Dr. Katie ToThe Wellness Dentist, CEO and Founder of Center for Wellness Dentistry and Wellness Dentist Institute.

The Gut-Brain-Heart Link Hiding in Your Mouth Bacteria

27 Jul 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:57

In this informal segment, the speaker discusses emerging evidence that oral bacteria contribute to plaque formation in both arteries and the brain, highlighting how genetics, elevated blood sugar, and high fasting insulin levels intersect with gum disease and diabetes in a bidirectional relationship. The bacteria are said to impair healing and raise insulin levels. The speaker then shifts to personal health strategies aimed at mitigating these risks, describing a focus on sleep hygiene monitored with an Oura ring, use of blue‑light blockers, and daily exposure to morning sunlight. A brief mention is made of Dr. Katie returning from a biohacking conference, underscoring a broader interest in cutting‑edge health optimization.

Chapters

I always said plaque is plaque, the plaque in the arteries, the plaques in the brain. They are finding these bacteria are a significant factor causing genetics plays part of it, but a lot of times you can find these bacteria in there. The blood sugar as well. If you have really elevated blood sugar, fasting insulin levels are high, gum disease and diabetics, those are definitely bidirectional. So the bacteria get in there, they decrease the healing and they increase your insulin. That's one of the things I'm working on is my sleep hygiene. You probably hear about people talking about it all the time. I'm wearing a little Oura ring here to track how many hours I, I get to make sure it's high quality sleep. That's another thing. We are, uh, Dr. Katie just got back from a biohacking conference and wow, she just learned so much. Uh, we are all with the blue light blockers after a certain point. And I get out every morning, I sit in the sunshine. Today I was out at lunch when I went home to have a little bite to eat.