Beyond Brushing, Building KÖPPEN, and the Future of Oral Care with Priya Shah

#33. We think constantly about gut health, skincare, nutrition, and sleep - but when it comes to our mouths, most of us still think brushing our teeth twice a day is enough. What if oral care is actually one of the most overlooked pieces of whole-body wellness? This week, Kate Yarbrough sits down with Priya Shah, co-founder of KÖPPEN, the science-backed oral wellness brand reframing how we think about the mouth - not simply as a cosmetic concern, but as a gateway to overall health. After years of personal interest in wellness and formal study across multiple health modalities, Priya became fascinated by the oral microbiome and the disconnect between its importance and the way modern oral care had been built. KÖPPEN launched with a single tongue scraper and has since grown into a full system designed to support the entire mouth through products rooted in both ancient practices and modern research. In this conversation, Priya explains why brushing alone is an incomplete approach to oral health, what the tongue and oral microbiome can reveal about the rest of the body, and why practices rooted in Ayurveda are increasingly finding their way into mainstream wellness. She also shares how she and her brother built KÖPPEN from the ground up, why they started with a tongue scraper, how they approach ingredients and formulation, and the surprising problem with many conventional breath mints. From beautiful design to better daily rituals, Priya offers a new way to think about one of the few wellness practices we repeat every single day. In this episode, we discuss: Priya's lifelong interest in health, wellness, and naturally derived remedies How studying different health modalities changed the way she thought about her own body and routines Why the mouth can be a gateway to understanding whole-body health The oral microbiome and why brushing your teeth is only one part of whole-mouth care What the tongue can potentially signal about what is happening elsewhere in the body How ancient practices like Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine influenced Priya's approach to oral wellness Why Priya and her brother believed the traditional oral care category was ready to be reimagined How KÖPPEN combines science, naturally derived ingredients, and thoughtful design Why the brand launched with a tongue scraper - and what selling out repeatedly taught them about consumer demand The difference between tongue scraping and using a toothbrush to clean your tongue How KÖPPEN evaluates ingredients with researchers, chemists, and dental professionals The thinking behind ingredients like hydroxyapatite, bromelain, papain, and xylitol Why many conventional breath mints may only temporarily mask bad breath - and how KÖPPEN approached creating a healthier alternative Everyday habits, including mouth breathing, that Priya believes can disrupt the oral microbiome Why Priya believes oral care will become a much bigger pillar of the wellness conversation over the next five years How Priya and her co-founder think about beauty, design, and turning everyday oral care into a ritual Priya's Green-ish Goal for creating more space, clarity, and connection in everyday life