Let's Get Oral

Some bacteria in your mouth perform a surprisingly important job: helping your body turn dietary nitrate into nitric oxide.

In this episode, we talk with the MyFitStrip co-founders, Shawn Green and Juliana Kumar, about the science behind nitric oxide pathways, the behaviors that may support or disrupt it, and how understanding nitric oxide production could provide a new perspective on oral-systemic health.

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The mouth can offer important clues about what’s happening throughout the body. Jill Sirko joins us to unpack the relationship between oral health and women’s systemic health, including the influence of hormones, inflammation, and the oral microbiome. We explore why women may experience distinct oral-health challenges across different life stages, and what a more integrated approach to health could look like.

Jill Sirko, PhD, co-founded KaiAvora Health with the goal of making oral health science central to the broader conversation around whole-body health. She brings a unique combination of expertise in research, science communication, healthcare advocacy, and systems innovation, with nearly two decades of experience working across academia, nonprofit leadership, and healthcare organizations.

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In this episode of Let's Get Oral, we sit down with Dr. Keith Kirkwood, DDS, PhD, to explore the science behind periodontal disease, why inflammation can lead to irreversible bone loss, and what clinicians and patients need to know to protect long-term oral health.

Dr. Kirkwood shares insights into the biological mechanisms that drive periodontal destruction, the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment, and how emerging research is shaping the future of periodontal care. Whether you're a dental professional, student, or simply interested in the connection between oral health and overall wellness, this conversation offers practical takeaways and an inside look at one of dentistry's most important challenges.

What does oral hygiene look like in 2026?

In this episode, we sit down with The Mouth Lab co-founders Angelina Geon and Jazmin Platero to discuss how saliva testing can reveal what's happening in the mouth and beyond. The Mouth Lab offers at-home saliva and blood-spot tests that map the bacteria, viruses, and inflammation driving your bleeding gums, bad breath, recurring cavities, or unresolved oral issues.

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What does oral hygiene look like in 2026?

In this episode, we chat with Barbara Tritz about her journey as a biological dental hygienist and what motivates her to dedicate her career to helping patients and other hygienists to embrace their greatest potential. With a lifelong passion for science and an unwavering commitment to patient care, Barbara has carved a niche for herself as a registered dental hygienist, certified biological hygienist, and orofacial myofunctional therapist.

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