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Does your young child have dental cavities?  Do dental issues run in your family?  Did you know that most dental decay and orthodontic problems are caused by a lack of essential vitamins in the diet?  And the good new is you can reverse and heal your child’s minor tooth decay naturally and reduce the need for braces later on in life.  Let’s take a look how…

Let me begin by remembering that dental caries (or cavities) are not only caused by bacteria in the mouth.  Our teeth, just like the rest of our bodies, have a natural cycle of break down and regeneration.  And when our bodies are not adequately nourished, this cycle becomes imbalanced and the natural remineralization and regeneration of the enamel does not happen, leaving us at risk for decay.

And crooked teeth are not just something that runs in families.  Dr. Weston Price  showed in his studies of indigenous people that as folks moved away from their traditional diets to diets full of grains and processed foods, their facial structure changed, they developed crooked teeth, and showed less ability to fight off illness and disease.

And with most of the industrialized world now eating a diet of processed, heavily sweetened foods that are lacking in quality nutrients, these imbalances are becoming more common.  Dental issues in small children are mainstream.  Orthodontists are making bank on all of the crooked teeth that result from poor nutrition.

So, what to do?

All is not lost.  There is still hope.  Even if your young child has had several cavities or has severe dental issues, you can make a big difference by implementing just a few simple dietary and lifestyle changes to improve their dental health.  By supporting your child with healthy nutrition, you can help prevent and even reverse tooth decay and ensure that she/he is getting the essential nutrients necessary for healthy teeth and bone structure.  

**NOTE: Please note that I am in no way implying that these suggestions will reverse major dental decay in children.  What I have seen in my personal experience is that implementing these strategies can help prevent further decay and can reverse the beginnings of minor decay that may be starting. I have been able to persoanlly revers a bit of decay that was beginning in my own teeth by following these principles.

How to Reverse Your Kid’s Tooth Decay Naturally

1. Serve REAL Food:

Feed your kids quality food.  Eliminate processed and packaged food and fill you family’s plates with high quality, season whole foods. Eating a diet of nutrient-dense, fresh foods will ensure that your kids are getting all of the vitamins and minerals they need for proper bone and tooth formation.

2. Eat Fat-soluble Vitamins:

Making sure that your kids are getting adequate amounts of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K)  will help them to develop strong and healthy teeth and will help the remineralization process of the teeth.  The best sources of these essential vitamins can be found in grass fed dairy, pastured eggs, seafood, organ meats and marrow from grass fed and pastured animals, and cod liver oil.  Quality matters when it comes to food.  Read more here about the benefits of Vitamin D.

Best Food Sources of Fat Soluble Vitamins:

• Vitamin A:  butter, egg yolks, organ meats, fish, shellfish and cod liver oil
• Vitamin D: lard, pasture-raised pork and bacon, wild salmon, egg yolks from pastured chickens, fish roe/caviar, sardines, oysters, beef liver, cod liver oil, and shiitaki mushrooms
• Vitamin E: butter, organ meats, nuts, seeds, and dark green leafy vegetables
• Vitamin K: liver, egg yolks, butter, dark leafy vegetables, and vegetables from the cabbage family

As you can see, the best sources of fat soluble vitamins are good quality meats and healthy fats.  Our family takes cod liver oil every day to boost immunity and to ensure that we are getting our Vitamin A and D.

3. Reduce Phytic Acid:

Phytic acids are anti-nutrients found in grains, nuts, seeds and legumes (and some vegetables.)  They interfere with our bodies’ abilities to absorb essential nutrients as well as pull essential minerals (like calcium, iron, zinc, and copper)  from our bodies.  They also inhibit enzymes that are necessary for digestion.   People who consume large amounts of phytic acid  have higher rates of tooth decay, mineral deficiencies and osteoporosis. (source)

HERE is a great explanation about phytic acids and what foods contain them.

How to cut back on phytic acid:

• Reduce the amount of grains in the diet (bread, pasta, rice, cereal, crackers, etc.)
• Soak your nuts and seeds (soaking in an acid medium, lactic acid fermentation, and sprouting will reduce the amount of phytic acid)  To learn more, read THIS.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C blocks the effects of phytic acid (source)  Food high in Vitamin C include oranges, papayas, red bell peppers, broccoli, kale, strawberries, kiwis, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes.

4. Reduce Sweets – Even Natural Sugars:

Eating sweets, even natural sugars from fruits can lead to tooth decay by causing calcium to be leached from bones and teeth.  And blood sugar swings , especially a lot of high blood sugars, can lead to dental decay and disease.

5. Use a Remineralization Toothpaste:

Commercial toothpastes (even the “natural” ones) are often loaded with unhealthy ingredients that do no promote healthy teeth.  Do you see fluoride, sodium laurels sulfate, glycerin, propylene glycol, artificial colors or sweeteners (like xylitol) in your child’s toothpaste?  No bueno!

Instead, try using a toothpaste that actually helps with the remineralization process of the teeth.  It’s actually really easy to make.  Really, it is! See recipe HERE  and HERE.  I haven’t been able to find a good quality one to buy.  Would love to hear if anyone knows of one.

Pretty easy, huh?

Your child’s teeth and bone structure is developing, and with just a few dietary and lifestyle changes, you can make a big difference in your child’s dental health and development.  Stick with meats, eggs, vegetables, and healthy fats.  These foods are high in vitamins and minerals and are extremely nutrient-dense.  Ditch the processed foods.

And remember:  Optimal tooth and bone development needs 3 essential things:

• a mineral-rich diet
• fat-soluble vitamins
• a diet low in phytic acid

Want to learn more?

There is a great book called Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities  that explains in great detail the connection between what we eat and tooth/bone health and practical steps to heal and reverse decay.  I highly recommend reading this book if you want to improve your child’s (or your own) dental health.

Click HERE to PIN THIS!

Have you had experience with healing tooth decay naturally?  I would love to here about it.  Please leave me a comment below.

photo credit: depositphotos.com / tan4ikk

Katja Heino

Katja is the creator, author and chef of Savory Lotus. Food is her passion, and food is also her medicine. Katja believes that good health starts with deeply nourishing foods and that healthy living doesn’t have to be complicated. Join her for easy to prepare recipes made with real food ingredients. Gluten and grain free. Paleo-friendly.

https://www.savorylotus.com