Founder and CEO of Kernel
Bryan Johnson’s Oral Routine
Bryan Johnson’s oral routine has helped him fix his rotting teeth and reverse age his gums such that his dentist now tells him he has the gums of a healthy teenager. If you’re looking to up your dental game, follow these steps for a healthier, brighter smile.
- Water Flossing Bryan Johnson starts his oral routine with a water flosser to remove larger debris stuck to his teeth. He uses a Waterpik Black Cordless Advanced 2.0 Water Flosser to shoot out a highly pressured stream of water around his teeth and along his gum line.
- Flossing Next up is flossing with DrTung’s Smart Floss - Bryan Johnson prefers this brand because the thicker string is proven to remove 25% more plaque than thinner strings. He says that both water and traditional flossing are essential, as flossing targets areas between the teeth while water flossing can get to places that traditional floss cannot reach such as in the pockets below the gum line.
- Brushing When it comes to brushing, Bryan Johnson opts for an electric toothbrush from Oral-B and chooses soft toothbrush heads. He finds it more effective than a manual toothbrush, but ultimately, he recommends using whatever you’re most comfortable with. One of his key tips is to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth to avoid damaging the enamel.
- Toothpaste Bryan Johnson adds a bit of variety to his routine by using different toothpastes in the morning and at night. He used to use Sensodyne toothpaste but has since switched over to using a fluoride-free option called Dr. Collins Biomin Tooth Sensitivity Toothpaste.
- Tongue Scraper The tongue scraper has become a staple in Bryan Johnson’s routine as he believes cleaning your tongue is just as important as brushing your teeth. He uses DrTung’s tongue scraper to get rid of bacteria and debris that tend to stick to the tongue even after brushing.
- Mouthwash Bryan Johnson uses mouthwash to freshen his breath before physically close encounters with people such as when he’s about to speak with someone or before a kiss. His mouthwash of choice is TheraBreath Plaque Control Mouthwash, which also helps prevent cavities and improve gum health.
- Bruxism Device For those who grind their teeth at night, a bruxism device can be a game-changer. Bryan Johnson uses a SomnoDent mouth guard which helps stop mouth movement during sleep, thereby preventing the damage associated with teeth grinding.
3 Things to Avoid
To maximize oral health, Bryan Johnson advises avoiding the following:
- Sugar: Stay away from sticky candies, caramels, ice cream, cookies, soda, and fruit juices as these feed the bad bacteria in your mouth that cause gum disease and cavities. Even starchy foods like bread and potato chips can get stuck in your teeth, providing a feast for bacteria.
- Acidic Liquids: Carbonated drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol, sports drinks, and citrus juices can erode your enamel. It’s best to limit these to protect your teeth.
- Dry Mouth: Avoid mouth breathing, limit caffeine, and do not smoke as all these contribute to dry mouth. Saliva is important to maintain a healthy oral environment, and can be boosted by drinking water regularly and chewing gum.
Following these tips will help you develop impeccable oral health, but it’s also important to keep going to the dentist for checkups twice a year to get a specialized cleaning and to screen for issues such as cavities or gum disease. Hopefully you’ll get some positive feedback from your dentist after implementing this routine just like Bryan Johnson did!