Credit: iStock.com/LittleBee80
A little while ago, I was out to dinner with a friend of mine who had such horrible mouth pain that he couldn’t even eat the meal he ordered.
He made an appointment to see his dentist the next day and was told he had a cavity in his left lower jaw.
Now, we all know that tooth decay is fairly common. However, what isn’t common knowledge is how tooth decay actually occurs.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Some think it is caused by trapped food particles between the teeth that haven’t been removed via dental floss. Others believe that teeth break down because bacteria in the mouth combined with these food particles.
But this isn’t the case.
Apparently, healthy teeth can withstand the assault of food debris. And your saliva rapidly neutralizes the acids produced by oral bacteria.
So, if not impacted food and bacteria, what causes tooth decay?
In one word, malnutrition.
Like your bones, your teeth constantly break down and replace their cells. Healthy teeth constantly remineralize and regenerate naturally, thanks to the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in your blood.
However, a poor diet can lead to radical biochemical imbalances that can cause tooth decay.
We Americans don’t get enough minerals or vitamins because we rarely eat high-quality, fresh, organic whole foods like pasture-raised animal products and leafy green vegetables. The typical American diet is also extremely high in sugar, caffeine, preservatives, and other processed, refined, and denatured foods. This combination of low nutrition and highly processed food is the main cause of tooth decay.
How to Reverse Tooth Decay
But the good news is that tooth decay can be reversed and even healed with a proper diet rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
So, remember to get enough exposure to sun, eat plenty of raw nuts, seeds, seaweeds, leafy greens, wild seafood, and eggs. You might also want to supplement with vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.
On the flip side, avoid sweets. I know your dentist will steer you away from candy, but you should also stay away from natural sweeteners like maple syrup and honey.
And if you have a cavity and need quick relief, try massaging the affected tooth with clove oil or aloe vera gel.
One final thought. Although bacteria and food stuck between the teeth may not cause tooth decay, they do cause bad breath. So, don’t forget to floss regularly.
Related Articles:
Chewing Sugar-Free Gum Can Drastically Reduce Tooth Decay, Study Finds
Stress During Pregnancy Could Increase Child’s Risk of Tooth Decay
Sources:
“Vitamin Deficiency Underlies Tooth Decay,” Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, February 19, 2019; http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v05n03.shtml.
Gifford, D., “THE REAL CAUSE OF TOOTH DECAY (AND HOW TO STOP IT NATURALLY),” Small Footprint Family; https://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/how-to-stop-tooth-decay.