Ask Me Anything (AMA): Oral Health, Healthspan, and Longevity with Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver, MS, RD, CSSD

02/07/24 • 55 min

Did you know that your oral health has a profound impact on healthspan and longevity?

Do you want to learn about the connections between oral health, healthspan, and longevity and what you can do to improve your oral health to help you live longer and add more healthy years to your life?

This episode of Longevity by Design is an Ask Me Anything (AMA) between Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver, MS, RD, CSSD, where they dive into the often-overlooked importance of oral health for healthspan and longevity. They gathered and answered questions asked by the Longevity by Design audience, with the scientific evidence indicating that oral health is not just about a nice smile but also has a startling link with healthspan and longevity.

Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver begin by defining what oral health and oral frailty are. They discuss that good oral health is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being, whereas poor oral health can lead to various dental and health problems. They then answer questions on the oral microbiome and what you should know about it. They also answer questions on how oral health is connected to the health of the rest of the body, healthspan, and longevity–with an emphasis on mortality, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Importantly, Dr. Blander and Ashley answer questions backed by science on what you can do to improve your oral health. They conclude by addressing questions on the influence of nutrition on oral health and the not-so-obvious but intriguing evidence on the link between oral health and physical fitness and function.

Listen to all episodes of Longevity by Design at https://info.insidetracker.com/longevitybydesign
Episode timestamps:

Introduction: 00:00-01:44
What is the reason for choosing the topic of oral health, healthspan, and longevity: 01:44-03:11
What is oral health: 03:12-04:23
How is oral health connected to healthspan and longevity: 04:24-09:01
What is oral frailty: 09:02-10:04
What is the oral microbiome and what is known about the oral microbiome: 10:05-14:59
What is the relationship between oral health and cognitive health: 15:00-19:36
What is the relationship between oral health and cardiovascular diseases: 19:37-23:43
What is the relationship between oral health and diabetes: 23:44-28:01
Preventing versus treating diseases: 28:02-30:54
How to improve oral health: 30:55-31:42
- When should I brush my teeth in the morning, before or after breakfast: 31:43-33:51
- How long should I brush my teeth? How do I know if I am brushing them correctly and for the right amount of time: 33:52-35:38
- Should I use toothpaste with fluoride in it: 35:38-36:15
- How often should I floss? What is a water flosser, and is it beneficial: 36:16-38:15
- Should I use a mouthwash: 38:15-42:27
What is the influence of nutrition on oral health: 42:28-48:35
Is there a connection between oral health and physical fitness and physical function: 48:36-51:14
Summary: 51:15-55:42

Did you know that your oral health has a profound impact on healthspan and longevity?

Listen to all episodes of Longevity by Design at https://info.insidetracker.com/longevitybydesign
Episode timestamps:

Introduction: 00:00-01:44
What is the reason for choosing the topic of oral health, healthspan, and longevity: 01:44-03:11
What is oral health: 03:12-04:23
How is oral health connected to healthspan and longevity: 04:24-09:01
What is oral frailty: 09:02-10:04
What is the oral microbiome and what is known about the oral microbiome: 10:05-14:59
What is the relationship between oral health and cognitive health: 15:00-19:36
What is the relationship between oral health and cardiovascular diseases: 19:37-23:43
What is the relationship between oral health and diabetes: 23:44-28:01
Preventing versus treating diseases: 28:02-30:54
How to improve oral health: 30:55-31:42
- When should I brush my teeth in the morning, before or after breakfast: 31:43-33:51
- How long should I brush my teeth? How do I know if I am brushing them correctly and for the right amount of time: 33:52-35:38
- Should I use toothpaste with fluoride in it: 35:38-36:15
- How often should I floss? What is a water flosser, and is it beneficial: 36:16-38:15
- Should I use a mouthwash: 38:15-42:27
What is the influence of nutrition on oral health: 42:28-48:35
Is there a connection between oral health and physical fitness and physical function: 48:36-51:14
Summary: 51:15-55:42

Previous Episode

How Our Blood Impacts Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray

In this insightful episode of Longevity by Design, hosts Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver welcome Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray, a distinguished expert in neurology and brain aging. Dr. Wyss-Coray shares his journey from a childhood fascination with nature to becoming a leading figure in neuroscience and immunology. His initial interest in farming evolved into a passion for understanding the complexities of the human brain, particularly in the context of aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Wyss-Coray discusses his groundbreaking research on Alzheimer's disease and the aging brain. He dives into the intriguing discovery that factors in young blood can rejuvenate older brains, offering potential pathways for treating age-related cognitive decline. This revelation has significant implications for understanding and potentially mitigating the effects of aging on the brain.
The episode also explores Dr. Wyss-Coray's transition from Switzerland to the U.S., highlighting the cultural and scientific opportunities that influenced his career. His journey underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration in advancing our understanding of complex medical challenges like Alzheimer's disease. This conversation provides a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of immunology, neurology, and the quest to unlock the secrets of longevity.
Listen to all episodes of Longevity by Design at https://info.insidetracker.com/longevitybydesign
Episode timestamps:

Introduction: 0:00-2:12
Why Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray became a scientist: 02:13-03:35
Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray’s career journey studying immunology, neuroscience, and aging: 03:36-07:02
Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray’s personal story on why he decided to stay in the US: 07:03-11:20
Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray’s story on becoming the founder of three biotech companies and what they do: 11:21-15:12
Introduction to Dr. Wyss-Coray’s research on proteomics and organ-specific aging: 15:13-15:52
What is proteomics: 15:53-16:39
What are the SomaLogic and Olink technologies for measuring proteins: 16:40-19:37
What are the links between blood-based proteins, organ-specific biological aging, and chronic disease risk: 19:38-28:35
Is aging a disease: 28:36-31:01
The three waves of aging based on proteomic analysis: 31:02-37:29
Are changes in blood proteins the cause or effect of aging: 37:30-43:46
What are the effects of parabiosis and blood transfusion on gene expression and aging: 43:47-50:58
The future of blood transfusions and synthetic drugs for improving healthspan and preventing neurodegenerative diseases: 50:59-55:07
Are the effects of parabiosis or blood transfusions short-term, mid-term, or long-term: 55:08-59:17
Proteomics for understanding organ aging, identifying potential drug targets, and young blood transfusions for rejuvenation: 59:18-01:01:58
Biological aging of organs: 01:01:59-01:10:29
What are the effects of fat tissue or obesity on metabolic health and mortality: 01:10:30-01:12:06
What is the effect of accelerated brain aging on cognition and neurodegeneration: 01:12:17-01:15:52
What can people do themselves to identify if they have accelerated brain aging: 01:15:53-01:18:27
Sleep improves blood biomarkers: 01:18:28-01:19:09
Top tip for healthspan: 01:19:10-01:21:44

Next Episode

The Impact of Exercise on Blood Biomarkers and InsideTracker’s New DNA Healthspan Report with Dr. Bartek Nogal

In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Gil Blander and Ashley Reaver, MS, RD, CSSD, sit down with Dr. Bartek Nogal from InsideTracker to explore the cutting-edge intersections of exercise, genetics, blood biomarkers, health optimization, and longevity. Dr. Bartek Nogal, with a strong background in biological engineering and genomics, dives into how personalized health data can shape our understanding of aging and wellness. He discusses InsideTracker's new innovative approach to using DNA analysis for tailoring health interventions, emphasizing the importance of actionable guidance for optimizing blood biomarkers and extending healthspan and longevity.

Dr. Bartek Nogal shares compelling insights into the latest findings from InsideTracker's peer-reviewed published study on the effect of running on blood biomarkers and metabolic health, along with the influence of genetics—highlighting the power of exercise combined with the added value genetics provide for even greater personal health optimization. Dr. Nogal also discusses InsideTracker’s new innovative DNA healthspan report and the enhanced information and deeper insights it provides.

The conversation is a deep dive into how technology bridges the gap between scientific research and everyday health practices, offering listeners a roadmap to a longer, healthier life. Listeners will leave with a clear understanding of the power of exercise on blood biomarkers and genomics for personal health and practical tips for leveraging their genetic information to make even better-informed lifestyle choices. This episode is a testament to the evolving landscape of health and science, where the fusion of data, technology, and personalized insights paves the way for a future of optimized health and longevity.
Listen to all episodes of Longevity by Design at https://info.insidetracker.com/longevitybydesign
Episode timestamps:

Introduction: 00:00-02:32
What led Dr. Bartek Nogal to become a scientist: 02:33-03:27
Dr. Bartek Nogal’s career at InsideTracker: 03:28-04:02
InsideTracker’s peer-reviewed study: Dose response of running on blood biomarkers of wellness in generally healthy individuals (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37967046/): 04:03-06:46
What is principal component analysis (PCA), and what were the findings using PCA: 06:47-07:56
What is the effect of running blood biomarkers? What is the effect of the amount of running on blood biomarkers?: 07:57-09:27
What was the effect of running on BMI (body mass index): 09:28-10:44
What is Mendelian randomization, and what is the relationship of genetics with exercise and blood biomarkers? : 10:45-12:40
What is the influence of genes on the relationship between exercise and diet: 12:41-13:33
What are the strengths of Mendelian randomization for understanding the influence of genetics: 13:34-17:05
What were the key findings from InsideTracker’s study on the effect of running on blood biomarkers 17:06-18:56
What is InsideTracker’s new DNA report? What was the motivation for developing this new DNA healthspan report: 18:57-20:31
What additional information and insights does InsideTracker’s new DNA report and scores provide: 20:32-28:41
How much do genes or lifestyle influence blood biomarkers and risk of developing diseases: 28:42-32:24
How to use InsideTracker’s new DNA and healthspan scores to optimize blood biomarkers and health: 32:25-34:28
What is the future of genetics research: 34:29-36:36
What is the future of genetic testing at InsideTracker: 36