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:
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 cloveoil
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.
Buy OraWellness directly HERE
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!
FAQs
Ingredients
- 2–3 tablespoons of organic cacao powder OR bentonite clay OR a combination.
- 3 tablespoons organic coconut oil.
- 1 tablespoon granulated xylitol.
- 10 drops magnesium oil OR trace minerals OR 5 drops of each.
All-Natural Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
- 1/4 cup coconut oil.
- 2 Tbsp. baking soda.
- 1/2 tsp. Stevia.
- 15 drops clove bud essential oil.
- 15 drops cinnamon essential oil (or peppermint)
- For a KidSafe version, omit clove and cinnamon/peppermint oils and substitute 20 drops total of spearmint essential oil.
The remineralization of tooth enamel is the primary benefit of hydroxyapatite. By strengthening the enamel, the teeth are better protected against plaque, which can cause cavities and gum disease.
How long does it take for remineralizing toothpaste to work? ›
Remineralizing toothpaste starts to significantly strengthen teeth within 3 to 4 months. Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold should decrease within several weeks of use. You'll get the best results from remineralizing toothpaste if you brush for at least 2 minutes, twice a day.
What toothpaste will Remineralize teeth? ›
The best toothpaste for enamel contains calcium phosphate, stannous fluoride, or similar fluoride forms, which can help remineralize tooth enamel. Every time you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, your tooth enamel absorbs a small amount of fluoride, which replaces the minerals that have been lost.
Can you Remineralize teeth at home? ›
Eat a Remineralization Diet
Certain foods can help remineralize softened areas in your teeth that acidic foods and drinks have weakened. For example, foods rich in calcium (dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt) help put back minerals into the enamel, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables encourage saliva flow.
What did Native Americans use as toothpaste? ›
Both the pilgrims and the Native Americans used things such as animal hair tied to a twig, needles from a pine tree, or animal bones as toothbrushes or floss. The Native Americans did however have an advantage and used herbs like sage, tarragon or the cucacua plant to make their version of toothpaste.
What did the Egyptians use to make toothpaste? ›
It has been observed that the Egyptians used burnt eggshells, powder of ox's hooves, and ashes, combined using a pumice stone to make a powder they'd rub their teeth and gums with. On the other hand, the Greeks and Romans were more abrasive with their toothpaste ingredients.
Can baking soda remineralize teeth? ›
Baking soda is alkaline, so it can help regulate your mouth's PH by neutralizing the acidity. As such, baking soda not only prevents tooth decay but also helps remineralize your enamel. Baking soda can also limit plaque buildup by neutralizing plaque acids.
What do dentists use to Remineralize teeth? ›
One of the best agents available for remineralization is fluoride. The fluoride ion replaces the present enamel's hydroxy group, creating a hard enamel structure that's more resistant to acid. Fluoride ions also attract nearby calcium ions and help them attach firmly to the surface of the teeth.
Researchers found that clove oil was able to reduce the rate of tooth decalcification. Decalcification is loss of calcium that can erode enamel and lead to tooth decay. The study also found that clove oil may have remineralizing effects. Remineralization strengthens tooth enamel.
What rebuilds tooth enamel? ›
Can Tooth Enamel Be Restored? Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Although toothpastes and mouthwashes can never “rebuild” teeth, they can contribute to this remineralization process.
Does coconut oil remineralize teeth? ›
Because oil does not contain any minerals that are essential to remineralize teeth, oil pulling cannot remineralize teeth. Now, that's not to say that oil pulling cannot be a beneficial practice for your overall oral health.
How do I know if a cavity is Remineralizing? ›
Signs of Tooth Remineralization
A smooth surface of your teeth. Improved appearance. Decreased teeth sensitivity. Reduction or removal of white spots on your teeth.
Can you Remineralize teeth with baking soda? ›
Reduces Acidity and Plaque
Baking soda is alkaline, so it can help regulate your mouth's PH by neutralizing the acidity. As such, baking soda not only prevents tooth decay but also helps remineralize your enamel. Baking soda can also limit plaque buildup by neutralizing plaque acids.
How to restore tooth enamel naturally with toothpaste? ›
However, in cases where your enamel is slightly weakened or tooth decay is still in its “pre-cavity” stage, you can take certain measures to ensure your enamel rehardens naturally. Brush with a fluoride toothpaste: When enamel is weak, it requires minerals such as calcium to begin to rebuild itself.
How long does it take to remineralize teeth? ›
With respect to nonbrushing, the remineralization effect of brushing with an F-free paste is about 50% and with the fluoridated paste about 90% in 3 months.
How do you make homemade water Remineralize? ›
Add a mineral-rich sea salt to your water
Adding Himalayan sea salt to your water infuses it with natural trace minerals. Nope. I'm not talking about your standard, run-of-the mill table salt, but instead a mineral-rich, non-processed salt, such as Himalayan sea salt , which is full of 84 trace minerals.
