Dr. Mark Burhenne | Dentist
@askthedentist.bsky.social
Creator of @feedyourgoodguys toothpaste 🤍🪥
Ask the Dentist podcast 🎧
AsktheDentist.com 👨🏻💻
Founder of the Functional Dentist Directory 🌎
Ask the Dentist podcast 🎧
AsktheDentist.com 👨🏻💻
Founder of the Functional Dentist Directory 🌎
Here’s my no-go list 👇
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Here’s my no-go list 👇
Hygienists are the MVPs of dentistry. Thank yours!
October 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Hygienists are the MVPs of dentistry. Thank yours!
1. If you wake up with a dry mouth, you’re not just thirsty—you’re mouth breathing all night. That means more cavities, bad breath, and way less oxygen to your brain. Tape your mouth. Train your nose. It will change your life.
October 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
1. If you wake up with a dry mouth, you’re not just thirsty—you’re mouth breathing all night. That means more cavities, bad breath, and way less oxygen to your brain. Tape your mouth. Train your nose. It will change your life.
My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in the 4th grade—and no one looked at her airway. Not even me…
Because we didn’t learn this in dental school.
Because we didn’t learn this in dental school.
September 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in the 4th grade—and no one looked at her airway. Not even me…
Because we didn’t learn this in dental school.
Because we didn’t learn this in dental school.
Follow along @askthedentist to learn how to fix your health, by starting with the mouth.
September 2, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Follow along @askthedentist to learn how to fix your health, by starting with the mouth.
Does your child have behavioral challenges?
Mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, ADHD-like symptoms… these can all be signs.
Sleep disordered breathing can affect everything from learning and focus to behavior, growth, and long-term health.
Mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, ADHD-like symptoms… these can all be signs.
Sleep disordered breathing can affect everything from learning and focus to behavior, growth, and long-term health.
September 1, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Does your child have behavioral challenges?
Mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, ADHD-like symptoms… these can all be signs.
Sleep disordered breathing can affect everything from learning and focus to behavior, growth, and long-term health.
Mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, ADHD-like symptoms… these can all be signs.
Sleep disordered breathing can affect everything from learning and focus to behavior, growth, and long-term health.
If I could go back, I’d spend way more time on these 8 tools no one talks about in dentistry.
Most dentists won’t bring them up. But these change everything for your mouth and your overall health.
Most dentists won’t bring them up. But these change everything for your mouth and your overall health.
August 27, 2025 at 10:54 AM
If I could go back, I’d spend way more time on these 8 tools no one talks about in dentistry.
Most dentists won’t bring them up. But these change everything for your mouth and your overall health.
Most dentists won’t bring them up. But these change everything for your mouth and your overall health.
That $6 tool does more for your oral and whole-body health than Listerine ever did.
August 20, 2025 at 6:36 AM
That $6 tool does more for your oral and whole-body health than Listerine ever did.
I’ve watched this play out too many times: someone brushes off a little bleeding when they floss, only to find themselves decades later with a stent in their chest.
August 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I’ve watched this play out too many times: someone brushes off a little bleeding when they floss, only to find themselves decades later with a stent in their chest.
I’m not saying we should avoid the dentist — I’m saying the ultimate goal is to keep your teeth and gums so healthy that you don’t need me to fix anything.
August 14, 2025 at 9:10 AM
I’m not saying we should avoid the dentist — I’m saying the ultimate goal is to keep your teeth and gums so healthy that you don’t need me to fix anything.
READ THIS👇
A study found that people using mouthwash twice a day had almost double the risk of high blood pressure.
How could this be?
A study found that people using mouthwash twice a day had almost double the risk of high blood pressure.
How could this be?
August 13, 2025 at 5:26 AM
READ THIS👇
A study found that people using mouthwash twice a day had almost double the risk of high blood pressure.
How could this be?
A study found that people using mouthwash twice a day had almost double the risk of high blood pressure.
How could this be?
Because people still treat brushing like a hygiene chore.
It’s not just about fresh breath. It’s a health intervention you can do twice a day to keep your brain, heart, and gut healthy.
Has your dentist talked to you about how your mouth is connected to the health of the rest of your body?
It’s not just about fresh breath. It’s a health intervention you can do twice a day to keep your brain, heart, and gut healthy.
Has your dentist talked to you about how your mouth is connected to the health of the rest of your body?
August 12, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Because people still treat brushing like a hygiene chore.
It’s not just about fresh breath. It’s a health intervention you can do twice a day to keep your brain, heart, and gut healthy.
Has your dentist talked to you about how your mouth is connected to the health of the rest of your body?
It’s not just about fresh breath. It’s a health intervention you can do twice a day to keep your brain, heart, and gut healthy.
Has your dentist talked to you about how your mouth is connected to the health of the rest of your body?
Most people think cavities mean they need to brush and floss more. But the truth is that you can brush twice a day, floss perfectly, and still get cavities if what’s on your plate (and in your cup) is feeding cavity-causing bacteria.
In other words: you can’t out-brush a bad diet.
In other words: you can’t out-brush a bad diet.
August 11, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Most people think cavities mean they need to brush and floss more. But the truth is that you can brush twice a day, floss perfectly, and still get cavities if what’s on your plate (and in your cup) is feeding cavity-causing bacteria.
In other words: you can’t out-brush a bad diet.
In other words: you can’t out-brush a bad diet.
1) You probably don’t need whitening—you need a cleaning. If it’s been over 6 months, stains that can be removed are the real reason your teeth look yellow.
2) Most “whitening” is stain removal—or should be.
Coffee, tea, wine, and mouth breathing cause buildup. Bleaching won’t fix that.
2) Most “whitening” is stain removal—or should be.
Coffee, tea, wine, and mouth breathing cause buildup. Bleaching won’t fix that.
August 8, 2025 at 12:40 PM
1) You probably don’t need whitening—you need a cleaning. If it’s been over 6 months, stains that can be removed are the real reason your teeth look yellow.
2) Most “whitening” is stain removal—or should be.
Coffee, tea, wine, and mouth breathing cause buildup. Bleaching won’t fix that.
2) Most “whitening” is stain removal—or should be.
Coffee, tea, wine, and mouth breathing cause buildup. Bleaching won’t fix that.
Think cavities are the worst thing your dentist can find?
Think again.
Bleeding gums = chronic inflammation
Receding gums = early cardiovascular risk
Worn-down teeth = undiagnosed sleep apnea
Coated tongue = gut issues or microbiome imbalance
Dry mouth = early warning sign of diabetes
Think again.
Bleeding gums = chronic inflammation
Receding gums = early cardiovascular risk
Worn-down teeth = undiagnosed sleep apnea
Coated tongue = gut issues or microbiome imbalance
Dry mouth = early warning sign of diabetes
August 7, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Think cavities are the worst thing your dentist can find?
Think again.
Bleeding gums = chronic inflammation
Receding gums = early cardiovascular risk
Worn-down teeth = undiagnosed sleep apnea
Coated tongue = gut issues or microbiome imbalance
Dry mouth = early warning sign of diabetes
Think again.
Bleeding gums = chronic inflammation
Receding gums = early cardiovascular risk
Worn-down teeth = undiagnosed sleep apnea
Coated tongue = gut issues or microbiome imbalance
Dry mouth = early warning sign of diabetes
If your dentist hasn’t asked you about your sleep, you’re receiving substandard care.
I’ve seen it again and again. People come in with cavities, grinding, gum disease, kids with narrow palates—and no one’s ever connected it to how they’re sleeping at night.
I’ve seen it again and again. People come in with cavities, grinding, gum disease, kids with narrow palates—and no one’s ever connected it to how they’re sleeping at night.
August 4, 2025 at 7:42 AM
If your dentist hasn’t asked you about your sleep, you’re receiving substandard care.
I’ve seen it again and again. People come in with cavities, grinding, gum disease, kids with narrow palates—and no one’s ever connected it to how they’re sleeping at night.
I’ve seen it again and again. People come in with cavities, grinding, gum disease, kids with narrow palates—and no one’s ever connected it to how they’re sleeping at night.
I used to think feeling wiped out by 3 p.m. was just part of parenting. Or aging. Or both.
But the more I studied oral health, the more I realized:
Sometimes what’s making you tired is your toothpaste.
But the more I studied oral health, the more I realized:
Sometimes what’s making you tired is your toothpaste.
July 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I used to think feeling wiped out by 3 p.m. was just part of parenting. Or aging. Or both.
But the more I studied oral health, the more I realized:
Sometimes what’s making you tired is your toothpaste.
But the more I studied oral health, the more I realized:
Sometimes what’s making you tired is your toothpaste.
Most people still think you need to kill 99.9% of germs for a clean, healthy mouth.
That belief is not just wrong—it’s making us sicker.
That belief is not just wrong—it’s making us sicker.
July 23, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Most people still think you need to kill 99.9% of germs for a clean, healthy mouth.
That belief is not just wrong—it’s making us sicker.
That belief is not just wrong—it’s making us sicker.
Too often, patients get caught in the cracks between specialties.
They bounce between doctors and dentists, chasing symptoms.
Meanwhile, their root cause—the mouth—is left out of the conversation.
They bounce between doctors and dentists, chasing symptoms.
Meanwhile, their root cause—the mouth—is left out of the conversation.
July 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Too often, patients get caught in the cracks between specialties.
They bounce between doctors and dentists, chasing symptoms.
Meanwhile, their root cause—the mouth—is left out of the conversation.
They bounce between doctors and dentists, chasing symptoms.
Meanwhile, their root cause—the mouth—is left out of the conversation.
This is what most dentists miss:
Brushing and flossing are mechanical tools.
They can remove food debris and plaque.
But they can’t reverse the metabolic impact of a diet that feeds dysbiosis.
Brushing and flossing are mechanical tools.
They can remove food debris and plaque.
But they can’t reverse the metabolic impact of a diet that feeds dysbiosis.
July 21, 2025 at 6:31 AM
This is what most dentists miss:
Brushing and flossing are mechanical tools.
They can remove food debris and plaque.
But they can’t reverse the metabolic impact of a diet that feeds dysbiosis.
Brushing and flossing are mechanical tools.
They can remove food debris and plaque.
But they can’t reverse the metabolic impact of a diet that feeds dysbiosis.
I’ve had patients who spent years chasing answers from every kind of specialist. No one ever thought to look in their mouth.
But that’s where it started.
But that’s where it started.
July 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I’ve had patients who spent years chasing answers from every kind of specialist. No one ever thought to look in their mouth.
But that’s where it started.
But that’s where it started.
Snoring isn’t funny. Or annoying. It’s the body saying: “I can’t get air.”
Back in 2006, my wife was the picture of health—great shape, excellent athlete, ate well, was petite and thin.
Back in 2006, my wife was the picture of health—great shape, excellent athlete, ate well, was petite and thin.
July 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Snoring isn’t funny. Or annoying. It’s the body saying: “I can’t get air.”
Back in 2006, my wife was the picture of health—great shape, excellent athlete, ate well, was petite and thin.
Back in 2006, my wife was the picture of health—great shape, excellent athlete, ate well, was petite and thin.
When you kill off your oral microbes every morning with antiseptic mouthwash—yes, even the “natural” stuff with essential oils—you might be cutting off the very process that helps regulate your hunger, blood sugar, and energy.
July 8, 2025 at 12:18 PM
When you kill off your oral microbes every morning with antiseptic mouthwash—yes, even the “natural” stuff with essential oils—you might be cutting off the very process that helps regulate your hunger, blood sugar, and energy.
I used to think mouth breathing was just a harmless habit—something kids would grow out of. I was wrong.
June 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I used to think mouth breathing was just a harmless habit—something kids would grow out of. I was wrong.
❤️Share and save because every child deserves the gift of great sleep. As a dentist and a father and now grandfather, I have seen firsthand the life-changing difference these things make. To learn more, comment AIRWAY and I’ll DM you a checklist for your child’s next dental appointment.
June 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
❤️Share and save because every child deserves the gift of great sleep. As a dentist and a father and now grandfather, I have seen firsthand the life-changing difference these things make. To learn more, comment AIRWAY and I’ll DM you a checklist for your child’s next dental appointment.