What happens when top minds in oral biology come together for a deep dive into learning, gum health, and the microbiome?

In this episode of Dental Formulator’s Playbook, Dr. Robert L. Karlinsey and co-host Tami recap key insights from the 82nd Annual American Institute of Oral Biology Meeting in Palm Springs. From gum recession and age-related microbiome shifts to the future of targeted probiotics, this discussion offers a high-level synthesis of emerging science—with practical takeaways for formulators, brands, and clinicians.

Whether you're developing oral-care products, exploring new marketing strategies, or simply curious about what's next in dental science, this is a must-listen.

🔥 Highlights ↠

🧪 Learning & Product Strategy

• Research shows that spaced repetition and quality sleep enhance memory and long-term learning.
• Short, focused R&D sprints (versus prolonged marathons) may yield deeper formulation insights and faster innovation.

🦷 Gum Recession: Surprising Findings

• Upper gum tissue (maxilla) is easier to repair than lower gum tissue (mandible).
• Gum recession can, in some cases, reverse naturally—no grafting required.
• Adults in orthodontic treatment (braces) have an increased risk for gum recession, while teens with orthodontia don’t have an increased risk.
• Men experience higher rates of gum recession than women—a promising opportunity for male-targeted gum-health products.

🧬 Circadian Clocks & the Oral Microbiome

• The human clock and the microbiome clock must stay synchronized for optimal health.
• Oral probiotics may work best before bedtime, when saliva flow slows.
• Timing matters: aligning delivery with circadian rhythms can amplify efficacy.

🧓 Another Variable – Aging Microbiomes

• By age 65+, both men and women undergo significant microbiome shifts that influence oral and systemic health.
• This represents a functional “third phase” of biology, creating formulation needs rarely addressed in current oral-care markets.
• Probiotics tailored for older adults could mark the next major innovation frontier.

📈 Formulation & Marketing Takeaways

• Leverage microbiome research to support product claims and optimize timing.
• Customize formulations by age, gender, and circadian biology for stronger market differentiation.
• Explore new delivery formats—serums, lozenges, sprays—that align with daily biological cycles.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Product performance depends not only on what’s inside, but when and how it’s delivered.
• Gum-recession dynamics vary by behavior, age, gender, and orthodontic status—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
• The future of oral care is personalized, evidence-driven, and synchronized with biological rhythms.

📲 Connect with Dr. Rob (Robert L. Karlinsey, PhD)

🌐 Website: customdentalformulations.com

📄 Research Profile: Robert Karlinsey on ResearchGate

Is your mouthwash truly neutralizing odor-causing compounds—or just giving bad breath a minty disguise?

In this deep-dive episode of Dental Formulator’s Playbook, Dr. Robert L. Karlinsey and co-host Tami go full-on formula forensics, comparing the science behind two leading mouthwash brands: TheraBreath and SmartMouth. From the mechanisms of sodium chlorite and zinc chloride to preservative systems, patent strategy, and flavor chemistry, the duo unpack how formulation choices shape both performance and perception.

Whether you’re a clinician, formulator, or curious consumer tackling chronic halitosis, this episode delivers a data-driven look at what your mouthwash really does—and doesn’t—do.

🔥 Highlights ↠

• TheraBreath’s Formula Breakdown: Dr. Rob dissects every ingredient—including sodium chlorite (stabilized chlorine dioxide), PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, and EDTA—and explains how synergy (or its absence) impacts malodor control.
• SmartMouth’s Dual-Chamber Design: Why zinc + sodium chlorite + two-compartment activation may provide a more potent path to neutralizing volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).
• No FDA Monograph? No Problem: Dr. Rob explains how bad breath remains a cosmetic classification, opening creative space for claims but demanding robust testing to retain credibility.
• The Sensory Science of Mouthfeel: Why TheraBreath tastes “clinical” while SmartMouth balances flavor with glycerin, sodium saccharin, and better masking agents.
• The Role of Preservatives: Hidden preservatives inside flavor systems often go unnoticed—yet they’re vital for microbial stability and consumer safety.
• Critique of Recent Research: A sharp analysis of a 2025 academic paper that relied on oversimplified S. mutans models, overlooking critical formulation variables.
• Patent Power Plays: A look into SmartMouth’s roots in 1990s research and Dr. Kleinberg’s ambitious 397-claim patent—one of the boldest in oral care history.
• Product Claims vs. Clinical Proof: “12-hour” vs. “24-hour” fresh-breath claims—when clinical studies are required, when they’re optional, and how brands navigate regulatory gray zones.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• 🧪 Sodium chlorite and zinc chloride are powerful odor-neutralizers—especially when combined in properly activated formulations.
• 🧾 The FDA does not regulate halitosis as a disease, leaving product claims in a cosmetic gray zone.
• 💡 Effective preservation, pH balance, and ingredient transparency are as crucial as the “hero” ingredients.
• 🥴 A well-formulated mouthwash must work and taste right—flavor and mouthfeel drive consumer compliance.
• 🔬 Clinical and lab testing remain the gold standard—but smart patent strategy and formulation choices set brands apart.

📲 Connect with Dr. Rob (Robert L. Karlinsey, PhD)

🌐 Website: customdentalformulations.com

📄 Research Profile: Robert Karlinsey on ResearchGate

Do you brush and floss every day yet still struggle with bad breath that just won’t go away?

In this revealing episode of Dental Formulator’s Playbook, Dr. Robert L. Karlinsey and co-host Tami explore the underexamined science of halitosis — debunking myths, exposing the biochemical causes of bad breath, and dissecting why certain mouthwashes work while others fall short.

From volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) to regulatory blind spots, they explain why halitosis persists, which ingredients actually make a difference, and how sodium chlorite performs (or fails) depending on activation conditions and formulation design.

This episode is a must-listen for formulators, clinicians, and anyone seeking long-lasting fresh breath backed by real research—not just clever marketing.

• Volatile Truths: Dr. Rob identifies the real culprits behind halitosis — hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide — explaining how these “stinky” sulfur gases arise from the tongue and throat, even in people with excellent oral hygiene.
• Cosmetic or Clinical?: The FDA classifies bad breath as a cosmetic condition, not a disease. That means no official monograph, no approved actives, and plenty of gray area for marketing claims — and consumer confusion.
• Sniff Tests & Science: Learn how researchers measure odor scientifically, from human sniff panels to gas chromatography, and why both approaches are essential to proving product efficacy.
• Sodium Chlorite vs. Zinc Salts: A 2014 South Korean study found that 0.16% sodium chlorite outperformed zinc chloride and chlorhexidine, reducing VSCs almost instantly and maintaining effects for up to 60 minutes.
• Activation Matters: Whether dual-chamber mouthwashes like SmartMouth or single-bottle formulas like TheraBreath, Dr. Rob explains how acidic environments and pH activation determine ingredient effectiveness.
• Formula Forensics Preview: Discover why some impressive-sounding ingredients fail in real-world tests — and why combining sodium chlorite with CPC might be promising (though scientifically tricky).
• Chicken Carcasses & the FDA?! You read that right. Sodium chlorite is technically regulated for poultry processing but not for oral care. The lack of FDA guidance leaves formulators connecting dots across industries to ensure compliance and safety.
• Marketing vs. Science: Dr. Rob and Tami discuss why ADA Seals still matter (kind of), how legacy brands leverage language to imply claims, and how to look past buzzwords when choosing an oral care product.

• Bad breath isn’t just a hygiene issue — it’s biochemical.
• Sodium chlorite outperforms zinc chloride and chlorhexidine for VSC elimination.
• Mouthwash efficacy depends on smart formulation, proper pH, and validated testing.

🌐 Website: customdentalformulations.com

📄 Research Profile: Robert Karlinsey on ResearchGate