Fluoride Controversy Coverup, Dental-Hormone Connection & The Mouth Microbiome | Dr. Staci Whitman

In this episode of The Art of Being Well, I chat with Dr. Staci Whitman, a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry. Dr. Staci is redefining pediatric dental care with a functional, whole-body approach that goes beyond cavities and cleanings. We explore how oral health impacts hormone balance, sleep, and overall systemic health in children. Dr. Staci also explains why airway assessments are essential for growing kids, shares insights from her research on sleep and breathing, and offers practical advice for parents to help their kids develop lifelong healthy habits. If you’re a parent who wants to better understand the link between dental health and your child’s overall well-being, this episode is packed with valuable information.

Dr. Staci Whitman - Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Functional Dentist, and is certified in Integrative and Naturopathic Dentistry

Dr. Staci Whitman, a leading authority in functional dentistry, is on a mission to revolutionize oral healthcare. With a unique blend of scientific expertise and compassionate care, she's dedicated to creating a cavity-free world. Dr Staci is board-certified in pediatrics, integrative dentistry, and naturopathic dentistry and is one of the only dentists in the world to have her Functional Medicine Certification from the Institute of Functional Medicine.  She founded one of the leading Functional Pediatric Dental offices in the country where she takes a whole-body and holistic approach to her care. She is the co-founder of the Institute for Functional Dentistry, launching in 2025, and lectures globally on Functional Dentistry and the Oral Systemic Connection.

With a passion for optimizing the oral microbiome, hormonal health, nutritional status, and sleep and airway health, she is a sought-after expert and educator with a heavy focus on preventative dentistry, cavity arrest and remineralization, and the oral-gut-brain axis. Tune in as Dr. Staci shares her knowledge and insights on creating happy teeth and healthy lives.

A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode: 

•  Defining biological dentistry and functional dentistry—what sets them apart and where they overlap.
• The connection between oral health and hormones—why your mouth plays a bigger role in overall health than you might think.
• How oral pathogens can impact fertility in both men and women, including the latest scientific findings on sperm motility and reproductive health.
• The most harmful bacteria disrupting the oral microbiome—and how they contribute to systemic health issues.
• The best oral microbiome tests available today—what to look for and why diagnostics are evolving.
• Understanding Candida overgrowth—why it’s more than just thrush and how it presents in clinical settings.
• The fluoride debate—exploring its controversial links to thyroid issues, sleep disturbances, and cognitive health.
• The history behind mass water fluoridation—why it started and why it remains a hot-button topic.
• The benefits of mouth taping—how this simple technique can improve sleep and support oral health.

Links to things we talked about in this episode: 

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Happy listening and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!

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In Health,

Dr. Will Cole