There’s a reason most conventional toothpastes say, “Do not swallow,” says top Beverly Hills dentist Kourosh Maddahi, DDS, who blows beauty editors Jean Godfrey-June and Megan O’Neill’s minds this week on The Beauty Closet with some startling realities and expert tips for keeping your teeth healthy (and white). The mouth’s microbiome, he says, is our first line of defense, yet most mouthwashes and toothpastes are designed to kill all bacteria. Maddahi is the creator of Lumineaux—the first clean oral-care line (including the best whitening strips we’ve ever tried)—and he gives us the facts about what really makes teeth look older, how to fight bad breath (hint: not with mint), and a must-know trick for anyone who loves lemon water in the morning. There’s more: how common prescription meds can decimate the bacteria in our mouths, thus causing cavities, and why root canals can do a number on our health—all of it amazing and instantly habit-changing. (For more, see The Beauty Closet hub.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices