When I first went paleo, one of the unexpected benefits I experienced was my dental health improved a lot. My teeth became white instead of translucent and my gums stopped bleeding with each flossing. The insane thing was when I went to my dentist and had no new cavities! I used to have cavities at every single visit, despite eating what I thought was “healthy” back then. Obviously, my improved nutrition and my focus on gut healing was improving my teeth. (It is largely what led me to write my latest ebook, The Gelatin Secret) This is pretty much exactly the opposite of what dentists tell us about tooth decay being completely irreversible and there is nothing you can do but avoid sweets, brush, pray, and drill. I honestly didn’t think too much about this until I read the book Cure Tooth Decay.
Cure Tooth Decay (which you can buy here) is all about WHY tooth decay occurs and WHAT you can do about it. That’s right. You can actually do something about it! The book, which was a surprisingly interesting read, gets into a lot of details about the real cause of tooth decay. While those sugary foods and bacteria can take a toll on tooth enamel, the evidence shows that a healthy tooth will be able to repair itself. And to be healthy, your teeth need a lot of minerals! Calcium is the big one here, but deficiencies in iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, and phosphorus will also take a toll on your teeth.
Now, it is always best to get these minerals through food. The book especially talks about how bone broth can be used to heal tooth decay (Here are instructions on how make mineral-rich bone broth at home). It also goes into detail about why we should include plenty of fat soluble vitamins like the ones you can get from ghee (see my homemade ghee recipe). But, if you want to directly give your teeth some minerals they can use to heal themselves, then you might want to consider using a remineralizing toothpaste. The toothpaste, which is really easy to make yourself, contains minerals for nourishing your teeth. It can also help draw toxins out of your teeth.
Squeezable Remineralizing Toothpaste Recipe
Ingredients:
- 5 Tbsp calcium powder (where to buy calcium powder)
- 4 Tbsp coconut oil (where to buy coconut oil)
- 3 Tbsp xylitol (where to buy xylitol)
- 2 tsp baking soda (where to buy baking soda)
- 1 tsp bentonite clay (where to buy bentonite clay)
- 1/2 tsp calcium/magnesium powder (where to buy magnesium powder)
- 40 drops peppermint essential oils (where to buy peppermint essential oil)
- 20 drops trace minerals (where to buy trace minerals)
Directions: Mix thoroughly with a spoon (you may need to heat the coconut oil a bit to do this). Store in a squeezable bottle (piping it with a plastic bag was very helpful). Brush twice daily!
Don’t Have Time to Make Your Own Toothpaste?
Oil-Based Natural Toothpaste
Oils can have an antibacterial effect, help prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth, and sooth the gums. To brush with oil-based toothpaste, all you need to do is put a few drops of the oil onto your toothbrush. You can either add it to your toothpaste or just use the oil as toothpaste. I love the taste of the clove oil
There is a really good oil blend by Orawellness . The oil is a bit pricy at $25 per bottle but it goes a long way. You can buy Orawellness oil here. They also have 3 packs of the oil which is a better of a deal at $49.95. Another option is to get the OraWellness Starter Kit which includes the oil, a tongue cleaner, and their special toothbrush.
Charcoal-Based Natural Toothpaste
I recently learned about this toothpaste from a friend. The thing that sets Avistar apart from other natural toothpaste brands is that it is made from high quality ingredients with a smooth feel. Baking soda in Avistar natural toothpaste also helps whiten and remove stains from coffee, tea, and wine.
You can buy Avistar toothpaste HERE.
Want to find out more about how to heal your teeth without the drills and fillings? Check out my new eBook The Gelatin Secret. There is an entire chapter about how to improve dental health with nutrition. You can preview the book here.
Have you had any experience remineralizing your teeth? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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Made some and it tastes great, however I own dogs so zylitol will not come in my house, I used 1TBS of stevia instead, still came out great and tastes better than store bought! Just have to see how it works as I just made it. Thanks so much for sharing!
Forgot to mention that I also changed my diet, following Nagel’s protocol.
Js – I can tell you that 17 years ago my dentist of 25 years told me I would need a root canal for a back molar. I’m now 60, relocated and my new dentist’s x-rays don’t show anything wrong. This is after brushing with homemade toothpaste, using charcoal (with coconut oil) and Oral Wellness. I’m sure it’s impossible to believe as a hygienist but all I know is that I haven’t had to have the procedure. Proof enough for me!
Sylvie Could you use powdered egg shells for the calcium powder?
Do I have to put the bentonite clay
I made a large batch and divided it between 2 tubes for me and my kids. At first, they were both very hard and impossible to get out without warming the tube in warm water. Now, theirs is soft but mine is still hard as a rock! Any suggestions what might be making it harden?
My son has cavities all over his teeth and a severe one in the back. Will this heal his cavities?
I am willing to buy the premade one if it works just as well until I can make my own.
But he is only 4 and I am desperate to help his teeth. With diet change and I was also recommended to buy “tooth fairy” supplement , will this heal even severe cavities?
Hi Stephanie, I would recommend reading Heal Tooth Decay by Ramit Nagiel. You can find it here: http://amzn.to/1KkqK7B
No, toothpaste alone will not reverse cavities. Following Ramit’s complete protocol plus using the toothpaste can. Hope that helps!
Sylvie
Thank you for the recipe, I have been using one that is similar, and I make this one soon. I want to make a comment regarding infection in the gums. Rubbing the gums with a slice of garlic, or grating it into a little olive oil and then swishing this mixture and allowing it to remain on the gums for a few minutes (before swallowing) will alleviate pain and will begin to heal the infection. I have subdued my periodontal disease symptoms using the garlic topically and then also internally consuming 2,000 or so mgs of Vit C, plus all the other anti-inflammatory herbs.
Thanks for sharing that, Priscilla!
As a dental hygienist this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. You can’t heal a cavity it will continue to grow and get worse until it reaches your nerve and then you need a root canal. You can remineralize a demineralized area but once it has cross into the decay stage there is no healing it. As for your gums bleeding while brushing and flossing. They are unhealthy and have small ulcerations in the tissue you need to brush and floss more to strengthen your gums and heal the ulcerations which in turn will stop the bleeding.
Hi Jsidisns, Have you read Cure Tooth Decay? You might find it interesting.
Thank you for the recipe! There are also some great plants that help with the teeth. For example you could use sage to whiten teeth. Just grind up 1 TBL in the coffee grinder and mix it with the powder. You could also use Kaolin Clay. It cleans the teeth and the gums and is only a little bit abrasive in comparison to store brought toothpastes. Baking soda and high quality sea salt are also good for the the teeth and some clove poweder or essential oil prevents inflammation. Plus one TBL of cinnamon! I love brushing my teeth 🙂
Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Why is there so much more of the Calcium powder than the Magnesium? I would have thought they’d be more equal; and I would have thought more Bentonite Clay too. Are they that way in your recipe for consistency of the squeezable paste or for a specific health purpose? (In other words, can I adjust specifically those ingredients (Calcium, Magnesium and Bentonite Clay) to more even ratios?)
Is this safe for dogs if you keep the xylitol out?
I honestly have no idea 🙂
Hannah, xylitol is as dangerous to dogs as chocolate and grapes.
Hi There, I followed your recipe in your E-Book and my toothpaste is really runny. Will following your redcipe above make it a bit thicker next time? Thank You
Hi Denise,
Sorry to hear that! It’s the first time I get that feedback. You could try adding a bit more calcium powder (1 or 2 tsp). You’d have to take it out of the tube or jar, mix it and put it back in. The thing with coconut oil is that it will vary throughout the year (softer in summer, firmer in winter).
Hope that helps!
Sylvie
Hi Sylvie, Thanks for your help. I live in Australia and its winter at the moment. I just thought it might have been the 2 tablespoons of water that it said to add and isn’t in the recipe above?? I love the toothpaste though and can see an improvement in my teeth already. Thanks again Denise 🙂
Ah! Good point. I will have to do some more testing and possibly revise the recipe in the next edition. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Thank you, Sylvie. I was wondering about a natural way to heal my teath and gums without antibiotics. I will be trying this for sure.
Awesome! Let me know how it goes!
Just curious – do you have to use the xylitol or it optional? Thank you!
It’s optional!
What if any effect does this have on teeth that have already had cavities filled or crowns placed?
Hi Heather, As for crowns probably not much. As for teeth with cavities filled it will still help.
Hope that helps!