Dr. B’s Recommended Products

Take all the calcium you want, it won’t go to bones and teeth without Vitamin K2 on board. The modern diet is deficient in K2, but ancestral diets were not. Learn how K2 prevents osteoporosis and even the need for braces.

Unlike other lip tapes, this one does not cover the mouth. Instead, it gently surrounds the mouth. Its light elastic tension brings the lips together so the wearer can maintain a closed mouth, ensuring correct resting tongue position and nasal breathing. Designed by one of the pioneers in this space, Patrick McKeown.

Use these stainless steel containers to store your retainer, night guard, or other dental device when not in use.

This is the brush I recommend for the under 40 crowd, especially teenagers and young adults, because the motion specific to Oral-B is best at reducing the biofilm, which tends to be the biggest challenge for this age group. Do NOT use the heads that this brush comes with, as they’re not soft enough—instead, use these extra soft heads OR these cross-action heads which are best for whitening (by removing stains).

This is something I use daily—mix it in water or add to smoothies or drinks for the kids. Probiotics get most of the air time, but all the probiotics in the world aren’t going to help unless you’re getting sufficient PREbiotics (you can think of them as fertilizer for probiotics). It can be difficult to get enough prebiotics from diet alone, which is why I include this powder in my green smoothies or a glass of water daily. Prebiotics FEED the microbiome, and probiotics SEED it, and you need both!

These are awesome. Way better than a bag of ice. If you’re going to have any kind of oral surgery, make sure you have one of these.

Particularly useful for relieving pain after wisdom tooth surgery or caused by a tooth abscess, use this pillow to elevate your head at night.

If I could make one change to the dental school curriculum, it would be adding this book. The author is a world-renowned oral microbiome researcher. A must-read for dentists, hygienists, and patients.

Read my full review here.

Pete’s has completely transformed our dinner ritual. If you want perfect oral health but don’t have time to cook, this is it. My wife and I eat these several times a week and when our five-year-old granddaughter visits, she specifically requests Pete’s!

Page-turner that I could not put down. A wake up call that should be read by every dentist, dental/hygiene student, physician, legislator in the US about the inequalities and flaws in the oral health system that affect us all.

This is something I use as an adjunct to mouth taping. Use this an hour or two before bedtime with just a few squirts in the nostrils to help you nasal breathe. It’s also fantastic for the nasal oral microbiome, which is part of the oral microbiome—an essential key ingredient for optimal oral health.

This thing changes the game when it comes to flossing. I’m a fan of floss sticks in general since they eliminate the hassle of manual floss—plus, Alzheimer’s runs in my family which is my main driver for flossing (personally). This device takes it to the next level with a vibratory motion that improves plaque disruption. Use code “askthedentist” for 10% off.

The perfect first electric toothbrush. Also excellent for sensory issues. I love that it’s not too powerful, so it’s not scary, and doesn’t damage enamel. Also ideal for adults with small mouths. Note: I do not recommend their toothpaste, as it contains fluoride. My readers get $15 off their first refill with code ASKTHEDENTIST.

Has a pH of 8 (alkaline) to help balance pH of the mouth (I verified this myself with pH strips at home.) My readers save 10% with the code ASKTHEDENTIST.

100% silk, which you can add to your compost. Mint flavor. Only downside of silk is that it breaks more easily. Comes in an ultra-mini reusable glass container which is excellent for travel or on-the-go.

Lasts forever, never have to stick your fingers in your mouth to take out your Invisalign or other oral appliance. Stiffer than plastic, looks nice in the bathroom, and lengthens the life of the appliance by preventing it from bending. All dental offices should be giving these away with their Invisalign cases, since it means fewer broken aligners!

If you have sensitive teeth, I recommend testing the pH of your favorite drinks. Buffer acidic drinks with water and wait 30 minutes before brushing. Learn more by reading my Instagram post.

I’ve gone through many cookbooks, since I love to cook. These are some of the most gourmet-tasting I’ve found. Excellent cookbook to have in the kitchen for a food is medicine approach to nourishing the oral microbiome!

Everyone should be using this. This suppresses the S.mutans bug, which is the cavity-causing bug. Supports the oral microbiome and the immune system. I aim for the back of the throat and do a few sprays daily. Could even help with bad breath!

I own three red light therapy units, but THIS company makes the low-EMF unit that I put right up to my mouth to aid gum health and gum recession. Recommend using if you are someone who struggles with any type of bleeding of the gums, from gingivitis to severe gum disease. RLT increases circulation and speeds up the replacement of tissue.

Most dry mouth happens due to mouth breathing at night when your mouth falls open. I mouth tape myself at night, every night, no matter what—even if I have a stuffy nose. Nexcare is my favorite brand, but honorable mention goes to Somnifix which is my wife’s favorite—the difference with Somnifix is that it’s a little more expensive and has a vent.

The Goby is what I recommend for anyone who’s concerned about plaque buildup and/or staining or is under age 40. The oscillatory motion is best for those needs, and the subscription model increases the chances you’ll change your toothbrush head often, which is essential for any toothbrush to prevent enamel and gum damage. Here’s my full review of the Goby if you’d like to read more. My readers save 10% off the entire order with the code ASKTHEDENTIST.

This is a better way to buy your meat and fish. Grass-fed and finished meats are essential for giving teeth the nutrition they need to remineralize.

The perfect baby toothbrush for its soft bristles (ensuring a positive experience from day one) as well as the large, rubbery handle that’s easy to babies to grip (and hard to choke on). For how to introduce it, see my YouTube video where I introduce my granddaughter to her first toothbrush.

I encourage everyone to get their oral microbiome tested. You understand not only your risk for conditions like tooth decay, gum inflammation, bad breath, and gut dysbiosis, but also your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide. You’ll then receive personalized oral care and diet recommendations to balance your microbiome and improve your oral and overall health. Use code “DRB” for 10% off.

Healing is all about getting blood to the wound, whether it’s surgical or unintentional. And nitric oxide is the key to improving blood flow to any part of the body. We lose the ability produce nitric oxide after age 40 and the oral microbiome is part of that equation. Tremendously important to supplement!

How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet–One Bite at a Time

An indispensable guide to food, our most powerful tool to reverse the global epidemic of chronic disease, heal the environment, reform politics, and revive economies, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Hyman, MD.

An amino acid that also modulates the oral microbiome by reducing acid-tolerant species. Has been shown to help remineralize teeth by boosting commensal species like S. gordonii and S. sanguis.

A lot of people are sleeping next to circuit breakers and other sources of EMFs. You do not want to have EMFs near you while you’re sleeping—I travel with mine and we’ve literally changed hotel rooms because of this helpful little device.

This is a very easy way to get an active form of arginine into the saliva to help with remineralization of the teeth and oral microbiome. Great for kids and adults.

Our jaws are getting smaller and our teeth crooked and crowded, creating not only aesthetic challenges but also difficulties with breathing. Modern orthodontics has persuaded us that braces and oral devices can correct these problems. While teeth can certainly be straightened, what about the underlying causes of this rapid shift in oral evolution and the health risks posed by obstructed airways?

This is a very TARGETED probiotic for oral health specifically. It contains the specific bugs you need for a healthy oral microbiome. This is an essential part to resetting the oral microbiome. Plus, you chew it or let it dissolve in your mouth instead of swallow it so the bugs get to where they need to go.

This book will guide you through techniques that embody the key to healthy breathing and healthy living. McKeown’s goal is to enable you to take responsibility for your own health, to prevent and significantly reduce a number of common ailments, to help you realize your potential and to offer simple, scientifically-based ways to change your breathing habits. On a day-to-day basis, you will experience an increase in energy and concentration, an enhanced ability to deal with stress and a better quality of life.

Melatonin is not all about sleep! This supplement is a daily supplment you take in the middle of the day to supplement your melatonin levels that deplete as we age. Melatonin is not only for circadian rhythm–it stimulates bone cells that create bone and inhibit cells that break down bone. it promotes tissue regeneration–all important during healing after gum therapy or oral surgery.

Water flossers make it easier to floss around dental work. Some people just prefer how water flossers feel. Since they tend to be expensive and wear out, I tested all the Waterpik knock-offs. This one was by far my favorite. For more, watch my unboxing video on YouTube.

Think of these like fluoride drops but so much better. Helps with bone development and remineralization, and these nutrients are hard to get. Add the drops to breastmilk, food, or water, and start as early as you can!

This is a great combo of D3 and K2, and an inexpensive one.

I don’t recommend it until age 6+ because even the gentle mode is scary for some kids, and used improperly will damage enamel. Comes with stickers for kids to customize their brush, giving kids some ownership and an element of fun, which are key to forming habits that last.

This is such an easy thing to do to protect your child’s brain. A MUST for kids going to school or daycare. Both my grandkids got these as gifts. This water bottle filters out fluoride along with heavy metals, pesticides, etc. Read my blog post on how fluoride affects IQ.

I love hydroxyapatite as a safe fluoride alternative. Many kids toothpastes are fluoride-free, but there’s little benefit (aside from the absence of toxic ingredients) without hydroxyapatite. (Which is why I tell parents to skip the toothpaste altogether if it makes things easier!) My readers save 10% with code ASKTHEDENTIST.

I’ve tested many, many sleep masks. This one actually lives up to the hype. I sleep with mine every night (along with mouth tape and my mandibular advancement device, of course.)

My wife and I won’t travel without them. Doesn’t matter where you travel—even bottled water contains fluoride and other chemicals. Just because it’s bottled water doesn’t mean it’s safe.

This is the most expensive option and will set you back several thousands, but here’s why I have one: you get a lower monthly operating cost, it’s great for well water, and it filters everything out (most importantly, fluoride) for the enter household. Don’t go with this option if you’re renting!

The best way to prepare kids is by ensuring there are no surprises. Gentle, detailed, step-by-step portrayal written by a pediatric dentist, featuring a BIPOC main character. My granddaughter adores this book.

Not too sweet, coconut oil and calcium carbonate based toothpaste. Good for folks avoiding SLS for canker sore concerns. Contains essential oils, but low enough concentration.

For use in a custom whitening gel tray from your dentist. Use overnight for 2-8 weeks for best results. This is the strength (10%) that I recommend, which is also what the EU mandates. This one I’ve linked is exactly the one I use. Don’t be fooled by all the whitening gel knock-offs on Amazon or anything stronger than 10%.

Coated in hydroxyapatite, a fluoride alternative added to toothpaste. There haven’t been any studies on hydroxyapatite floss, but since hydroxyapatite is proven effective in toothpaste, why not get all the remineralization help you can get? My readers save 10% with code ASKTHEDENTIST.

My favorite treat. When I have my continuous glucose monitor on, the Keto Cups don’t spike me at all. They have MCT oil, which is great for before bed. You will always see a bag of these in our pantry.

This oral cavity moisturizer can help protect against the pH imbalance and oral microbiome dysbiosis caused by dry mouth. It is ideal for Sjogren’s syndrome, dry mouth due to medication use, allergies/stuffy nose, and dry mouth from mouth breathing. Do NOT use the mouthwash or toothpaste versions of Biotene, however, because it’s the GEL that works.

For remineralization to occur, we need vitamins A and D on board, which help the body properly absorb and distribute calcium to the teeth and bones. This cod liver oil comes from a high quality, wild-caught source and won’t result in any dreaded fishy burps.

Ultrasonic cleaners are useful for clearing dental appliances like retainers of bacteria buildup. Use baking soda instead of the tablets, which are full of chemicals we don’t want in the mouth.

Grounded in new understandings of the importance of the oral microbiome to overall health. Great primer for how to optimize oral health and well-being.

An air filter is a critical part of the equation for being able to nasal breathe through the night (and even more important for babies and kids.) A lot of times, people are congested in their bedrooms, especially if they can’t open the windows. These are affordable and are AHAM-certified, which Molekule and Medify Air are not.

I love these little tea packets and I take them with me everywhere. They triple-screen for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold. You have to be careful about whatever tea you’re drinking because the plant absorbs these things from the soil. I love tea for its impact on the oral microbiome, and supporting demineralization. It’s a wonderful treat. The non-caffeinated flavor I love is Rooibos and the caffeinated one I drink is called Fermented Pu’er Green Tea.

This is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants a safer alternative to conventional white strips OR is sensitive to hydrogen peroxide. Will take longer, but won’t make your teeth sensitive.

As an avid wine drinker, I was concerned to find out about how toxic most wine is. Most vineyards spray with Roundup and contain dyes and other toxic additives. Dry Farm Wines are all low-alcohol, sugar-free (paleo and keto-friendly) and don’t spike my blood sugar.

Beware—there are many “monkfruit” options on Amazon, but this is the only one that is 100% monkfruit and doesn’t contain erythritol, which is damaging the gut microbiome. I love monkfruit because sugar is tremendously damaging to oral health and is a driver of chronic disease. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the way to go. Add it to your coffee or use it for baking. A little bit goes a long way.

Gum disease is an autoimmune disease. And glutathione is very helpful for supporting the resolution of gum disease because it’s a strong antioxidant.

Bluetooth connectivity gives you real-time feedback on your brushing technique, which I personally love and recommend to anyone who’s working on their brushing technique or anyone who loves data. You can watch my YouTube review of the DiamondClean to learn more.

This is the best, easiest, cheapest way to filter one of the worst neurotoxins out of our water: fluoride. I use mine every day.

Sippy cups cause so many issues, including impaired development of the airway, jaw, swallowing, and tongue—but this cup was intelligently designed by a speech language pathologist with oral and speech development in mind. I have been impressed watching how the EzPz cup is retraining my 10-month old grandson’s habits. EzPz has given the Ask the Dentist community a code you can use for 10% off their entire site: ASKTHEDENTIST

I like this formula because it contains both prebiotics and probiotics, both of which are needed to properly support bacterial diversity in a developing oral microbiome. When my daughter struggled to breastfeed her daughter, she mixed this powder in with her formula.

This is a must-read for BOTH dental practitioners who are new to the field of dental sleep medicine AND anyone who believes they or someone in their family has a sleep breathing issue. This is a science-based and layperson-friendly book that is a comprehensive overview of airway health.

If you’re interested in understanding the vital importance of sleep and how to improve your sleep quality, I highly recommend reading Why We Sleep by Dr. Matthew Walker. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the science behind sleep and its effects on our physical and mental well-being.

Nothing wrong with the metal tongue scrapers, but I love these ones by BreathRx because they’re super slim, cheap, and easy to travel with. Plus, there are four settings—if you’re new to tongue scraping, start out on the softest setting!

This book dives deep into the science behind red/near-infrared light therapy to help you fight inflammation and speed up wound healing (critical for dental health and overall health as well.) Also great info in here about how to improve hormonal health and increase your energy levels.

This under-counter filter uses reverse osmosis technology to filter your tap water. In general, reverse osmosis filters get rid of 60-70% of the fluoride content in your water.

One of my favorites! My copy is full of underlines and I refer to it often. It’s also a page turner that reads almost like a detective story–pretty nice for a health book! The simple story is how the food industry influenced Harvard researchers to demonize fat–but it’s also so much more than that story, too. It’s about how the incompetence of physicians, researchers, pharmaceutical companies all all impact our health, and what to do about it.

If you are a parent or guardian looking to unlock your child’s full potential, this is a must-read. Written by Dr Shereen Lim, a leading expert in dental sleep medicine, this book will provide you with the knowledge and tools to understand airway health and how it can impact your child’s development, sleep quality, learning, behavior, and future health.

A fascinating, life-saving read. No matter how you eat or how much you exercise, none of it matters if you’re not breathing properly. Don’t miss the author’s NPR interview or my interview with James on his YouTube channel.

If you have gum disease and/or are getting periodontal therapy, you need to make sure you have very stable blood sugar levels. There is a correlation between gum disease and insulin sensitivity. This little tool is a great way to verify, with data, that you are truly eating the right foods. You can even test out certain foods. I love mine and use it often.

What makes cold sores so painful is the fact that they’re open sores. This gel works in two ways: (1) it creates a barrier over the open sore to reduce the pain and (2) it speeds up healing by covering the area so the body can lay down new skin. For more info, read my blog posts about cold sores and how to get rid of them.

This tongue retention device helps to reposition your airway during sleep for a comfortable fit. It’s one effective way to address sleep-disordered breathing and bruxism (teeth grinding).

Modulate oral bacteria for better breath, gums, and teeth with a daily mint. It contains beneficial strains and natural ingredients to rebalance your mouth’s microbiome. Invest in your health by prioritizing oral care. Poor oral health is linked to systemic conditions like Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Six clinically studied probiotic strains combat bad breath and gum inflammation. High bacterial concentration and clean ingredients make it effective. Xylitol fights cavity-causing bacteria and reduces tooth decay risk.

If you’re looking to take charge of your health, this is a great place to start. This book reveals the evidence linking many major diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, to a common root cause—insulin resistance—and provides an easy-to-follow plan to reverse and prevent it. It will help you understand the oral-systemic connection better and give you practical advice on how to lead a healthier life.

The active ingredient, hydroxyapatite, is as effective as fluoride without the toxicity to remineralize tooth structure, making it less susceptible to decay. My readers save 10% with code ASKTHEDENTIST.

Babies as young as four months benefit from daily cod liver oil, rich in remineralizing vitamins A and D. It may prevent your child from needing braces one day. My granddaughter started taking a small spoonful of this oil regularly starting at six months old.

Most other dentists will tell you to eat ice cream, but all that sugar can slow down healing. But I recommend ice-cold coconut water to replenish your electrolytes and soothe inflammation after any dental surgery.

Mom’s oral microbiome determines what baby’s oral microbiome will be. Make sure you have the right strains on board throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Highly recommend this—it’s so important and has long-lasting effects on the health of both mom and child.

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production almost immediately, and the xylitol in this gum will help rebalance the oral microbiome (which has suffered from dry mouth episodes). Use with caution if you have any kind of TMD or jaw pain.

This is my favorite travel toothbrush. It folds up into itself, protecting the bristles from germs on dirty hospital sinks, purses and backpacks. The wide massaging head is ideal for gum recession, sensitivity, and bleeding gums. The design reduces toothbrush waste by 93% because you keep the same handle and just replace the heads.

These are watertight leak proof containers so you can travel with your retainers and not let them dry out.

Fluoride-free and dual line floss picks in fun colors and animal shapes like dinosaurs, elephants, and hippos. Comes with a free travel case and a kid-friendly guide plus stickers to get your little ones excited for flossing!

I use the lemon or cinnamon flavors before bed since peppermint is a neural stimulant. Safe for kids to swallow. Good option if you’re avoiding glycerin. Ultra-clean ingredients.

When you improve nasal breathing, you boost nitric oxide production, which boosts a child’s focus, memory, attention at school, and even helps with ADD-like symptoms. Recommended by myofunctional therapists for mouth breathing.

Turmeric is VERY good for the oral microbiome and is also great for supporting gum health. It’s important to not just take turmeric as a supplement—you also want to expose the gums and oral tissues to it, and this tea is a great way to do both of these things.

This is the manual brush I recommend to everyone because it excels in multiple categories: gum recession, sensitivity, bleeding gums. The wide massaging head helps prevent recession and sensitivity since the forces are spread over a great surface area, the design reduces toothbrush waste by 93% because you keep the same handle and just replace the heads.  I also travel with the Radius Travel, which has the exact same head as the regular model.

Don’t overuse prescription medications, especially after oral surgery. Use this pill cutter to take the smallest dose you can of any pain medications you are prescribed.

Great for anyone with sensitive teeth, sensitive gums, or gum recession. The design of the bristles makes it good at digging food out from the pockets and in between the teeth—not a replacement for flossing, but similar to flossing. It will feel a little prickly at first in any areas of your mouth with inflammation—which I think is a fantastic indicator to give you feedback on the areas that need a little more love and attention.

Ideal for wisdom teeth surgery recovery, TMJ, and dental implants. Gel packs can be used in only the affected areas.

We live in a world that has been depleted of minerals due to modern agricultural practices. Because of that, we need to supplement–this helps all the cells in our body function properly and remineralization of teeth! Highly recommend for kids—great for the whole family.

This formula contains a highly bioactive form of vitamin D3 and K2 called menaquinone-7 (MK-7). It’s derived from natto, a Japanese fermented soy food. This liposomal formula allows for maximum absorption.

Great value. None of the bells and whistles, but has the same exact sonic motion of the most expensive Sonicare models. Sonic vibrations help to break up particles of food and bacteria in the open spaces of teeth exposed by gum recession. As always, make sure to purchase and use only the SOFT replacement heads because the head that comes with the brush is too abrasive.

There aren’t many snack foods that I can wholeheartedly recommend, but these make the cut. The brand uses heritage raised on small family farms. Manchego cheese is superior to cow’s cheese and serves to neutralize the acid attack on teeth. All of this results in a readily available, highly satiating snack that is paleo-friendly and nutrient-dense. Plus it’s kid-friendly—my toddler granddaughter eats this stuff up.

There is no easier way to floss than this. No winding the floss around your fingers. Long handle makes it easy to reach in the back with ease. Great for parents flossing kids’ teeth, special needs, and those with poor coordination.

You can add it to your compost, since it’s 100% silk. Provides a deeper clean than other silk floss since it’s a “sponge floss” which is gentler and gets deeper than regular floss. Comes in mint and non-mint flavors. The clove cardamom is wonderful.

If you’re currently being treated for gum disease, you should be taking spermidine during both treatment and healing phase. Spermidine helps rebuild collagen and is fantastic for supporting gum health. Learn more in my podcast episode here.

I recommend parents stash toothbrushes in backpacks and in the car for easy dry brushing on the go. These covers protect toothbrushes from germs and keep them smelling great.

Most prenatals don’t have everything needed for strong dental health for mom and proper oral development for the baby in utero. This is the only one I’ve found that has everything a dentist could want for his patients a single multi: vitamins K2, D3 and E, omega-3s, methylated folate (to prevent tongue tie), iodine, iron, and magnesium.

Super soft bristles are gentle enough for a baby, ensuring positive experiences early on. Second, the 360° design because babies and toddlers can’t twist their wrist to angle a brush properly. For how to introduce it, see my YouTube video where I introduce my granddaughter to her first toothbrush.

Chewable strawberry tablet with targeted oral probiotic strains to support bacterial diversity, which is key for better dental check-ups. I like Hyperbiotics for their strict manufacturing standards and rigorous testing on survivability of strains.

This vitamin K2 supplement contains both the synthetic (MK-4) and natural (MK-7) strains of K2 at doses recommended for therapeutic use.

This is how I keep my retainers and oral appliances clean! Cheap, natural, and effective. You can watch my YouTube video for details on how I use baking soda to clean my retainer.

Specially formulated with probiotics to help nourish the oral microbiome. Great for bad breath concerns.

We need more Vitamin C than we think; Vitamin C requirements were set to prevent scurvy, but are too low for optimal gum health. With Vitamin C on board, the blood vessels in the gums are less likely to become inflamed and necrose. My wife and I swish with this on an empty stomach every morning. Tastes great. Rinse afterwards since it’s acidic!