Podcast Summary

Podcast: New Books Network
Episode: Camesia O. Matthews, "The Dental Fitness Advantage"
Host: Kaylee Tees Harlow
Guest: Dr. Kamisha O. Matthews
Date: December 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Dr. Kamisha O. Matthews, a general and sports dentist, discussing her book The Dental Fitness Advantage: How a Healthy Mouth Enhances Total Body Health and Elevates Performance. The conversation explores the overlooked connection between oral health and overall wellness, breaking down Dr. Matthews’s unique concept of “dental fitness”, addressing dental anxiety, and offering practical, empowering strategies for listeners to improve both their oral and their total body health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Matthews’ Journey and Motivation

• Background: Dr. Matthews recounts her path from a childhood love of science in Antigua to clinical microbiology and ultimately, dentistry in Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Reason for the Book: Dr. Matthews was motivated to write The Dental Fitness Advantage after realizing that oral health is often missing from broader wellness conversations, even among otherwise health-conscious individuals.

  “Even health conscious people, you know, people are ice bath and, you know, saunas and different things. And the oral health conversation, they're like, I didn't know that.” (03:52)

Pop Culture and Dental Anxiety (05:00–08:25)

• Negative Portrayals: Dr. Matthews explains how media and pop culture fuel dental anxiety, referencing 'Little Shop of Horrors', 'Final Destination', and a recent SNL sketch.
• Impact on Care: These depictions can cause apprehension and deter people—especially children—from seeking dental care.
• Need for Change: She advocates for more positive representation of dentistry in media and for integrating dentists into health-centered TV shows to combat stigma.

  “That portrayal just feeds dental anxiety... It feeds people staying away from coming in and getting care... So when you have a conversation and you say certain things, and they're like, oh, I didn’t know that. And you’re like, man, in 2025, people still don’t know some of this.” (07:41)

The Four Types of Dental Patients (09:00–11:01)

Dr. Matthews introduces a self-created typology to help listeners identify their own approach to dental care:

• Firefighters: Emergency-only patients; show up only when there’s pain or an urgent issue.
• Upkeepers: Consistent, prevention-focused patients who never miss routine cleanings.
• Glow Getters: Primarily care about cosmetic aspects—the look and whiteness of their teeth.
• Peak Performers: Strive for optimal dental fitness, asking questions about systemic impact, diet, and daily routines.

Most common in her practice: Firefighters and Upkeepers.

The Five Pillars of Dental Fitness (11:29–15:41)

Dr. Matthews organizes her approach around five “pillars”:

1. Prevention (Biochemical pillar)
   • Maintains the oral microbiome, saliva, and dentinal fluid in optimal balance.
2. Posture (Structural pillar)
   • Concerns jaw, teeth, and muscle alignment; affects sleep, airflow, and performance.
3. Protection
   • Prevents injury from sports, grinding, or improper use of teeth.
4. Presentation (Social pillar)
   • Focuses on confidence, breath, and social presence.
5. Psychology (Mindset pillar)
   • Addresses dental anxiety, mindset, family history, and trauma.

   “Psychology is really, really an important pillar. And that’s the synopsis of all five.” (14:36)

Addressing Dental Anxiety (16:09–19:58)

• Open Communication: Dr. Matthews encourages patients to actively share their fears and anxieties.

  “I am the most happy when a patient says, doc, I have severe dental anxiety. Because now I know how to work with you.” (16:09)

• Practical Approaches: Recommends pre-appointment conversations, bringing a friend for support, gradual exposure, and mindfulness techniques.

Building Trust with Children (20:04–21:48)

• Honesty & Preparation: Essential to explain every step to children and build trust. Early, routine dental visits help normalize the experience.

  “For kids, what works best is for them to know every single thing you’re going to do.” (20:22)

Dental Visits as Gym Sessions (24:10–26:09)

• Training vs. Emergency: Dr. Matthews likens dental check-ups to gym workouts, emphasizing regular maintenance over waiting for emergencies.

  “When you think of the gym, you don’t think of it as an emergency room... That’s how you should think of your oral health.” (24:10)

The Case for Flossing and Home Care (26:22–29:52)

• Flossing Explained: Beyond habit, flossing is framed as essential for maintaining the oral microbiome and preventing nighttime bacterial overgrowth.

  “If you ever floss and smell the floss, you understand the food that’s there is rotting in your mouth and causing you to be out of balance.” (26:59)

• Water Picks: Useful adjunct, not a replacement for flossing.

  “...Sometimes things get a little deeper down the gum in pockets that... water floss will [not] get to... It’s a great tool... but I’m not comfortable saying replace flossing...” (28:38)

Oral Health and Systemic Disease (29:52–33:17)

• Invisible Risks: Poor oral health is tightly connected to over 55 systemic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and infertility.

  “Research is saying that poor oral health is linked to 55 different systemic diseases... and we want you to stay out of the inflammation stage.” (30:20)

• Early Signs: Oral infection is often a first indicator of broader immune or health issues.

The Dental/Medical Divide and Insurance Barriers (33:17–38:14)

• Insurance Separation: Dr. Matthews critiques the artificial split between dental and medical insurance, noting its history and negative impact.

  “The way I see dental insurance going right now, it’s pretty much a glorified coupon... Sadly, it should be way more than that.” (35:30)

• Alternative Payment Models: Clinics are developing creative solutions like payment plans and subscriptions, given insurance shortcomings.
• Integration in Medicine: Highlights changing medical protocols—e.g., cardiologists requiring dental infection clearance before surgery.

Changing the Culture & Conversation (38:14–40:45)

• Oral Health in Wellness Programs: Dr. Matthews advocates for including dental care in workplace and public health initiatives.

  “Your employees need to understand how their oral health affects how they're performing, whether it's in the boardroom or not... It’s a blind spot…” (39:21)

Dental Fitness Score and Resources (40:45–43:10)

• Self-Assessment Tool: Dr. Matthews created the Dental Fitness Score app—accessible by QR code in the book or at dentalfitnesspillars.com—to help people assess their strengths and weaknesses across the five pillars.
• Newsletter and App: Offers deeper weekly insights and updates for ongoing support.

Emotional Takeaways and Call to Action (43:10–45:56)

• Mindset Shift: Dr. Matthews urges listeners to reframe dental care as empowering—not shameful or fear-based—and to see oral and total health as fundamentally linked.

  “I want people to feel less shame and fear and more curiosity and empowerment... This is not just about my mouth. This is actually my whole health.” (44:13)

• Start Small, Stay Consistent: Even one small habit—like flossing nightly or scheduling a cleaning—is a worthwhile start toward “dental fitness.”

  “Just like we like to be, the gyms are full in the new year, I say put oral health as one of the resolutions...” (45:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media Portrayals & Anxiety:
  “That portrayal just feeds dental anxiety. It feeds people staying away from coming in and getting care, from being curious, from gathering information. And so it's really something I hope to see change because there's so much more to dentistry that's positive.” (07:41)

• The Four Patient Types:
  “The firefighters... only see them in an emergency... The upkeepers... love getting clean... The glow getters... only concerned with how their teeth look... The peak performers... care about the overall thing about their mouth.” (09:00–09:57)

• On Flossing:
  “If you ever floss and smell the floss, you understand that the food that's there is rotting in your mouth and it's causing you to be out of balance.” (26:59)

• On Mindset and Dental Fitness:
  “Strong mouth, strong body, strong life. Instead of seeing the mouth as something that you deal with when there's an emergency only… I want people to feel less shame and fear and more curiosity and empowerment.” (43:45)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:34 – Introduction of Dr. Matthews and her journey
• 05:00 – Dental anxiety and media representations
• 09:00 – Four types of dental patients
• 11:29 – The five pillars of dental fitness
• 16:09 – Overcoming dental anxiety in patients
• 20:04 – Techniques for working with children
• 24:10 – Dental visits as gym sessions (training vs. emergency mindset)
• 26:22 – Flossing, water picks, and daily habits
• 29:52 – Oral health’s link to systemic disease
• 33:17 – Insurance, cost, and the medical/dental divide
• 38:14 – Changing cultural conversations about dental health
• 40:45 – Dental Fitness Score app and newsletter
• 43:10 – Emotional takeaways, action steps, and closing advice

Additional Resources

• Dental Fitness Score App & Newsletter: dentalfitnesspillars.com
• The Dental Fitness Advantage by Dr. Kamisha O. Matthews (Playbook Scholars, 2025)

Final Note:
Dr. Matthews challenges us all to rethink oral health as an active, empowering, integral part of total body wellness. Whether you’re a firefighter, glow getter, or aspiring peak performer, her advice is: start small, stay curious, and bring dental fitness into your everyday life.