Why Your Oral Microbiome Might Be the Missing Link in Your Wellness Journey with Dentist Dr Katie Lee
Why Your Oral Microbiome Might Be the Missing Link in Your Wellness Journey with Dentist Dr Katie Lee
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Katie Lee, a functional and biological dentist, to explore the crucial yet often overlooked connection between oral health and whole-body wellness.
We dive deep into the oral microbiome and why your mouth is the real starting point of your gut health, immune function, and even fertility.
Dr Katie shares the science behind bleeding gums, dental inflammation, and the real reasons cavities and gum disease are more than just mouth problems.
We also explore how to strengthen your (and your child’s) oral microbiome and the surprising systemic effects of poor oral hygiene from heart disease and Alzheimer’s to hormonal imbalance and infertility.
This conversation is packed with actionable tips, the truth about tongue scraping and flossing, and how testing your oral microbiome might be the most important test you haven’t done yet.
Dr Katie and I chat about:
- What the oral microbiome is and why it’s so important
- How the oral microbiome directly impacts the gut microbiome
- The link between oral health, systemic disease and inflammation
- Common signs your oral microbiome might be in dysbiosis
- Why bleeding gums are never normal
- How diet, stress, and environment impact your oral microbiome
- How your partner and kids can affect your oral microbiome
- Why oral health matters for fertility, pregnancy, and children’s development
- What to look for in oral probiotics, toothpaste, and supplements
- Why testing your oral microbiome might be the most important test you haven’t done yet.
- The connection between mouth breathing, cavities, and kids’ behavioural issues
- Simple daily practices to support a thriving oral ecosystem
Dr Katie Lee is a dentist, entrepreneur, and author based in Aurora, Colorado. She’s the founder of The Collective Health Society, an integrated functional dental-medical center focused on oral-systemic health, and The Collective Education Society, which trains clinicians through hands-on and didactic learning.
A former partner in over 80 dental practices, Dr Katie now advises dental tech companies and serves as Chief Clinical Advisor for the Dental Innovation Alliance. She’s also part of NASA’s Analysis Working Group, helping develop oral health protocols for astronauts. Her personal experience with a traumatic dental injury in her teens led to her deep commitment to connecting oral health with overall wellness. Her book, Saved by the Mouth, bridges that connection for both clinicians and patients.
Episode Links:
- Read Saved by the Mouth
- Learn more about Dr Katie Lee
- Check out the Collective Health Society
- Come say hello to me over on Instagram
- Read The Motherhood Reset and Nourished Mama
- Read my Picky Eating Guide
