Quotes by proponents of Natural Hygiene and dental self-healing, renegade dentists, researchers and authors QuotesOn the ability of teeth and gums to self-heal, rebuild and regenerate and on factors which help or hurt our teeth... Content copyright © 2009 - 2015 Healing Teeth Naturally Natural Hygiene is a term which designates a rather radical healing and health maintenance system (more recently popularized through the bestselling "Fit for Life" books penned by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond). Its proponents, similar to naturopathic schools of thought, maintain that the body is inherently healthy and self-healing and always strives to maintain or re-establish optimal healthful conditions if properly supported in doing so. For more details, see my introduction to Natural Hygiene. As can be seen from the following quotes, both famous proponents of the Natural Hygiene movement (such as Dr. Herbert Shelton and Dr. Virginia Vetrano) and others such as dentistry "mavericks" and "renegades" Dr. Robert O. Nara and Dr. George W. Heard believe in and have witnessed the capacity of teeth and gums to heal themselves in certain cases and/or under certain conditions (and more recently, mainstream researchers have begun various projects aiming at helping cavities to refill naturally, teeth to remineralize, and even regrow from scratch). Clearly, dental decay is frequently a reversible process, similar to the daily "building up" and "tearing down" of parts of the tooth enamel (see Demineralisation-Remineralisation). Personally I believe - and my experience has shown me - that even seriously damaged teeth can respond to good "treatment" (food, cleaning etc. - NOT dental treatment) and may be regenerated to various degrees - at least to the point where they can be near-normally used for a number of years1 (although teeth the root of which has been damaged particularly by dental toxins and treatments2 seem likely to crumble eventually - after all, a dead root without a functioning blood and lymph supply is unable to nourish the tooth so the eroding action of daily chewing alone will eventually grind the tooth or what remains of it down). For some dramatic first-person accounts and real-life stories regarding tooth and gum self-healing incl. tooth regrowth in adults, see Personal Experiences & Testimonials and Spirituality. Tooth rejuvenation/remineralization Today, reversal of caries and repair of tooth structure is possible. Remineralization of enamel, the outer portion of the tooth, is an accepted phenomenon. Prof. Sally Marshall, researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences Necessity of full mineral and trace element spectrum It takes all the elements to build sound bodies. A lot of minerals besides phosphorus, calcium and magnesium go into the making of sound teeth. Only a dash of iodine, boron, fluorine or copper may be required, but unless that dash is supplied, the building process is impaired and the foundation laid for tooth decay. Dr. George W. Heard in his book Man versus Toothache Nutrition, immune system, oral pathogens, tooth decay and gum problems The autoimmune system is the body's first and best defense against the big bad world out there. That includes chemical toxins, cancers, oral pathogens, etc. This is why someone with a good immune system may have a better set of teeth and gums while maintaing a poorer hygiene regimen than someone who goes through all the hygiene motions dilligently day after day and still has problems due to dental caries or periodontal disease. Am I saying that nutrition is all we need to be concerned about? No. It is an important 'factor'. Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. Food rests, oral pathogens (bacteria) and acid waste products and their consequences ...an average person has around 500 species of bugs in the mouth and 50-75 of them aren't the kind you want in there. You understand that they exist on a 'biofilm' in different areas of the mouth - normally the areas that are conducive to their survival, the dark anaerobic areas you keep missing with your brush, areas you can't reach, areas you don't floss... Well, somehow all that food and sugar drink gets to them just fine and they thrive, they produce acid waste as a by-product, rot the area and get on with life. That's their job to survive! It's your job to counter their survival or suffer the consequences; bad teeth, loose teeth, a mouth full of amalgam or other composites, sore, bleeding gums, foul breath, unbearable pain, lousy fitting caps, bridges, sore, sutured gums, yanked teeth and no teeth. Sorry, it wasn't hereditary, but it IS easy to blame something else for our ignorance. Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. Bacteria and tooth decay Those bugs, the Lactobacillus acidophilus, that the dental scientists charge with causing a tooth to decay, are found in everybody's mouths; but, when food is correct the tissues are immuned. ... Why is it, then, that the rate of tooth decay varies from zero (as in certain Deaf Smith County families) to above 95 per cent? Not the bacteria count in the patient's mouth, but the food he has lived upon makes the difference. The mouth must be correct when the food is correct. When the mouth is correct, the bacteria do no damage. Dr. George W. Heard in his book Man versus Toothache Warning by Healing Teeth Naturally: If your teeth are seriously damaged, don't take this to mean that all you have to do is increase the mineral content of your diet and avoid damaging foods while you can blithely neglect cleansing your teeth and mouth. In seriously damaged teeth, my experience has shown that the bacterial invasion has to be dealt with forcefully to help save teeth. Fasting and dental/gum improvements, healing cavities and toothache ...repeated tests and experiments in the laboratory have shown that the bones and teeth are uninjured by prolonged fasting. I have conducted thousands of fasts and I have never seen any injury accrue to the teeth therefrom. No one makes a trip to the dentist after a fast who would not have gone there had the fast not been taken. Mr. Pearson records that at the end of his fast, 'teeth with black cavities became white and clear, all decay seemed to be arrested by the fast, and there was no more tooth-ache.' The only effects upon the teeth which I have observed to occur during a fast are improvements. I have seen teeth that were loose in their sockets become firmly fixed while fasting. I have seen diseased gums heal up while fasting. But I have never, at any time, observed any injurious effects upon the teeth during or after a fast, regardless of the age of the faster and the duration of the fast. This applies only to good teeth. Fasting does sometimes cause fillings to become loose. Although I have always regarded the loosening of fillings in teeth as due to the extraction of the salts of the bad teeth, some of my students have brought up the question: Is the loss of the filling due to an effort of Nature to dislodge a foreign body preparatory to healing the tooth? This question is worthy of study.4 Dr. Herbert Shelton in The Hygienic System, Fasting and Sunbathing Cavities glazing over thanks to mineral-rich diet Food therapy is still an infant branch of the healing art. I say that it deserves more attention from both the medical profession and the public than it has received up to now. Food therapy, indeed, promises a new era for healing and when that comes, great credit will be due pioneers in the field, like Dr. Price. That practitioner demonstrated how dentistry could use food therapy to prevent, and also to help repair, tooth decay. During my 30 year study of dental conditions in Deaf Smith County, I found evidence a plenty to that effect. Note what Dr. Edward Taylor says in his report: 'People moving here (into Deaf Smith County with the usual number of cavities . . . ceased to develop further cavities . . . and in teeth brought there five years previously . . . the cavities had acquired hard-glazed surfaces." All decay did not glaze over because the foods grown here were not consistently used. What forces had stopped those teeth from decaying further and started to repair the damage already done? ... Both decayed teeth and ailing tissue will heal when the cause of the trouble is removed. That cause is malnutrition . . . the lack of properly balanced diet. Dr. George W. Heard in Man versus Toothache Fasting and dental healing Disease of the gums and periodontal tissues heal, while fasting, and teeth become firmer in their sockets...Abscesses will often absorb while fasting, but it will usually take a lengthy fast.4 Dr. Virginia V. Vetrano Teeth regrowing & raw food In my practice, I have noted some splendid instances of broken teeth growing back to their full length without other aid than natural food. However, I find that this is not generally believed. It may be necessary for grownups to live for many years in Nature's way, before they will be able to accomplish this feat. Their bloodstream must be made vital. On the other hand, I know of men as old as seventy-five years who have grown another set of teeth. John H. Richter, raw foodist, early 20th century, in "Nature the Healer", p. 385 Tooth enamel and cavity healing The teeth are bones. Bones do heal and regenerate under favorable conditions. Even the enamel of the teeth, it seems is able to repair itself, as I have been able to demonstrate on a broken tooth of my own. Self-restoration of teeth with cavities in them have been reported by dentists within the last few years. Rene Beresford Fasting and enamel restoration Under ideal conditions...(teeth) can be healed. Caries (cavities) can probably be filled physiologically; we just never give them a chance. As soon as a [carious lesion] is discovered, it is filled with gold, silver or porcelain. Nature certainly can't fight against that, although she tries to at times and casts our fillings. I have seen one case where the enamel was badly eroded off all the front teeth. that was apparently replaced while fasting. Dr. Virginia V. Vetrano Pyorrhea [severe periodontitis] healed by fasting In pyorrhea we see inflammation and ulceration of the gums, pus formation, loosening of the teeth, necrosis of the jaw, and even falling out of the teeth. In numerous cases of pyorrhea that we have cared for, the gum inflammation has subsided, the ulcers have healed, pus formation has ceased and the loosened teeth have become firmly fixed in their sockets, and all of this has occurred while the patient was fasting. Dr. Herbert Shelton in The Hygienic System, Fasting and Sunbathing Early caries reversible Teeth can heal themselves...Early caries (cavities) can be medically reversed; the body's natural self-regenerating ability can restore degraded enamel to perfect health! Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. Enamel recoating and remineralization There is nothing sacred about the original enamel surface...within certain limits, the enamel is capable of fairly rapid organic recoating and remineralization, when favorably exposed to salivary contacts. Dr. Sogannes, D.D.S. The extent of remineralization depends on the location of the cavity. If the cavity is in an area where the saliva has access to it - and if you have sufficient saliva - that cavity can be hardened. The cavity won't progress any further. If the person decides he or she wants it filled for aesthetic reasons, you can just touch it up a bit. The drilling is much simpler, then. Erling Johansen, D.M.D., Ph.D., dental researcher (University of Rochester) On a tooth's healing capacity It ranges from some little pinpoint cavities here and there all the way to a tooth that's rotted right off at the gumline, you're not going to grow a whole new crown on it. The little ones will heal, remineralize up to about two millimeters deep. What will happen in a tooth that is severely decayed is that the stump will firm up. Instead of being soft and mushy, it develops a leathery consistency. A healed tooth will remain resistant to decay as long as the oral conditions are beneficial. Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. Brushing teeth with salt and/or baking soda prevents periodontal disease Over the years when I was lecturing, I asked thousands of dentists and hygienists to raise their hands if they had ever seen destructive periodontal disease in person[s] who had regularly brushed with salt and/or [baking] soda. I have never seen a hand! And although I have not seen many such cases, the periodontal health in these patients has always been excellent. Dr. Paul H. Keyes D.D.S., B.A., M.S., founder of the International Dental Health Foundation, on the benefits of salt and baking soda On toothbrushing and cleaning You have to keep after your teeth. ... You have to keep at it every day. The main thing is to keep the bacteria from growing on the teeth. And that's done by brushing. You should brush your teeth at least after breakfast and after supper. You should brush right after you eat, too, and you should floss your teeth once a day. Dr. Johansen You can't allow the bacteria to become attached to the teeth. You have to keep them what we call 'free floating.' That's done by using a brush to clean your teeth. It's a matter of oral cleanliness. You're not going to find healing in a mouth that's laden with plaque. Plaque is a combination of food particles and bacteria. If it's on the teeth too long, calcium precipitates out of the saliva and it gets hard. You can remove plaque from your teeth before it calcifies by simply brushing. Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. You have to use the right kind of brush. A lot of people are brushing with a cheap brush. You can go to the drugstore and pick up a brush for 25 cents. A cheapie. A good brush these days is going to cost you at least a dollar. The reason a lot of people are not cleaning their teeth better is that they're using an inferior instrument. We start off by giving them a fairly soft brush, with rounded tips. If you brush your teeth and you feel a tingling afterwards on the gums, that doesn't mean that you've gotten them extra clean. It means you may have damaged some cells. When you wash your arm, it doesn't tingle afterwards, does it? This is the sort of common sense thing that people don't think about. If you start to floss, you should do it correctly. Use unwaxed floss so the floss will spread out. Use the floss like a shoeshine rag across the teeth. Flossing and brushing should control plaque. Dr. Joel Knapp D.D.S. On calcium requirements A person has to have sufficient calcium in his system so that the saliva contains a fair amount of calcium. A person who is on an extremely low-calcium diet would not get any remineralization, and the saliva would not be such as to prevent decay. Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. On sugarless gum not being devoid of tooth-decaying sugar Sugarless gum isn't sugarless. It' is sucroseless. If you look at the label, you will see that it says, on most of them, 60 percent carbohydrates. That can be just as bad as sugar. The bacteria that cause decay can survive and multiply on those carbohydrates. Dr. Johansen On the importance of living teeth ... a living tooth can preserve the health of the surrounding tissues much better than artificial prosthesis. Teeth are living, and they are able to respond to a person's bite. They move and in doing so they maintain the health of the surrounding gums and teeth." Prof. Paul Sharpe, genetic research scientist and head of division of Craniofacial Biology and Biomaterials at the Dental Institute at King's College, London (UK) Dentists don't cure anything Dentists train to treat symptoms. Some specialize and treat periodontal or endodontic problems - but nobody cures your bad teeth. All of the measures taken by dentists simply REPAIR damage done by decay. There are not many, if you can find them, who will sit down with you after an exam and tell you how to go home, change your diet, spend more time on your teeth, gums, irrigate to help shrink a periodontal pocket and so on. The hygienist is more prone to give you that talk, but they are so busy cramming patients in that they hardly have time. The bottom line is that you have to take a good look at the profession and their motives - and you have to take a serious look at your own hygiene practices and decide that you will have to take responsibility for your OWN oral health (which ultimately affects your overall health), and stop putting it on the profession or your dental insurance plan to do it for you - because they won't. Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. On dental cavitation infections This type of infection has been frequently reported in the literature since 1915 by respected authors such as GV Black and later by Weston Price, but has yet to gain acceptance in the wider dental community. If it was accepted it would lead to major changes to the usual practice of dentistry, so even though it is 100% proven to be true, the existence of cavitation infections is ignored by the mainstream profession. Dentist Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall in "Toxic Dentistry Exposed" On tooth extractions It is an unfortunate fact that most adult extractions end up as cavi­tation infections to some degree. Some sources estimate as much as 90% of adult extractions end up in this way." Dentist Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall in "Toxic Dentistry Exposed" On water fluoridation Fluoride has become religious dogma to the dental profession. Water fluoridation has become accepted in large parts of the English-speaking world and it is acknowledged dental policy all over the world that water fluoridation is a good thing despite the evidence against it. Well, it is good for dentists, as dentists who work in fluoridated areas earn more than dentists who work in non-fluoridated areas. Work that one out! In Europe, a more pragmatic approach to water fluoridation has been taken. In areas where it has been tried, it was found to be inef­fective and withdrawn, for example Basel in Switzerland. The politi­cians of the European mainland are also mindful of being accused of forcing mass medication on the populace, the atrocities of the Second World War being still fresh in their memory; for mass medication is what adding fluoride to water is. This contravenes the Nuremburg Convention." Dentist Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall in "Toxic Dentistry Exposed" On successful dental detoxification treatment (Drs. Munro-Hall's V-Tox treatment) The variety of symptoms displayed, the age and sex of the patients is vast but the common thread that connects them all is that the V-Tox treatment worked for them. Nutritionally prepare the patients, remove metals from their teeth and jaws, remove root-filled and infected teeth and clean out infections in the bone, get the bite right, and use high­dose intravenous infusions of vitamin C with glutathione etc. Do these things in the correct order and in a thorough and correct manner, and the results can be amazing. As we have stated before, this approach does not always work, but it works in so many cases where all else has failed, that it deserves to be tried. No placebo effect Patients come with a multitude of symptoms and diagnoses. They are varied in age, gender, temperament, nutritional status and belief systems. The one thing that links them all is their toxic load and the fortunate fact that removing the toxic load correctly restored their health. The results cannot be placebo because their symptoms are permanently reduced or vanished. With placebo treatment the symptoms would return in time." Dentist Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall in "Toxic Dentistry Exposed" Dentistry One would be more justified in stating that the principal cause of dental decay are the dentists, and even prove it - because wherever there are many dentists, the dental health status of the population is significantly worse than where there are few dentists or none at all." Dentist Dr. Johann Georg Schnitzer speaking on a dentists' congress in Berlin, Germany The dental establishment is scared to death that the public is going to realize that the entire profession has been making a living by repairing the results of a disease they could have been curing all along!" Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. Someday, hopefully soon, the dental profession will become extinct... it will happen as soon as the public learns about the cause and cure of cavities and gum problems. No one I've ever known in over 30 years has not wanted to solve their own problems... once they know how." Dr. Robert O. Nara, D.D.S. Tooth remineralisation & demineralisation, saliva & pH (At least) 6 major prerequisites for dental health and stopping & reversing tooth decay Tooth remineralisation, demineralisation, saliva & pHThis page, together with Minerals and trace elements, is one of the most important pages of Healing Teeth Naturally since the processes of remineralisation and demineralisation are at the heart of both tooth decay and dental regeneration. To simplify matters in this introduction, teeth are essentially made of calcium and phosphate. Quite unbeknownst to normal humans, there is a constant "traffic" going on in our mouth, with calcium and phosphate migrating in and out of our teeth on a daily basis in response to factors such as chewing hard substances, eating acidic food, and pH and mineral & trace element content of our saliva (as well as blood). Saliva (and blood) composition in turn depend on the quality and mineral content of the food we ingest, our emotional state, any medications we might take, and as far as saliva is concerned, the bacteria population "inhabiting" our mouth (and frequently teeth). Content copyright © 2009 - 2015 Healing Teeth Naturally Dental health prerequisite number 1: tooth-mineral-rich saliva When a person's diet is healthy, i.e. adjusted to that person's individual needs, their saliva will be high in calcium and phosphate. So the daily wear and tear on teeth induced by chewing and eating acidic foods, i.e. the process of demineralisation, will be balanced and offset by constant remineralization via the saliva in the proper pH range and filled with the required minerals. In other words, saliva quality is of crucial importance in the prevention of tooth cavities since it is this medium which bathes and carries nutrition to teeth (in addition to the interior "supply pipe" provided by the bloodstream to the pulp of the tooth interior1). Dental health prerequisite number 2: blood rich in tooth-friendly minerals, trace elements and vitamins Since teeth can get both nourished and depleted both from inside (your bloodstream via the tooth's pulp chamber1) and outside (saliva and food passing through as well as food rests and bacterial waste products remaining in your mouth), it is important to nourish yourself in a manner that allows your blood to be rich in all elements your teeth require. More details at Dr. Shelton on the true causes of tooth decay, Nutrition and particularly Minerals. Dental health prerequisite number 3: unimpeded dentinal fluid transport To allow tooth-friendly elements contained in your blood to nourish and replenish your teeth while defending them against outside would-be intruders, research by Drs. Steinman & Leonora spanning nearly four decades strongly suggests the existence of a hormone-mediated dentinal fluid flow system existing under healthy conditions which ensures a tooth's immunity against tooth decay. See details at Dentinal fluid transport - revolutionary theory of natural caries resistance and cariogenesis. Dental health prerequisite number 4: proper saliva pH Now the added "complication" is that saliva bathing your teeth also needs to be at neutral or near-neutral pH (around 7 on the pH scale ranging from 0 to 14), for teeth to remineralize properly (refer for instance to the studies done at the University of Newcastle [UK] which have shown the link between saliva pH and remineralization). Acidic saliva apparently demineralizes teeth (while when saliva becomes too alkaline, deposits called calculus [tartar] form on the teeth). (In fact, German dentist Johann Georg Schnitzer writes in one of his books that he has measured pH values in people with rapidly advancing tooth decay which were so low [acidic] that their teeth were well soluble in their own saliva.) Since stress can create acids in the body, saliva too can be influenced by one's emotions. See Meditation for stress and caries reduction and Emotions and tooth decay. And since food rests allowed to remain in the mouth and metabolized by bacteria can turn into "acid waste" products secreted by these bacteria, here is another reason why good oral hygiene can help save teeth by raising saliva pH to tooth-friendly levels. Incidentally, one near-instant way of doing this is the use of baking soda for toothbrushing or rinsing. Alkalizing if your tissues are overacidic Many things serve to shift one's tissue pH towards enhanced alkalinity, from an alkaline-focused diet, adding alkaline foods/natural supplements such as blackstrap molasses, to meditation, prayer and joy (in fact, according to scientific research, meditation seems to be a powerful dental health and healing factor which among other beneficial changes, raises salivary pH). All these and more I've seen reported as having an alkalizing effect on human tissues, while stress (and of course acidifying foods, see table) acidify them. Dental health prerequisite number 5: proper salivary flow To be and remain healthy, teeth need to be constantly bathed in saliva. When the mouth is dry, teeth may/will suffer, due to the resulting increase in cavity-causing bacteria.4 This also applies to dry mouth caused by taking certain medications and even by breathing through your mouth in your sleep. Radiation treatment (so-called radiotherapy) to the general area of the mouth can also seriously damage the functioning of the salivary glands. Dental x-rays8 may cause dry mouth as well, so may stress5. Tobacco smoking or chewing also seems to inhibit saliva and is a risk factor for gingivitis and subsequent root-surface caries. While dentists apparently recommend chewing sugarless gum to prevent dry mouth, I have yet to see one such product that does not contain toxic Aspartame6 (not to mention other chemicals). A site visitor commented that "the cinnamon-flavored Trident... is the only Trident without aspartame ... [but] still full of chemicals." I would suggest however, if you do use chewing gum to go for one exclusively sweetened with xylitol. Or use the outstanding saliva stimulator Mastic gum (resin): healthy chewing gum alternative which has many additional medical benefits. Of course, the first measure to ensure good salivary flow would seem to be hydrating yourself via high-quality water, particularly since according to F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., author of the landmark book "Your Body's Many Cries for Water", most of us (quite unbeknownst to us) are dehydrated in any case.7 9 Dental health prerequisite number 6: proper mastication - exercise your teeth and gums by chewing well Most natural, unprocessed (or little-processed) food (such as whole-grain products and fresh raw fruits and vegetables) typically requires thorough chewing due to its fibre content. The increased blood and lymphatic circulation in gum, teeth, and other oral tissues (see Tooth for an illustration of the blood vessels supplying teeth) brought about by thoroughly chewing one’s food should in itself both enhance dental cellular detoxification and nourishment. Additionally, the mechanical action of the fiber on teeth and gums acts similarly to a toothbrush by cleaning the tooth surfaces. It can even be speculated (in fact, tentatively stated as a fact) that a major cause of tooth decay and jaw problems lies in the very lack of use we make of our teeth and jaw muscles when we mostly consume soft processed food2 - after all, lack of exercise in other parts of the body tends to lead to atrophy (wasting away), including our muscles, bones and brain (as in the phrase "use it or lose it"). In fact this is what Edgar Cayce hinted at when stating that modern "soft" foods (as opposed to what he termed "detergent" foods such as raw carrots, lettuce and the like), constitute a cause of teeth and gum disorders (this is easy to understand since as weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones, by analogy, teeth should benefit from chewing). And last but not least, chewing of course gets our saliva "going". Eminent Natural Hygiene proponent Dr. Herbert Shelton recounts a beautiful testimonial testifying to the dental healing value of properly exercising one's teeth: "A mother brought her young child to me. She was distressed that his jawbones and mouth were developing poorly. The boy had a terrible bite (referring to the way the teeth fit), and there did not appear to be any room in the crowded mouth for the new teeth to erupt. After discussing the child's diet, I suggested that the mother give the child a raw carrot to chew on at his regular meal and as a replacement for his sweet snacks. Years later I saw the mother and child again. The child had beautiful straight teeth. The hard chewing that was required for the raw carrot allowed the teeth to straighten out as they performed the job for which they were originally intended." Dr. Shelton is unequivocal about the dental health importance of chewing natural food: "Soft diets, which require no work of the teeth and jaws in chewing, aid in producing dental decay. No tooth can have adequate nutrition unless it is used... a tough, fibrous diet not only gives the teeth and jaws needed exercise, but also cleans the teeth.10 Two other anecdotal reports regarding the dental healing effects or benefits of exercising one's jaws have been furnished by Victoria Boutenko of "green smoothies" fame. One is the story of twins she met, where one had good and the other bad teeth. The only thing that distinguished the two was that the former was an avid chewing gum user while the latter did not chew gum! The other report is her own story: when she wanted to get implants she was told her jaw bones were too thin to allow implantation of artificial teeth. Since smoothies in spite of all their health benefits do not exactly demand vigorous facial exercise to consume, she invented her own device for providing dental exercise (basically an oversized chewing gum), used it religiously on a daily basis and was rewarded with strong regrowth in her jaw bone mass which allowed the dental implant surgeries she desired to eventually be performed.11 Proper mastication thus seems not only an important factor in good digestion, i.e. one of the central pillars of a healthy body3, but also in the health and regeneration of your teeth, gums and jaws. An outstanding helper for all whose teeth, gums and jaws would benefit from more exercise is Mastic gum (resin): healthy chewing gum alternative - a natural jaw exerciser, breath freshener, bacterial plaque fighter, saliva stimulator, gum helper, tooth whitener - with unique medical benefits. Dental health prerequisite number 7 (this point is arguable!): teeth surfaces need to be clean and unimpacted by glycerin For teeth to be able to integrate the minerals contained in saliva into their structural "latticework", i.e. for them to remineralize via saliva, Dr. Gerald Judd, author of 'Good Teeth Birth to Death', insists that teeth must be "clean" to allow this remineralization to occur. In his eyes, teeth must not only be brushed but also be free of any coating of sticky glycerin (see details at Dr. Gerald Judd's natural dental protocol). Oddly, glycerin is a common ingredient in many commercial toothpastes (and even found in health food store varieties). To my knowledge Dr. Judd was the first to "officially" recommend using soap instead of toothpaste to effectively "squeaky" clean teeth and gums12, as the first crucial step for allowing remineralization to occur from the nutrition provided by the saliva. While Dr. Judd's insistence on glycerin- and otherwise clean teeth seems to make sense (at least at first blush), some dental researchers such as Dr. Weston A. Price and Dr. George W. Heard have reported seeing perfectly healthy teeth which had never even been cleaned and were thickly covered with various impurities. Invariably, these teeth were found in people having lived on a natural mineral and trace element-rich diet from birth. Some dental health researchers / dentists have come out against Dr Judd's claim. For one reason, there appear to be no corroborating scientific studies showing glycerin to impact teeth to the point of preventing remineralisation. It can be suspected that the chemist Dr. Judd made his discovery based on applying pure glycerin to the teeth which very conceivably could indeed coat the teeth to the point of requiring multiple rinses for removal. By the same token, such a layer of pure glycerin might then prevent minerals from penetrating where they should penetrate. (On the other hand, such a barrier could actually work to equally prevent demineralization of the teeth, at least as long as it is not scrubbed off by chewing or possibly chemically changed by acidic foods, drinks or saliva.) In the real world, in any case, glycerin in toothpastes occurs in relatively small amounts while being thoroughly mixed with frequently numerous additional ingredients. As such glycerin seems unlikely to be able to form any kind of thick or regular coating on the teeth. As to the glycerin content of bar soaps I have seen conflicting statements. Glycerin is a natural byproduct of the saponification process and may or may not be removed by the manufacturer. Glycerin-free soap is more skin-drying while glycerin-containing soap is more moisturizing. As Dr. Judd recommended using "any" bar soap, the smaller amounts of glycerin likely found at least in a number of them cannot have been of dental concern to him (and by extension, the small amounts contained in toothpaste are likely to be equally of no concern - but of course other ingredients are.13 Those who still wish to use guaranteed glycerin-free soap may want to read labels very carefully and/or enquire with the manufacturer. Finally, one dentist writes that he has seen numerous patients' teeth remineralize using glycerin-containing toothpastes. Using pH test strips Some suggest using test strips to test one's saliva in the morning. Also compare Products: "Remineralizers" for Teeth. Advice on what to do when you can't or don't want to see a dentist 8 tips for building up or hardening a decayed tooth (or temporarily stopping it up) Advice on what to do without a dentistAs mentioned on About this site, I feel my teeth would be much better off today had I been forced to do without a dentist while being taught about ways of becoming "dentally self-sufficient". Once a tooth has been strongly damaged (much of it in my and some others' view due to the very dental treatments supposedly "restoring" it, for detailed reasons see Drilling & filling teeth: an unwise choice? On risks, damages and dangers) I feel that (spiritual intervention apart), their complete repair will only be accomplished when and if strong and consistent proactive measures are implemented to strengthen teeth and gums8 and persistently eliminate the causes that would otherwise likely lead to their continued gradual erosion and destruction.7 Content copyright © 2009 - 2015 Healing Teeth Naturally Here now a list of suggestions how to tackle the repair of one's own teeth in case you prefer (or have to) try doing without dental emergency treatment and/or "proper" dental work, i.e. aim beyond just lessening or temporarily numbing the pain before rushing to the next available dentist. (For those just wishing to temporarily deal with a hole, simply skip to Temporary fixes.) Apparently, both dietary and "energetic" measures and approaches have allowed people to fix cavities without a dentist and to get rid of caries without fillings. Following any of these suggestions is of course done at your own risk since I can and will only take responsibility for my own body and health, and comes with no guarantee, see Disclaimer. Step 1: Get rid of the toothache, naturally As the first step towards becoming dentally self-sufficient, various simple but effective procedures can be used to stop tooth pain, see Natural, holistic & home dental remedies for toothache & other dental problems. To rule out the very rare possibility your toothache is an indicator of some non-dental (potentially serious) illness, you may also wish to read Dental glossary: toothache, dental and gingival pain: definitions and causes. Step 2: Work at building up (hardening) the tooth softened by erosion (caries) The next and most important step is effecting a long-term toothache cure by working to help one's teeth remineralize, i.e. to form a new hardened enamel, and thus restore them to functionality (for background explanations, see Demineralisation - remineralisation). Such remineralization or "glazing over" of teeth is likely most reliably achieved by a dietary change or adaptation5: according to the observations and in-depth studies effected by eminent dental health researcher and dentist Dr. Weston A. Price DDS as well as other dentists such as Dr. George W. Heard, for teeth to be healthy and/or maintain or regain a measure of health, they need to receive nutrition rich in minerals, trace elements, vitamins and various phytonutrients combined with the avoidance of all refined and other damaging foodstuffs, especially sugar and white flour. The health-giving elements are particularly found in raw organic edibles, i.e. fresh and unprocessed food, sunshine for vitamin D production (required for proper assimilation of calcium into the dental structure), etc. Make particularly sure to get enough tooth- and bone-friendly vitamin K2, A, D and C and the full mineral and trace element spectrum. Many more details on rebuilding or strengthening teeth via diet at Nutrition. Should the teeth initially be too sensitive to chew or allow contact with food, juicing as well as blending food to a soft mush in a blender and drinking/ingesting it through a straw may help (while avoiding drinking or eating any substances that might irritate the tooth such as hot or cold food items). It is important, however, that teeth do get into contact with well-chewed natural food to allow them to directly extract minerals and whatever else they require to enable their natural regeneration via your saliva - more at the must-read page Tooth remineralisation & demineralisation, saliva & pH: (at least) 6 major prerequisites for dental health and stopping & reversing tooth decay. Combined with brushing & cleaning and getting sunlight (or vitamin D supplements in wintertime, vitamin D being required for proper assimilation of calcium into the dental structure), a regimen rich in tooth-friendly minerals, trace elements and vitamins should allow the teeth to properly (or at the very least sufficiently) remineralize, i.e. newly form a hardened enamel or surface to allow the tooth to be (near-)normally used. Also refer to Herbs and plants for strengthening teeth and gums, Miscellaneous tips for keeping or restoring healthy teeth and gums, Products for remineralizing teeth and enamel (most of these are applied from the outside to add minerals to teeth) and Herbal, plant-derived and similar products for teeth and gums (some of these are very inexpensive). Please note: if the pulp ("nerve") of a tooth has been killed and is not "revived", i. e. the tooth is no longer nourished from the inside, the tooth will likely crumble (erode) over time. This can take many years and can happen both with the tooth filled and unfilled7. The major reason for dead or dying pulp is dental treatment, see Drilling & filling teeth: an unwise choice?. Step 3: Clean your teeth properly & detoxify your mouth The importance of cleaning teeth can be seen from the fact that "renegade" dentist Dr. Nara centered his whole approach to permanently healing and protecting teeth from caries around religiously applied proper cleaning measures. Dr. Nara reaped resounding successes with many of his patients, see his book How To Become Dentally Self-Sufficient. To clean one's teeth, it's very important to use natural non-toxic cleaning agents or oral care products. For one powerful example among several showing what switching from conventional toothpaste to a more natural approach can do in terms of healing cavities (as well as serious gum disease/periodontitis), read this Dramatic tooth decay cure testimonial (salt water brushing, waterpik [oral irrigator] and dry brushing have healed cavities where fluoride toothpaste failed). More on keeping your teeth clean as well as DIYable oral detoxification at the Dental Care and Oral Hygiene section (while oil pulling seems to be a potent way of pulling toxins from your entire mouth, likely the most powerful way of effectively and permanently reducing caries bacteria in your mouth is using xylitol sugar for rinsing and toothbrushing, highly recommended!). Step 4: Learn about energy healing approaches and apply them EFT and Donna Eden's Energy Medicine approach1 are two modalities which have been successfully used to address and heal both toothache and cavities. According to Donna Eden, acupressure has been used to eliminate both toothache and even heal the tooth (more at Energetic Toothache Remedies: Acupressure). Her landmark book Energy Medicine features charts showing the entire treatment for cavities and toothache as well as a chart showing which tooth is energetically linked to which organ via energy meridians.2 Step 5: Calm your emotions, use your mind constructively - and Visualize! See Psychology for how stress relief, emotions and mental factors can contribute to dental healing and regeneration (or the opposite). That stress does play a role both in caries resistance and susceptibility also appears clear from in-depth research done by Drs. Steinman & Leonora on the dentinal fluid transport system. For some particularly empowering inspiration, read this brilliant tooth healing real-life testimonial achieved by simply visualising the tooth being healthy and healed! Step 6: Get inspired by others Healing Teeth Naturally has an entire section devoted to impressive natural tooth and gum healing testimonials. Step 7: Consider fasting Some dramatic toothache and dental healings have been achieved with fasting. See On the effects of fasting on the health of teeth and gums and Testimonial: toothache, tooth decay and gum pockets naturally healed and reversed via fasting and good nutrition. Step 8: Last but far from least: consider uropathy See Urine therapy for the healing of teeth and gum problems (believe me, it is powerful and once you have actually overcome your resistance to it, you are unlikely to want to miss out on its benefits ever again). Addendum: What to do with deep "holes" and When I personally have seen a dentist I generally avoid dentists since I don’t wish to carry any fillings, crowns, inlays or partials full of foreign materials, hazardous metals and/or toxic chemicals in my mouth with their possible or proven health hazards such as amalgam mercury and other harmful metals leaching into the body, radioactive contamination etc.3 The simple act of drilling into a tooth constitutes trauma to the tooth thus affected, comparable to an operation performed on another part of the physical body. So for about ten years now I have self-treated any occurring tooth problems (they are few and far between today and only follow on the heels of dietary mistakes in the form of refined sugar and white flour). If like myself you should choose (or perhaps have) to go the whole hog and leave cavities (including deeper holes) unfilled7, you are likely to get food particles frequently stuck in the latter (a minor inconvenience in my view). That point is also where I did allow one exception in my “dentist-free zone” policy: I had a tooth with a very deep cavity where the filling had fallen out. Normally, I leave such teeth alone, allowing them to form a new hardened enamel layer via proper diet and cleaning. In that particular case, the cavity was so deep and “convoluted” that it was impossible to keep clean, with food rests continually getting trapped in the inside passage and starting to rot and cause pain. So I had this one cavity sealed by a plastic filling4. The other option (which I only recently learned about) is of course the above-referenced visualisation technique which has allowed at least some people to refill their own tooth cavities by simple visualisation (see this very impressive tooth healing testimonial) as well as the super-easy tip for a simple DIY "tooth filling" listed below! Temporary fixes (tooth fillings you can place yourself) Perhaps the best tip I have come across so far for a natural temporary tooth filling has been submitted by site visitor Marita: Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata). Indian frankincense is an aromatic resin typically used as incense but its edible varieties can actually be used to stop up a hole in one's teeth. You simply take a "tear" or two of the resin in your mouth, allow it to become softer (it will acquire the consistency of plasticine) and use the mass to fill the hole. Before closing the hole (temporarily) with the frankincense resin, make sure to very thoroughly disinfect it such as by using chlorhexidine, essential oils or in a pinch, a strong salt water solution. Indian frankincense contains numerous medically active compounds which among other things work against pain and inflammation (a search of the PubMed biomedical database currently brings up about 400 studies including studies on Boswellia serrata's effects on inflammation, pain and even cancerous tumors). So in addition to allowing you to close the hole, you have the advantage of the frankincense resin helping to combat both pain and inflammation. You can buy organic Frankincense resin for instance at amazon.com and if you do it through Healing Teeth Naturally's Amazon partner links, a small commission will help support the work of this humanitarian enterprise without you incurring any extra cost (see Support this site). Generally, those who for any reason wish or need to have their tooth holes filled but can't immediately get (or afford) a dentist appointment may find products such as Dentemp O.S. Temporary Tooth Filling useful which are designed to provide a temporary dental "restoration" (for instance after the previous one has fallen out) and which will stay in place for a while, allowing you to chew food and brush your teeth. Easy to apply and patch up (or renew) in case the filling starts to chip, this type of filling apparently can tide you over for several weeks (and maybe longer). You should find a temporary tooth filling product at drugstores/pharmacies and similar outlets, and of course online, see for instance "Temparin Filling Material for Fillings & Crowns" on Amazon com. In this context, I've also seen a note that "[v]egetarian-source calcium powder, packed around an infected tooth, and even packing inside the decayed areas of teeth (after they are properly cleaned) has sometimes assisted in teeth naturally healing themselves or at least retarded the decay." Similarly, you can make slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) powdered bark into a paste with water using mortar and pestle and fill a cavity with it. Apparently, slippery elm bark among other things provides tooth-friendly calcium phosphate. Another suggestion is using finely ground comfrey root mixed with some antibacterial herb or tincture (myrrh, rosemary essential oil and many others - for more inspiration see the entire section Natural, holistic & home dental remedies for toothache & other dental problems). Should you have it available,you might also wish to try beeswax - which it would appear is a time-honoured DIY dental filling :-).6 A particularly easy and cheap tip for a DIY "tooth filling" (sent in by a site visitor) is described in the following: "I have a large cavity in my sideways tooth. It used to cause a lot of pain before. I had tried so many things .... What works now is that I put a temporary filling of cotton and now I can eat without any pain. Then I can take out the cotton whenever I want and clean out the cavity with sodium bicarbonate mixed water. I also use a water irrigator to help keep it clean and can put a new cotton in there. I use a dental pick to hold the small cotton ball and place it in the cavity. This solution has helped me to eat pain-free and also prevented any food from going and getting stuck in my cavity. I would like to mention a caution however regarding the cotton. It works well to stop food particles entering my sideways tooth and stopped pain there as well. Recently, I tried putting a cotton on my upper left tooth just behind the canine, and the cavity entry was smaller so I had to push the ball in with a dental pick. That may have caused too much pressure on the tooth as when I was eating something, that upper tooth with a cavity broke. So when pushing the cotton ball in, one has to be careful not to put too much pressure as that may cause the tooth to weaken maybe. For my wisdom teeth at the back however, the cotton just easily goes in without pressure since the hole is so big. It relieves me from pain when eating and keeps food particles out thankfully." Lastly, those seriously considering doing their own longer-term tooth fillings can find a technical guide under Links (scroll to "How to fill a cavity"). Miscellaneous tips for healthy teeth and gums Miscellaneous tips for healthy teeth and gumsIn addition to the ample information on tooth and gum healing provided in the main sections of this site (see above menu), here are some additional "general" tips for enhancing dental health and healing. Content copyright © 2009 - 2015 Healing Teeth Naturally Increase the circulation to teeth and gums Some attribute importance to massaging the gums for several minutes a day to stimulate enhanced circulation of nutrients to the teeth proper, stimulate saliva flow and hinder the formation of plaque deposits, as well as increase circulation to (and thus likely repair and strength of) the gums themselves. One can even use a (softer) toothbrush for this purpose. Of course, each time you properly chew natural, fibrous food, the gums are "intrinsically" being massaged. More at Dental health prerequisite number 6: proper mastication - exercise your teeth and gums by chewing well. Using an oral irrigator (such as a Waterpik device) by itself or with the addition of some salt or 3% hydrogen peroxide added to the warm water should also increase blood respectively lymph circulation in your mouth and gums. Make sure to carefully read the instructions of your device to see which rinsing and antiseptic solutions you can use without shortening its life or damaging it. Rinse and cleanse the unit afterwards according to manufacturer's instructions. Any herbs that stimulate blood and lymph flow would also work to increase the circulation to the teeth and gums. For this purpose, I have seen suggested herbs or plant products such as tea tree oil, peppermint oil and cayenne pepper as well as bayberry root bark and echinacea root. Arnica apparently strongly enhances circulation. For more herbs which reportedly assist the gum tissues, compare Herbal and plant extracts & essences and other natural gum home remedies, therapeutic rinses and mouthwashes. Also see Herbs for strengthening teeth and gums and Making your own natural herbal mouthwash. Ideally, you may wish to combine your gum massage with one or the other of the remedies mentioned on the above pages. An outstanding tool that strongly increases circulation to teeth and gums is Mastic gum (resin), a healthy chewing gum alternative which additionally freshens the breath, fights bacterial plaque, helps whiten teeth AND offers unique medical benefits. Exercise If the results regarding the effect of physical exercise on caries susceptibility obtained by Dr. Steinman in rat experiments1 are transferable to humans (and I think they are in this case), exercising (or not) when living on a nutrient-deficient diet will make a tremendous difference to how much tooth decay is developed. Details under Drs. Steinman & Leonora on the true causes of tooth decay: dentinal fluid transport theory of natural caries resistance and cariogenesis. Eat (more) omega3 fatty acids & virgin coconut oil Compare Testimonial: fish oil (omega3s) as a cure for tooth decay and toothache. Urine therapy According to Dr. G.K. Thakkar, thoroughly "washing" one's mouth with one's own fresh urine has worked wonders with all kinds of dental issues such as bleeding gums, loosening teeth, and abscesses, as vouched for by thousands of people. To unfailingly reap those benefits, it's imperative however to rinse one's mouth with urine for a full ten minutes (or 15 - there are different statements - personally I would hold it as long as possible) so its healing agents can reach the roots of the teeth. If you are new to urine therapy, you might wish to simply dab some fresh urine onto any tooth or other area of your mouth you are having trouble with. More detailed information at Urine therapy for the healing of teeth and gum problems. This page also explains why adding other natural medicinal agents such as propolis (compare propolis background info) to the urine might actually reduce its healing effects, even if they - like propolis - have been found to protect against Streptococcus mutans (a major bacterium involved in dental caries). Natural Hygiene Your Key To Dental Health Article #2: Natural Hygiene – Your Key to Dental Health by Mike Benton Over 98% of the U.S. population suffers from dental diseases. By the age of sixty, nine out of ten people will not have any teeth of their own. Already more than 32 million Americans are toothless. Over one billion cavities need filling in this country alone each year. The total amount of money spent by Americans on dental problems is staggering. We have over 140,000 dentists in this country, pay them over six billion dollars a year, and yet 24 out of 25 American children suffer from dental diseases before they are six years old. Is this normal? Is this natural? In a region of the world known as Hunzaland, dental disease doesn’t exist. Not a single dentist lives there. The people there use no toothpaste, no toothbrushes, and receive no Fluoride treatments. The old folks keep their teeth all their life. Dentures are a curiosity. The children have perfect teeth and healthy gums. The babies suffer no pain or irritation when teething. Sweets, candy, ice cream, and soft drinks are not ingested. Their diet is chiefly fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Is there a connection? What do you think? The Whole Tooth and Nothing But. . . “Teeth are vital parts of the human body,” wrote Dr. Fred D. Miller, a dentist of over fifty years, “and they are nourished by the same bloodstream that nourishes the rest of the body. Good dental health is dependent upon good bodily health and vice versa. The mouth is the barometer of the body’s general well-being.” Degenerative diseases, poor living habits, improper diet—all are reflected in the health of the teeth and the gums. An amazing study was done by Dr. Weston Price about fifty years ago. He was a dentist who traveled the world over to investigate the relationship between diet and dental health. What he discovered was that as long as people ate their natural diet of unprocessed and unrefined foods, they enjoyed sound teeth and healthy gums. Whenever the modern foods of civilization—refined grains, sugars, junk foods, preserved foods, etc.—were introduced, the teeth of the people rotted, their gums became diseased and the actual shape of their mouths changed. Diet Does It! “I believe the ideal diet, guaranteed not to cause decay,” wrote Dr. Thomas McGuire, a dental researcher, “consists of raw vegetables and fruits.” Dental problems do not occur on such a diet for three reasons: 1. When foods are eaten raw, unprocessed and unrefined, food particles that may remain in the mouth do not undergo fermentation. This fermentation, while not actually contributing to tooth decay, can lead to a buildup of harmful materials around the teeth and gums. Living foods—raw foods—do not ferment; dead foods—cooked foods—quickly decay when left in the mouth. 2. Raw foods are naturally fibrous. The fiber in raw foods require chewing and thereby give the teeth and gums beneficial exercise. Circulation is improved around the mouth area when naturally fibrous foods are chewed. The fiber also aids in the removal of food particles from the teeth and gums. After all, if the teeth and gums are not exercised by working on fibrous foods, the result is the same as when any part of the body is denied exercise. For a child, this loss of jaw exercise contributes to a crowded, underdeveloped mouth and crooked teeth. 3. Most importantly, minerals and other nutrients required by the body for healthy teeth (and health in general!) coexist in balanced amounts within natural, raw foods. Processed and refined foods, cooked foods, “junk” foods—all are minerally unbalanced and this is the principle reason for tooth decay: a mineral unbalance. The Important Mineral Balance Tooth decay does not occur if the calcium and phosphorus minerals are in proper balance in the body, along with other needed nutrients. The teeth are made primarily of calcium, and phosphorus is needed in specific amounts to help use this calcium. If too much phosphorus is present in the diet, or if the foods eaten are high in acidic residues, then a calcium loss can occur in the body and weaken the teeth. Some of the worst high phosphorus foods are meat and grains. People on a grain-based diet or a high-meat diet often exhibit a large amount of dental decay. Carnivores who eat both the organ meat and bone marrow of their prey get a correct balance of phosphorus and calcium since the bones are high in calcium. Humans, however, eat only the minerally-poor muscle meats which disrupt the calcium-phosphorus ratio. Grains, and especially refined grains, can lead to rapid dental decay. They are soft and sticky, are always cooked and remain on the teeth for bacteria to digest, unless supplemented by high-calcium fresh greens, grains lead to an excessive phosphorus and acid level in the body. Seeds and nuts, two foods commonly eaten by Hygienists, are also phosphorus-rich. Fortunately, these foods are usually somewhat balanced in calcium as well, but there is an inherent wisdom in eating these foods with leafy greens or citrus fruits—both good sources of calcium. When a diet high in acid-forming foods (such as meat, legumes, grains, refined foods, etc.) is eaten, the calcium ratio is also disturbed because the acid residue of these foods require the base mineral calcium to neutralize them. When this occurs, calcium is shunted from the body’s reconstruction and maintenance activities and is used instead to balance the harmful effects of the acid-forming foods. We can insure ourselves of the proper mineral balance by eating foods only in their whole, raw state. Once a food as been tampered with in any way, a nutrient loss occurs. An alkaline diet of fresh fruits and vegetables keeps the calcium in the teeth instead of having it used to neutralize harmful acid wastes that are created by processed foods, cooked foods and foods not suitable to the human dietary (meat, grains, legumes, etc.). By the Skin of Our Teeth Tooth decay is the most familiar dental disease, yet it is the degeneration of the gums that is the most serious problem. Most tooth loss in this country occurs not from decayed teeth, but from poor gum health and bone loss. Bleeding from the gums after brushing or flossing is the first sign of potential gum trouble. Healthy gums do not bleed. They should be a healthy pink, not a bright red, and they should hold the teeth firmly in place with no signs of recession. Bleeding occurs because the gums have become irritated by a buildup of a substance called plague. What is plaque? Well, if you look closely around the base of your teeth where they join the gum line, you might find a white chalky deposit or perhaps a yellow band. That is plaque and that is what causes most dental troubles in this country. Plaque is the acid-waste products of bacterial colonies that live in your mouth. As these bacteria eat, they excrete an acid substance which forms the chalky plaque that coats your teeth. When this plaque is fresh (about one to two days old), it can usually be removed by simply brushing or flossing. If the plaque is left on the teeth, it becomes mineralized into a rock-hard substance called calculus. Calculus is a hardened mineral deposit that forms at the base of the tooth and under the gum line. Eventually it can cover the entire tooth. As it hardens and creeps beneath the gum line, it becomes razor-sharp. The calculus deposits irritate, injure and eventually destroy gum tissue. It’s quite simple, usually even quite painless and sometimes quite permanent. The removal of plaque before it turns into calculus is the main reason for brushing and flossing the teeth. If the plaque has already turned to calculus, your only alternative is to have your teeth professionally cleaned and scraped (or scaled). This is usually painless, involves no drugs and is inexpensive ($20 to $30). If the tartar is already deep below the gums, it may be considerably more expensive, but is worth it if a careful and thorough job is done. It may just save all your teeth. But why does this plaque occur in the first place? Is plaque buildup “natural?” What did man do before the invention of the toothbrush or of dental floss or of the dental hygienist? Well, he rarely suffered from this plaque buildup because he ate foods that do not cause this condition. Raw foods do not decay in the mouth—they are still “alive.” Only when dead foods, such as cooked foods, are eaten does this decay occur. This is why we are always told to brush after every meal. And this is good advice, especially if our mouths have been turned into cesspools of decay by junk foods, meat, white sugar and so on. On the occasions that I eat cooked foods, I can hardly wait to brush my teeth. You can almost feel the decay starting immediately. Cooked food particles left in the mouth cause bad breath and a pasty feeling to the teeth. When fruit fibers are left in the mouth, no decay occurs. You can remove a piece of pineapple that may have been lodged between the teeth for hours and it is still fresh. Try doing that with a piece of roast beef and you’ll see an obvious difference. What Can You Do? To have a healthy mouth, put healthy food into it. An optimum diet can prevent over 95% of all dental problems, and a regular cleansing program (brushing, flossing and scraping, if necessary) can just about solve the rest. Unfortunately, many of us begin healthy practices and a good diet after dental problems have already started. It takes about 25 years or so to grow a healthy tooth. If we ate poor foods during that time period, it’s probably going to show up in our teen and gums at a later age. So you see, even if you are now eating only the best foods and engaging in all sorts of health-promoting activity, you still might suffer from dental problems created by poor eating habits in your earlier years. Such serious problems as missing teeth, severe gum disease, poor eruption of the teeth or large decayed areas are going to require some professional attention. Minor dental problems can definitely be arrested by a good Hygienic diet and may even be reversed. If you are already experiencing pain, however, it may indicate that the condition has progressed too far to be remedied by diet alone. What you need to do is to correct all the old dental problems, stay on a good diet, and clean your teeth regularly and you’ll never have any pain or problems again. If you are currently in pain, have tooth sensitivity, or have some sort of gum disease, find a good dentist who is sympathetic to your healthy lifestyle. After you find a dentist you can trust, have the major repair work done that you need. A cavity won’t heal itself; a broken tooth won’t grow back—you just have to have these things repaired as best as possible and then make sure it never happens again. Also, insist on quality materials and quality workmanship from your dentist. Poorly and cheaply done dental work can cause more harm than the conditions they attempt to correct. One dentist said that most of his work comes from “fixing up” other dentists’ mistakes and shortcut attempts. Don’t compromise or “economize” when you’re having permanent corrective work done; after all, you want it to last a lifetime. After you get your teeth back in shape, stay on a good diet and practice regular dental hygiene. Once these old dental problems are corrected and you eat only wholesome foods, you’ll never be bothered by tooth decay, gum disease, or mouth sensitivity again. After all, good health should be something you can really sink your teeth into! Read more at http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/healthy-eyes-and-teeth/natural-hygiene-your-key-to-dental-health.html#qto1cMy6lsbAUgx1.99