained: 01:09–01:24, 14:35–15:44
- Dr. Haas’s Routine: 03:31–06:24
- Fluoride Debate & Individualization: 07:25–13:26
- Flossing Evidence: 17:39–18:35
- Education Gaps in Dentistry: 18:50–19:07
- Customization in Oral Care: 21:47–23:13
- Oral Health & Overall Wellness: 23:13–24:59
- Bad Breath & Teeth Whitening: 26:07–28:54
Memorable Moments
- Dr. Haas revealing his journey to writing his book after realizing, “I actually panicked… I don’t know what toothpaste to give my own child!” (20:32–21:47)
- The tongue cleaner “love story” with nano hydroxyapatite (28:44).
- The admonition that “oral health IS systemic health”—affecting everything from cardiovascular disease to socioeconomic outcomes.
Takeaways
- Brush your teeth before breakfast, not after, to avoid damaging softened enamel.
- Optimal oral care routine: mouthwash ➔ floss ➔ tongue cleaning ➔ brushing.
- Rethink fluoride as a universal solution; personalize based on individual risk and need.
- Nano hydroxyapatite is a promising, multifaceted alternative ingredient.
- Don’t neglect tongue cleaning or the quality/composition of your dental products.
- Oral health is holistic, impacting and reflecting the body’s overall health.
This episode challenges myths, supports science, and delivers a practical, nuanced guide to lifelong oral (and overall) health.