Functional Roots Podcast

Functional Roots explores the connection between oral health and whole-body wellness. Hosted by a holistic dental hygienist, this podcast digs into the root causes of inflammation, gut health, the oral microbiome, and more—all through a functional and naturopathic lens. If you're a wellness-minded pro or curious about the mouth-body connection, you’re in the right place. Grab your herbal tea and let’s get to the root of it all.

Functional Roots Podcast is a health podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Functional Roots Podcast, a health show with 25 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #24

  Nitric Oxide, the Oral Microbiome & Whole-Body Health (with Dr. Shawn J. Green, MyFitStrip)

  Aug 16, 20261h 25mS2

  In this episode of Functional Roots, hygienists Amanda and Heather interview Dr. Shawn J. Green—nitric oxide scientist, inventor, and founder of MyFitStrip—about how oral health connects to whole-body wellness through nitric oxide biology and the oral microbiome. Dr. Green shares his early Walter Reed research showing immune cells generate nitric oxide via iNOS to defend against intracellular pathogens like malaria, then explains why dental professionals should care: supporting nitrate-reducing “good” bacteria can boost local nitric oxide, suppress nitric-oxide–sensitive pathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis, shift oral pH, and support systemic nitric oxide bioavailability. They discuss prebiotic nitrate strategies (diet and slow-release lozenges/gums), ingredient choices like vitamin C, xylitol, and zinc, concerns about sterilizing antimicrobials and mouthwash, the role of potassium nitrate toothpaste, nitrate vs nitrite, and how MyFitStrip test strips measure salivary nitrate and nitrite as lifestyle feedback.00:00 Welcome to Functional Roots00:38 Meet Dr Shawn Green04:11 Early Nitric Oxide Research08:20 iNOS and Immune Defense11:44 Why Hygienists Should Care13:44 Prebiotic Nitrate and Oral Microbiome21:55 Bristle Scores and pH Shifts28:10 Responders and Microbiome Resilience33:22 Vitamin C Xylitol Zinc Synergy39:05 Potassium Nitrate Toothpaste Debate47:40 Ingredient Label Red Flags48:51 Zinc and Oral Benefits50:44 Nitrate vs Nitrite Explained55:24 Beets Aren’t the Best01:00:49 MyFit Strip Basics01:03:54 Reading the Two Columns01:11:02 Do Inflammation Strips Change01:12:59 Key Takeaways Recap01:16:47 Industry Pushback and Shift01:20:06 Dentistry as Preventive Cardiology01:21:33 Where to Find MyFit Strip01:23:23 Final Thanks and Wrap

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #23

  Mobile Dentistry in a Rural Provider Desert: Courtney Justice & Painted Sky Dental

  Jul 27, 202648 minS2

  Functional Roots hosts Amanda and Heather interview registered dental hygienist Courtney Justice, founder of Painted Sky Dental, a mobile nonprofit bringing high-quality oral healthcare to rural and underserved communities in southwestern Colorado. Courtney shares her path from history major to hygienist, how public health experiences exposed oral health disparities, and how Colorado’s independent hygiene practice enables her to deliver care via her fully outfitted dental van. She explains barriers patients face—limited fluoridated water, water scarcity, contamination concerns, transportation, low insurance access—and how she provides 90-minute adult visits with X-rays, screenings, perio care, SDF/ITR, and oral-systemic education using teledentistry collaboration. Courtney discusses funding challenges, donated supplies, Medicaid-based pricing, free care for veterans and domestic violence program participants, advocacy work, and a new “Sponsor a Smile” donation campaign via @paintedskydental.00:00 Welcome to Functional Roots00:41 Meet Courtney Justice02:26 From History to Hygiene04:14 Seeing Care Disparities06:13 Recruited to Durango08:27 Colorado Hygiene Autonomy09:52 Hygienist vs Therapist11:07 Mobile Van Clinic Setup12:32 Funding and Sustainability15:41 Finding Communities to Serve17:53 Water Access and Oral Health20:40 Education and Outreach Tools21:54 Yeast Demo and Parenting22:24 Water Fluoridation Advocacy23:01 Inside the 90 Minute Visit26:21 Pricing and Equity Model28:46 Funding and Partnerships31:38 Policy Passion and Compacts34:24 Protecting Hygiene Scope40:35 Patient Impact Story42:31 Teledentistry With MouthWatch44:13 Sponsor a Smile Wrap Up

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #23

  Functional Roots Podcast Interview: Ann Marie DePalma

  Jun 28, 202655 minS2

  00:05 Intro00:44 Guest Introduction: Ann Marie DePalma03:15 Ann Marie's Career Journey04:14 AI in Dentistry: The Basics08:42 AI for Patient Education & X-rays14:57 AI & Periodontal Charting18:22 Complete Periodontal Evaluation38:03 Women's Health & Oral-Systemic Connection44:57 Medical-Dental Integration & The Future51:42 Where to Find Ann Marie52:09 AI Note-Taking & The Future of Documentation54:56 Outro

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Functional Roots Podcast

  The Tooth Whisperer: Tuning Forks, Teeth Meridians & the Root of Chronic Illness | Dr. Gregory Hyde & Elena Mar

  May 17, 20261h 30mS0

  <p>In this Functional Roots episode, hygienists Amanda and Heather talk with Dr. Gregory Hyde (MD/PhD, ENT surgeon and integrative physician) and Elena Mar (naturopath and biofield practitioner) about the mouth as a “circuit breaker box” for whole-body health and their method using coherent sound (tuning forks) and kinesiology to detect imbalances linked to teeth, organs, minerals, emotions, and chronic infections like cavitations. </p><p><br></p><p>They share Dr. Hyde’s story of losing vision from a brain abscess tied to oral bacteria and a healing experience involving a Native American cedar flute, plus Elena’s long research...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #21

  pH, Saliva, and Bone Health: Oral Systemic Clues with Kristin Evans The pH RDH

  Apr 23, 202656 minS2

  <p>pH, Saliva, and Bone Health: Oral-Systemic Clues with Kristen Evans, RDH (The pH RDH)Functional Roots hosts Amanda and Heather welcome dental educator Kristin Evans (the “pH RDH”) to discuss how whole-body wellness starts in the mouth and why pH is foundational to oral disease prevention. </p><p><br></p><p>Kristen shares how her daughter’s cystic acne sparked her deep dive into pH, dysbiosis, and oral-systemic connections, emphasizing that controlling oral pH often starts with assessing salivary flow and identifying drivers like dry mouth, acidic OTC products, mouth breathing, inhaler use, trays/night guards, and silent GERD. She ad...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Functional Roots Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.