How
to Heal Cavities and Tooth Decay Naturally
It is important that
we visit the dentist at least once a year for check-ups. However, something as
simple and inexpensive as changing our diet, could change the state of our oral
health, naturally and may even help us to fight tooth decay and even naturally
heal cavities.
What is tooth decay?
Teeth
are made up of four layers. Enamel is the hard, protective, mineralized shell.
Below that is dentin, a bone like substance which provides another protective
mineralized layer. Underneath that, the tooth has a soft center called a pulp,
which contains all the blood vessels and nerve endings. This is covered with
cementum, another mineralized tissue.
When
the diet is not adequate, acid in your mouth dissolves the outer layers of your
teeth, and tooth decay sets in.
Symptoms
of tooth decay
* Tooth ache
* Pain when eating or drinking
* Sensitivity to cold or hot food
* Visible discolored spots on teeth
How to naturally heal your own tooth decay and cavities
I
would forgive you for laughing out loud at the above statement. Many dentists
think the idea is ludicrous and insist that the only way to heal cavities is
through dental intervention.
However, studies from holistic dentists and the research of Dr. Weston A Price, showed that diet has an incredible
impact on oral health, even more so than brushing, would you believe it? Well
right now, you probably don’t, but in this article I will provide you with
evidence that will convince you. I didn’t know myself that teeth can
re-mineralize, but looking at webMD website, this a natural process by which minerals
are redeposited in tooth enamel after being removed by acids. Also Livestrong website talks about re-mineralization
toothpastes that can bind to the tooth surface to aid in re-mineralization of
the enamel, decreasing the risk of cavity formation (you can find in my
previous article how to use eggshells to heal your cavities).
Do
you brush at least twice a day, floss and reduce your intake of sugar? (But
still enjoy a cheeky piece of chocolate now and then, me too 😉
If
the answer to the above is a yes and yet you still get cavities, then you may
be missing a few tricks.
Dr
Weston A. Price, traveled the world in order to study isolated populations and
their native diets. He was astounded to discover that many native people whose
diet was devoid of modern food, ubiquitous in western countries, had nearly
perfect dental structure and very little tooth decay.
The
doctor reached the conclusion that our oral health is largely determined by
diet, especially by these main factors:
* The presence of enough minerals in the diet.
* The presence of enough fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) in the diet.
* How bio-available these nutrients are and how well the body is absorbing
them. It was found that this is largely influenced by the presence of Phytic
Acid in the diet.
What
is Phytic acid?
Phytic
acid is a form of phosphorus that is not easily absorbed by humans. Phytic acid
actually binds to essential nutrients in your digestive tract. This binding
stops you from being able to absorb essential nutrients.
People
who consume large amounts of phytic acid in the form of grains, seeds, nuts,
and legumes have higher rates of tooth decay, mineral deficiencies and
osteoporosis. However, the western diet is high in grains, sugars, and
vegetable oils, and low in fat soluble vitamins, which are beneficial for
optimal bone health and the prevention of tooth decay.
But
there’s no need to panic if I’ve just summed up your diet. Your body is capable
of healing itself. Through a process called remineralization, specialized cells
in the center of the tooth are able to regenerate dentin, the layer of tooth
just under the enamel, and the enamel can then properly remineralize from the
outside.
You
can encourage this process by reducing the amount of phytic acid from your
diet. Now you’re probably thinking: “How can I remove phytic acid from my diet
entirely, when it is found in so many foods?” And you’re bang on. It would be
very difficult to eliminate all foods containing phytic acid. So the advisable
thing to do is to reduce the consumption of foods that contain the highest
amounts.
Food
sources with the highest percentage of phytic acid are almonds, beans, Brazil
nuts, brown rice, chick peas, coconut, corn, hazelnuts and lentils. Don’t cut
them completely from your menu, as they still have many other health benefits,
but eat them in moderation. Everyone who eats plants consumes some phytic acid.
It’s all a question of degree.
What
foods to avoid
Sugar –
I’m sorry, if you are like me, you have a big old sweet tooth. I can’t pass up
a cookie. But my mouth would thank me a lot more if I did.
Sugar
comes in many forms, for example, sucrose, fructose, maltose and glucose. All
of which are damaging to your teeth. Oh and when it says: ‘No added sugar’ on a
label, don’t be fooled. That does not necessarily mean it is sugar free. It
just means that no sugar has been added during its production. The naturally
occurring sugars are still in the product. It may contain one of the sugars
listed above or be listed as ‘carbohydrates.’ Cheeky eh?
To
help prevent tooth decay, try to cut out products containing refined sugars and
don’t exaggerate with natural sugars as well, like honey.
But
why is sugar so terrible for your teeth?
The bacteria in your mouth like to feed on sugar, which excrete
acids that eat away at your tooth enamel, and start the decaying process.
However, if you really fancy something sweet, choose a fruit instead. Although
fruits also contain sugar, it was found that eating fruit as part of a
balanced diet is fine.
The best foods for your teeth
Vegetables – Vegetables
are rich in fiber, which keeps saliva flowing and create mineral defenses
against tooth decay.
Calcium – Your
teeth and jaws are mostly made up of calcium. Without it, you are at risk of
developing gum disease and tooth decay. So if you don’t consume enough calcium,
then do so! Calcium can be found in lots of food and drinks such as milk,
yogurt and cheese. But don’t worry if you are lactose intolerant or following a
dairy-free diet. Vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli are also very
high in calcium, as well as boasting other vital nutrients that are great for
you. Read here more about better sources of calcium than dairy products.
Magnesium –
Helps in creating alkaline environment in the blood, is essential for creating
vitamin D and required for the metabolism of calcium. Can be found in green leaves,
seeds, almonds, beans, fish, avocado and banana.
Grass-fed meats – Meat
helps teeth remineralize from eating acidic food, such as fruit. Red meat,
chicken, fish and seafood is also rich in vitamin B12 and B2. Furthermore,
people who do not consume enough of these vitamins are more prone to mouth
sores.
Healthy Fat – Healthy
fat (such as omega-3) is good for you!…In moderation, of course.
Coconut oil –
Its anti-bacterial nature will help to get rid of harmful bacteria in your
mouth (it is often used in oil pulling technique).
Organic butter –
Many people prefer to use low fat margarine as an alternative to butter as they
believe it is less fattening and better for your health. However, eating
pastured, cultured butter in moderation will not make you fat. It is completely
natural, unlike margarine and other low-fat spreads which are highly processed.
Furthermore, butter is rich in calcium, which as you know, helps prevent tooth
decay.
Homemade broth (Chicken or Beef) – It has a lot of
benefits due to its rich mineral content.
Supplements to heal cavities and improve oral health
Fermented cod liver oil – One
of the main supplements recommended by Doctor Weston A Price. Furthermore,
Raimen A Nigel, the author of the successful book, Cure Tooth Decay, recommends
it and says that Green Pastures makes the highest quality fat soluble vitamin
food based supplements.
Vitamin D – The
sun provides a great source of vitamin D, but I’m not asking you to smile up at
the sun every day. That’s entirely up to you. You can simply eat foods
that are rich in Vitamin D, such as, oily fish (salmon, sardines and mackerel),
eggs and milk. You can also buy over-the-counter vitamin D supplements after
consulting with your doctor. Read here more about 12 common diseases caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Rinse
away your tooth decay
One thing you can do today to improve your oral hygiene and
whiten your teeth, is begin rinsing with 1.5%-3% hydrogen peroxide, three
times per week for thirty seconds before brushing. H2O2 is pretty much water
with an extra oxygen molecule. It is a natural oxidizer which kills mouth
bacteria and helps you to whiten your teeth. This cleans your mouth and
freshens your breath. Or make your own tooth paste: combine ¼ cup of 3%
hydrogen peroxide with ½ cup baking soda and store in a darkened container. Use
as normal tooth paste. Make sure to not swallow any peroxide. After the rinse,
make sure to rinse out your mouth with water. Read here more about 11 great uses of hydrogen peroxide.
You can also do oil pulling technique. Oil pulling is mentioned
in the Ayurvedic medicine. The basic idea is that oil is swished in the mouth
each day and this action helps improve oral health and whiten the teeth. You
need to swish a couple teaspoons of a vegetable based oil (like coconut oil) in
the mouth for about 20 minutes and then spit it out and rinses well. Oil
pulling is usually recommended to be done first thing in the morning before
eating or drinking, and after it you brush your teeth in the normal morning
routine. Read more about this technique in my article how to use oil pulling for oral health.
Phil Robertson Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is trampling on fundamental rights to hush up corruption allegations and maintain his grip on power. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, January 27, 2016.Malaysia’s human rights situation deteriorated sharply during 2015, as Putrajaya increased its campaign of harassment and repression against activists, political opposition figures, and the media, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today.
