The cavity risk your dentist isn’t asking about
At my annual physical, my doctor asks about my diet, sleep, and stress levels. When most people go to the dentist, they …
Mondays with Mark
Why Your Cardiologist Should Talk to Your Dentist
Thirty years ago, when I started associating periodontal disease to cardiovascular risk, other dentists told me I was …
On a Statin or SSRI? Read This Before Your Next Dental Cleaning
A patient came to see me many years ago—let’s call her Carol. She was 58, took great care of her teeth, and had …
Why do I keep getting canker sores?
Here’s what most dentists tell you about canker sores: use a numbing gel, avoid spicy foods, and wait it out. …
The supplement that could change postpartum recovery
I was there when my wife gave birth to all three of our daughters. Fast forward 30 years, and my wife and I had the …
Your dentist might catch cancer before your doctor can
These oral bacteria tripled cancer risk in a massive new study. Researchers followed 122,000 people for nearly a decade. …
Why I Stopped Taking My Old Magnesium
You might trust your magnesium supplement. You shouldn’t. Independent labs have found heavy metals—lead, cadmium, …
My two secret weapons against coffee stains
For years in my practice, I saw my patients panic about stains before interviews, weddings, or big events. I even …
What I’d tell you if we sat down to talk longevity over coffee
Last week I shared my personal longevity must‑haves. The response was overwhelming—many of you shared stories of …
What I Wish Dental School Had Taught Me About the Oral Microbiome
I want to share something I was never taught in dental school, but I wish I had been. It would’ve changed how I …
After losing both of my parents to dementia, this one thing became non-negotiable…
Both of my parents died of dementia-related illnesses. Watching them lose their memory, personality, and ultimately …
Why I refused to add 10% hydroxyapatite to our toothpaste…
Today’s newsletter is more technical than usual. If you love data, you’ll enjoy this deep dive—it exposes one of …
No One’s Explained Your Bad Breath Like This Before…
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 …
Why I Take Turmeric Every Day
When I first started seeing patients in Silicon Valley, I noticed something odd. Many of my South Asian patients …
Skip the rinse, save your heart
Eight years ago, I told you something that made a lot of people raise their eyebrows: The mouthwash sitting on your …
My daughters are nearing perimenopause. Here’s what I want them to know.
A new study explains something most people—doctors included—are missing: when estrogen declines, your gums become more …
Instagram’s wrong about this one…
In the U.S., fluoride is considered the gold standard—despite known risks of thyroid disruption, IQ reduction at high …
What I wish more people knew about green tea and your mouth
What if the most powerful, microbiome-friendly mouthwash wasn’t in a plastic bottle—but in your teacup? I used to drink …
I was trained to remove it. Now I help patients protect it.
I used to think biofilm was the enemy. That’s what we were taught in dental school: Scrub harder. Rinse longer. …
What I’m Buying on Prime Day
It’s Prime Day. If you’re planning to stock up, and you’re curious what I’m stocking up on, here are the three …
Is your mouthwash blocking weight loss?
Everyone’s talking about Ozempic. But almost no one is talking about this: You might already have your own version …
Why I Got Fired My First Year as a Dentist
It was the summer of 1982, and I wasn’t a dentist yet. I was a 20-something biochemistry and art history major at the …
The fertility factor no one talks about
You might be tracking your cycle. You might be taking prenatals, getting your body ready, or even weighing fertility …
10 weird things I do to keep my teeth cavity-free
I’ve seen countless patients over the years who brushed and flossed religiously—twice a day, never missed a checkup—and …