I first came across Cure Tooth Decay by dental advocate Ramiel Nagel many, many years ago. Trying not to judge myself for taking this long to circle back to it, I’m astonished by the book’s info on curing tooth decay. Even nowadays, mainstream thought is that it’s not possible.
Ramiel Nagel quotes Dr Weston Price, who believed that specific nutrition can control “well over 95%” of cavities. Controlling means that the decay no longer progresses and new dentin forms. Dentin forms the majority of the tooth’s structure.
The first time I read Cure Tooth Decay, I followed some of the suggestions, including taking cod liver oil and re-thinking my vitamins. I added more food-based Vitamin C and also in supplement form. Then there was the fruit I was eating regularly.
I did balk at eating fish heads and organ meats. Or just meat in general, as I was a pescatarian at the time. Fish heads and organ meats, however, are not strange to me as they feature in my own parents’ diet. And soups made with fish heads – eyeballs and all – I did grow up with. Still, I couldn’t wrap my head around organ meats.
Sometimes, it takes us a while to realize that there is wisdom in our cultural practices. And since then, ancestral diets have been normalized. Now there are many good quality options.
What is the cause of tooth decay?
Re-reading Cure Tooth Decay, I found myself surprised by the the statistics, which are grim. It’s not important you read this, as you probably already know the state of dental health is rather poor.
Going to the dentist, getting fillings, seeing the orthodontist, and even getting cleanings is “normal”. I’ve come to realize that “normal” is not really normal, and more so, it’s homogenized. Holistic dentistry was not a term I was familiar with as a child or even young adult.
As with the resurgence of the terrain theory, this book reminded me or highlighted why the focus we have on the battle against bacteria is missing the point. There’s an entire chapter called “Dental Alert: Bacteria are Not the Primary Cause of Cavities.” You can also read more about this in the book Breathe. Studies show, more than the role of bacteria in poor oral health, is the person’s health and diet. Removing vitamin C, for example, has detrimental effects. The terrain.
Germ and Terrain Theory
Back in the 1880s, Dr Miller placed extracted teeth in mixtures of bread and saliva and found that the teeth would decay. However, Dr Miller believed that bacteria, instead of being the cause of it, was part of the decay. The decay happened because the tooth had already lost mineral density and structure. We compromise tooth integrity with high-speed cleaning and drilling, according to Ramiel Nagel’s research. In the end, a simplified and skewed view of Dr Miller’s bacterial theory became the official stance by the International Association of Dental Research.
Like the germ theory and terrain theory experience, the scientific community dismissed an opposing contemporary theory. This was Dr Albert Schatz’s theory that enzymes and chelating agents in plants and animals were the cause. This pointed to the role of diet and the importance of trace minerals.
The Hypothalamus’ Role
Now, what I found very interesting was the role of the hypothalamus, which communicates with the parotid glands in the jaw. Parotid hormones signal mineral-rich lymph to move through through channels in our teeth. This is how teeth are cleaned and mineralized. Teeth are alive, and healthy teeth clean themselves.
These hormones are triggered by the hypothalamus, which stops its signal when a person is on a “cavity-causing diet”. Food debris and other matter that can get into teeth can also reverse this fluid. What happens is an inflamed pulp, tooth decay, and enamel loss.
Continuous lack of dental lymph, with its minerals, causes poor dental health over time. Ah, those who are born with a robust parotid gland – kind of a golden ticket.
A mineral-poor diet also contributes to tooth decay. Magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese, for example, play a role in cellular metabolism. The absorption of these minerals can be blocked by phytic acid, which is present in nuts, grains, seeds, and beans. So properly preparing these food items is important and minimizing them while actively working to remineralize teeth can be helpful. I always wondered why peanuts were in soups. And apparently sprouting grains is not quite enough. Cure Tooth Decay provides lots of information on how remove or reduce phytic acids. Since these anti-nutrients are much more well-known nowadays, an easy internet search will bring up ample of information as well.
Traditional and Modern Diets
Cure Tooth Decay shares the work of Dr Westin Price who travelled the world in the 1930 for field studies of populations who had great teeth. No decay, or toothbrush in sight. Probably unsurprisingly, modern diet is the culprit.
You may find interesting Dr Price’s studies of Swiss living in the Loetschental Valley who still ate a traditional diet and of Swiss on a modern diet. He found the same evidence in the Outer Hebrides and the Aboriginal people of Australia. You can read more here, in this excerpt of “The Classical Studies of Weston A Price, DDS. – Devitalized Foods and Physical Degeneration.“
Each time you take a bite of food, your body decides to mineralize or demineralize your teeth and bones. – Ramiel Nagel, Cure Tooth Decay
Healthy Teeth Diet
On page 81 of Cure Tooth Decay, you’ll find a summary of Dr Price’s Protocol. The following diet is to ensure access to fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D from food, for example, as well as minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. A nutrient-dense diet and hormonal balance help keep teeth strong and resilient.
- 1/4 teaspoon of fermented cod liver oil with 1/4 teaspoon of high vitamin butter oil (2-3 times a day for a total of 1 1/2 teaspoon of the combo)
- 2+ cups of raw grass-fed whole fat milk
- frequent meals of beef and fish stews with bone marrow
- lots of seafoods with organs
- lots of organs of land animals, notably liver
- lots of green veggies and some cooked fruit
- 4 oz tomato juice or orange juice daily for Vitamin C
- high quality red meat
Foods to Avoid and Why
The avoid list is shorter – white flour products, skim milk, and sugar and sweeteners. Blood sugar fluctuations have a negative impact on the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Calcium is pulled from our bones (also teeth) and increases blood calcium and alters the ratio.
Even natural sugars, such as those from fruits, result in blood sugar levels being out of balance for hours. Honey is the least harmful, impacting them for three hours. The worst kind of sweetener? High fructose corn syrup. Will this finally be banned?
So frequent sugary snacks can lead to tooth decay. Nightshades, which include tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes, can also increase blood calcium. So lucky for me, sweet potatoes and yams are not nightshades and I love them. These also don’t have phytic acid. Just watch how much you eat because of their effect on sugar levels.
The author of Cure Tooth Decay does say cutting out potatoes is not essential if you’re focused on curing decay. For some people, eliminating it may make a significant difference because they are a nigthshade.
(We may have heard the recommendation to reduce eating nightshades if you suffer from joint pain. This is because nightshades contain calcitrol or 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. This is a hormone that sends signals to the intestines to absorb calcium from our food, which means more blood calcium. Correct mineral ratios in the blood are important.The body can quickly adjust this excess blood calcium by depositing it into soft tissues, which lead to joint pain.)
Prescription and recreational drugs, along with cigarettes, may alter your body’s ability to utilize nutrients from food. Many people in the western world have lost their ability to digest and utilize fat and protein due to damage caused by western drugs. – Ramiel Nagel, Cure Tooth Decay
What stabilizes blood sugar levels? Meals and snacks with protein, fat, and vegetables. Some healthy fats are organic avocado, butter, and fat from beef, pork, chicken, and duck. Animal fats are important in remineralization. For vegetarians and vegans, this is not viable. So focus on removing the unhealthy and even dangerous fats such as canola oil (which stands for Canadian Oil), safflower oil, soy oil, and corn oil.
Vegetarian Protocol
So far, I’ve talked a lot about a meat-based diet. What about a vegetarian protocol? Cure Tooth Decay, does have an interesting section called “Healing Tooth Cavities on a Vegetarian Diet.” Ramiel Nagel created this protocol due to the requests he’s received.
The challenge, he writes, is Vitamin D, which he states as the most important fat-soluble vitamin for teeth remineralization. In contrast with vegetarians, people have multiple sources of dietary minerals, whether it is fish or meat, in addition to vegetables.
So the focus for vegetarians is seeking out high-quality grass-fed dairy. Aside from milk, kefir, yogurt, and buttermilk, vegetarians can include plenty of butter or ghee with their meals. There’s a recipe for an Ayurvedic Green Drink, which, along with vegetable soups, is a source of nutrient-dense vegetarian diet.
My First Steps
After re-reading Cure Tooth Decay, I noted what I have done, what I’m doing, and what I’ll be changing in my diet. It can feel overwhelming to overhaul our diet so first focus on what to avoid and continue to build up other aspects. The low hanging fruit for me is adding vitamins and minerals through supplementation and food and eliminating refined sugars and reducing natural sugars. While I do love fruits, while I’m actively rebuilding my teeth, I’ll eat much less fruit and cook them. Then I can add them back in, in moderation and perhaps more often.
My supplement list – cod liver oil capsules (for vitamin A & D), amla (for vitamin C), magnesium (unscented Good Night Lotion is the one I’ve been using), shilajit, Vita-C, Natural Balance, and Master Tonic. Fractal Forest offers Himalyan Shilajit drops, Himalyan Shilajit resin, and Wild American Shilajit drops. For magnesium, Ancient Minerals has a number of choices. I’ve always loved this brand. Bath flakes are great for a full or foot bath.
I’ve also started to focus more on the organ function energy flows related to the teeth I’m most actively supporting. Teeth are connected to meridians and if you’re interested, here’s a great interview to read.
How we eat is driven by so many forces, including time constrains, budgetary considerations, and stress. The last few years have been full of change and stress. Sometimes all I can do is the bare minimum. Having the tools I already have ha been so helpful. Still, there are days.
Addressing sources of stress and recognizing in all honesty, how we use unhealthy and unsustainable strategies to cope, cannot be overstated.
Myself? I’m also taking flower essences and I’ve begun to explore what my body responds to with the protocol from Cure Tooth Decay in mind. So far, it’s chicken broth, arugula, and sometimes an egg dropped in just before I pour my soup into my bowl. While not quite the gelatinous broth made of whole carcass, it’s a start. Plus a can of seafood. I didn’t realize how much my body loves mussels.
So, if you’re like me after reading Cure Tooth Decay the first time and are feeling overwhelmed, start where you are, start where you can. Let this nugget be the guiding light – “24-48 hours of following the balanced protocol, provided you have increased your fat-soluble vitamin intake, should lead to a perceivable tooth remineralization.” Perceivable may be – stronger-feeling teeth or less sensitivity. Dr Price’s studies showed that, using chemical analysis of saliva, active tooth decay stopped after six weeks. Given enough time and nutrition, Ramiel Nagel writes that a “badly damaged” tooth can also heal. Teeth are living organs.
