Tooth decay is caused by a deficiency of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients the body needs to build healthy teeth. The two most important minerals teeth need are calcium and phosphate. Unfortunately, for the teeth, other places of the body also need these minerals. So if you’re running short, the minerals will migrate out of your teeth, and bones, and go to more important places, like your heart and other organs.
For optimal tooth health, you need to avoid foods that contribute to decay, and carry minerals out of the body. Some of these foods are:
* Sugar (all forms) which leaches calcium out of the bones.
* White flour (such as bread, crackers, cereals, pastas). White flour has the vitamins and minterals removed to promote shelf life. Fresh flour will go rancid in two weeks, even when refrigerated.
* Pasteurized dairy products (all forms). Heat from pasteurization kills both good and bad bacteria, causes a loss of half the vitamin C, and up to 80% of all other vitamins, including 100% of vitamin B-12. It also changes the structure, causing it to strain the digestive system, and because the digestive-aiding enzymes are destroyed, it can cause allergies or an intolerance.
* Iodized salt, which has had all valuable minerals removed.
* Grains, nuts, and seeds which have not been soaked or sprouted. Processing these grains by high heat destroys digestive enzymes, but leaves phytic acid, which combines with minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.), blocking their absorption.
“Secondary dentine” which is dentin generated on an as-needed basis, which enamel has been worn away and cavities have begun. This secondary dentine can heal the spot by patching it up or rebuilding the tooth. But this will only occur if the body has enough vitamin D, otherwise it may not generate at all. One study concluded the calcium content of saliva doubled or tripled when enough cod liver oil was present in the diet (cod liver oil contains a lot of vitamin D).
Dr. Weston A. Price, who in the 1930′s and ’40′s used a mixture of cod liver oil and butter oil to cure cavities. The short story is, Dr. Price decided to find out the cause of dental decay, and so he traveled the world, visiting the people with the best teeth - primitives. After observing their diet, he discovered primitives consumed at least four times as many water soluble vitamins (calcium and other minerals) and ten times the fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A and D) from animals foods (fish eggs, butter from grass-fed cows) than those with modern (American) diets.
He also found an additional fat soluble vitamin which he called Activator X (scientists now call this the Price Factor). Activator X is similar to vitamins A and D, helping the body to absorb minerals that would otherwise be lost. The good news is, Activator X is not lost through pasteurization, although it disappears in cows fed high amounts of protein or soy.
Not all primitives had perfect teeth - there were also primitives with terrible teeth. Crooked, crowded, decayed. He found these primitives had adopted a modern (American) diet, consisting of sugary breakfast cereals and white flour products. For these, Dr. Price daily fed them a lunch containing a day’s supply of calcium and twice the amount of phosphorus. He began with 1/2 teaspoon high vitamin cod liver oil and 1/2 teaspoon high vitamin butter oil in 4 ounces of tomato (or orange) juice. Then, 1 pint of beef broth stew made with fine cuts of tender meat and lots of vegetables, particularly carrots (or fish chowder or liver, depending on the day); cooked fruit (no artificial sweetener); rolls made from freshly-ground whole wheat, spread with high vitamin butter; 2 glasses raw milk.
They still had their sugary breakfast and otherwise lousy eating habits the rest of the day, and yet he had a 90% success rate of healing their cavities (including one girl with 42 cavities on 24 teeth!). There are photos of the x-rays in Dr. Price’s book, as well as on the web.
Once your teeth start getting sensitive, it’s a clue that you’re losing minerals, and you need to grow some enamel back. Or, if you already have cavities forming, you will need calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and a variety of enzymes to grow enamel back. Taking a multi-vitamin won’t solve this problem, as the RDA’s are the minimum amounts necessary for survival - not optimal health.
Here is a list of foods to consume for healthy teeth:
* Cod Liver Oil and butter oil, taken together
* Raw dairy from grass-fed cows. Butter, kefir, yogurt, cheese, milk, amasai.
* Animal proteins, such as eggs, fish, or liver
* Lots of greens and raw (stir-fried or lightly steamed) vegetables
* Soup made from bone broth and containing green vegetables, topped with seaweed.
* Soaked and/or sprouted nuts and grains.
* Sea salt (full of minerals)
* Herbs: lemongrass, lemon balm, red raspberry leaf
If you want to learn more about Weston A. Price, visit http://www.westonaprice.org or purchase his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Another great book, is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon - who is carrying on the work of Dr. Price - containing recipes and food advice for healthy teeth, and health in general. Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition is also a great source. I have linked you to Tropical Traditions which sells it cheaper than amazon and includes free shipping.
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proud contributor |
| Lea Harris founded Nourishing Treasures in 2006. A mom passionate about her family's health and well-being, Lea believes education is power. Encouraging others to take baby steps in the right direction of health for their families, Lea's goal is to raise awareness of what goes into our mouths and on our bodies, providing natural alternative information that promotes health and prevents disease by using traditional foods and nature's medicine.
Lea is a Certified Health Coach graduate from Beyond Organic University, and a Certified Aromatherapist graduate from Aromahead Institute. "Like" Nourishing Treasures on Facebook, join the Nourishing Treasures Group on Facebook, follow @NourishTreasure on Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter. You can also find me on Learning About Essential Oils forum, and Fido Fermentation Facebook group. Disclaimer: I use affiliate links wherever possible. So if you click on a link, and make a purchase, I might make a small commission, but it doesn't cost you any more. |
Well said Lea! We agree with your points here.
The challenge for many folks is actually living a life ‘rich’ enough to bring one’s immune response high enough to become unsuitable hosts for the bad bugs implicated with tooth decay and gum disease.
So, we offer products made with all helpful ingredients (to support immune response) to help folks navigate to greater oral health while each of us eats, thinks, and lives our lives to higher immunity.
To your health!
it’s a challenge but such ‘diet’ has other benefits beside that of keeping the teeth in good health.