All protocols

Talk to a physician before using prescription drugs to improve working memory, focus, or attention, including in children, adults, traumatic brain injury, or Parkinson's contexts.

Use either fluoride-containing or non-fluoride toothpaste that professionally trained dentists agree can help improve the mineralization state of teeth and support oral health.

Do not brush aggressively; brushing too hard may remove biofilm and tartar but can damage gum tissue and create recesses where bacteria accumulate.

Make some effort to reduce time spent on social media and email to limit excessive incoming input, preserve mental clarity and creativity, and reduce unnecessary activation of threat/reward circuitry.

Waking early can have an antidepressant effect when it follows adequate sleep the night before.

Prefer voice calls over text or social media for richer real-time social connection and greater interbrain synchrony.

If concerned about fluoride exposure, avoid toothpastes that contain fluoride.

If drinking alcohol, pay extra attention to oral-health practices on the days around consumption.

After sugar exposure, rinsing is a practical minimum; ideally brush and maybe even floss afterward when feasible.

After eating anything, especially sugary foods, swish plain water to clear food from the mouth; plain water with a little salt was also suggested as beneficial. Spit or swallow is personal preference.

If drinking acidic beverages, use a straw when possible, consume them over roughly 5-30 minutes and then stop rather than sipping for hours, and rinse the mouth with a little water afterward. The key variable is total time the mouth is exposed to acid.

Have stretches of maybe 2, 4, 6 hours or more without eating or ingesting acidic liquids to support saliva-driven remineralization; this includes not constantly snacking or sipping acidic beverages.

Acceptable brushing tool; use lightly without too much pressure.

Use a soft toothbrush lightly on the gums to increase circulation; suggested especially for people with tooth sensitivity.

Glide floss down the side of the tooth, get a little underneath the gum, use a circular motion, then lift up from between the teeth; do not just snap floss straight onto the gum.

Most dentists he spoke to did not want people jabbing gums with toothpicks.

Several dentists said it may be better than standard floss or toothpick-based floss approaches because it is gentler on teeth and gums while being at least as efficient.

If spaces between baby teeth are large, flossing is not needed and could damage gums; focus on brushing instead.

Use xylitol in gum or mint form, especially immediately after meals. Start slowly with one or two after a meal rather than using large amounts all day. Xylitol is preferentially consumed by Streptococcus mutans, which cannot produce acid from it; it may inhibit or kill S. mutans, reduce gum inflammation, and increase saliva production, particularly when used after an early-day or noon meal.

If choosing toothpaste, xylitol as a sweetener is considered beneficial.

If avoiding fluoride, seek toothpaste ideally containing hydroxyapatite and xylitol.

Can be mixed with water and used as a low-cost toothpaste alternative; considered fairly low on the abrasiveness scale and safe for enamel if used gently with a soft toothbrush.

Low-cost toothpaste alternative; use gently with a soft toothbrush, not maximum intensity.

Avoid homemade oral rinses containing hydrogen peroxide, including DIY mouthwash made from baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water, unless specifically recommended by a medical professional. Hydrogen peroxide is considered too abrasive for the oral cavity.

Make a high-salt solution, swish in the mouth, and spit it out; do not swallow. Then swish plain water and spit. Suggested as a near-zero-cost way to improve oral milieu and support healthy mouth bacteria.

Use only as a high-salinity mouth rinse: swish and spit; do not swallow.

May be supplemented as prebiotic or probiotic fiber to support the gut microbiome if needed.

Use a separate toothbrush for the tongue rather than the same one used for teeth, to avoid crossover of bacteria between tongue and teeth.

Be aware bacteria grow on toothbrushes; rinse and dry the toothbrush head and avoid contact with unsanitary surfaces.

If told you have a cavity, ask how deep it is and whether there is an opportunity to remineralize before drilling or filling.