Dreaded dentist day, anxiety for weeks leading up to the apt and the day of ruined because after doing everything “right,” brushing, flossing, cutting back on sugar, and still you walked out of the dentist with new cavities, and random root canals- this post is for you. I recently found a free guide called Uncovering the Real Cause of Cavities by Dr. Craig Clayton, a biomimetic and functional dentist who focuses on holistic cavity prevention. It explained things I had never been taught, so I want to share what I learned, in my own words, along with my natural cavity prevention protocol.
3 Things You Were Never Told About Cavities
Dr. Clayton says there are three things you need to understand to stop the cavity cycle: basic tooth anatomy, how a cavity actually begins, and how your body is designed to fight cavities on its own (and why that sometimes stops working).
1. Your Teeth Have Layers
Teeth are like onions, they have layers! The outer layer is the enamel. It is about 99% minerals, mostly calcium and phosphate, which form tiny crystals lined up in a special pattern. That pattern is what makes enamel so strong. Enamel is not living tissue, but it is connected to living tissue, a lot like your hair or fingernails.
Under the enamel is the dentin. Dentin is about 70% calcium and phosphate, and the rest is water, collagen and cells. Unlike enamel, dentin is alive. In the very center is the pulp, the nerve of the tooth, which holds the nerves and blood vessels.
2. How a Cavity Starts
A cavity starts when calcium is pulled out of the enamel. This is called demineralization. If it keeps happening long enough, the weak spot grows into a cavity, moving from the enamel into the dentin, then into the pulp, and if nothing stops it, the tooth can eventually die.
So what pulls the calcium out? Here is the part that surprised me: acid causes cavities. Sugar gets most of the blame, but it is really the acid that does the damage. That acid comes from two main places:
- Acidic foods and drinks
- Acid made by the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth (and yes, those bacteria love to feed on sugar, which is why sugar still matters). I have also seen some natural dentists showing by microscope and checking teeth for parasites in the mouth and on the teeth. By killing these and balancing the microbiome of the mouth, the oral health greatly increases. Root canals have also been linked to parasites.
3. Your Body’s Natural Defense: Saliva
Your body always wants to keep things in balance, and your mouth is no different. A healthy mouth is designed to prevent cavities, and the key player is your saliva. Saliva helps in two big ways:
- It brings the pH of your mouth back to neutral after you eat or drink something acidic.
- It carries calcium and phosphate back to your teeth so they can remineralize, or rebuild.
When this system gets out of balance, your teeth lose minerals faster than your saliva can put them back. Over time that leads to cavities, frustration, and a lot of time and money at the dentist. Checking for strep infections is something to check here.
Why Brushing and Flossing Are Not Enough
We have all been told to brush and floss to avoid cavities, and that is true, but it is only one piece. Dr. Clayton explains that cavities come from “dental caries disease,” which has many causes. To really stop the cycle, you have to play detective and look at the whole picture. Here are the factors he points to:
- Bacterial imbalance in the mouth
- Too much acidity in the mouth
- Mouth breathing
- Nutritional deficiencies
- The quality of your saliva
- Hormone and gut health- this is closely linked to oral health and vice versa
My Natural Cavity Prevention Protocol
Here is how I put this into practice for my family. These support your body’s own defenses, and they go hand in hand with regular dental checkups.
Lower the acid. Sip acidic drinks like soda, juice, kombucha and lemon water with meals instead of all day long, and rinse with plain water afterward. Wait about 30 minutes after something acidic before you brush so you are not scrubbing softened enamel. Check the foods you eat and drink the most and see how acidic they are.
Starve the bad bacteria. The first thing to do is cut way back on sugars that are not naturally occurring, along with refined carbs, especially snacking on them all day. Xylitol mints or gum after meals can help, since the cavity-causing bacteria cannot use xylitol for fuel. Be careful with harsh mouthwashes that wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad.
Protect your saliva. Drink plenty of water, and pay attention to mouth breathing, especially at night. A dry mouth loses its natural defense. If you or your kids breathe through your mouth while sleeping, mention it to your dentist or doctor. You can also try mouth tape, and look up how this changes the shape of your face.
Feed your teeth. Your teeth need minerals to rebuild. Eat mineral-rich whole foods, leafy greens, bone broth, and healthy fats, and make sure you are balanced in calcium and magnesium, which help the enamel get stronger. Vitamin D3 is also key, because it helps your body absorb those minerals, and vitamin K2 helps send calcium to your teeth and bones. Read about healthy fats and better flour choices on my site.
Support remineralization. Many people love hydroxyapatite toothpaste, which uses the same mineral your enamel is made of. I am still researching this, check out Just Ingredients remineralizing tooth powder, Revitin or DoTERRA toothpaste.
Try oil pulling. Oil pulling helps balance out the bad bacteria, freshens breath, and supports healthy teeth. Use 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (the kind that hardens when it is cold), let it melt in your mouth, and swish for about 15 minutes. Then spit it in the trash, not the sink, since it can clog your pipes. Get fancy and add a drop of essential oil, switching it up each time.
Heal the gut. Your mouth is the start of your digestive system, so gut health and oral health go together. Probiotics and digestive enzymes are a great place to start and research cleanses.
Keep seeing your dentist. Early spots of demineralization can often be reversed, but a true cavity that has broken through the enamel needs a dentist. Look for a holistic, biomimetic or functional dentist if you want someone who will help you get to the root cause.
Whole Clove. This is an ancient Ayurvedic medicine practice for oral health, to reduce inflammation, stimulate melatonin to sleep better at night, and digestion. After you have brushed your teeth, place and hold a whole clove in your cheek or by your gum (I would do by the tooth that is bothering you) for 5-10 minutes then throw it away. This kills the harmful bacteria in your mouth and gut that is causing your cavities.
Get an electric toothbrush. Look I know, get away form the plastic… then people choose bamboo (which then grow mold and you deal with this issue when you are trying to heal your oral environment). Mold can still be an issue with electric so change the heads often AND no matter what you are choosing in a toothbrush always change after you have been sick. Going to electric helped my kids so much.
My Tooth Powder and Tooth Oil Recipe
This is the homemade tooth powder and tooth oil I use to help keep our mouths in an alkaline, healthy balance and support the gums and roots.
Tooth Powder
Mix everything together and store it in a glass container:
- 1/4 cup Celtic sea salt
- 1/4 cup sea salt
- 3 Tbsp black walnut powder
- 3 Tbsp white oak bark powder
- 2 Tbsp marshmallow root powder
- 2 Tbsp comfrey root powder
Tooth Oil
Mix one part each of thyme and oregano essential oils with four parts each of peppermint and wintergreen essential oils. These oils are antibacterial and support overall oral health. Store in an airtight glass bottle. Clove bud, peppermint or cinnamon oils are also great choices.
How to Use It
Put 1/2 teaspoon or more of tooth powder in a cup, add three or more drops of tooth oil, and add water to make it a liquid. Swish it in your mouth for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then spit it out. Use it daily, or up to four or more times a day for a few days if you want a more intensive treatment before a dentist visit. Otherwise, once a week is great for maintenance.
Always spit, never swallow. Wintergreen and oregano oils are very strong and are not safe to swallow, so keep the tooth oil up high and away from little ones, and only use the mouthwash with kids who can reliably spit it out.
For more natural toothpaste ideas, including a charcoal paste and a simple baking soda version, see my post on non toxic toothpaste.
Healthy Teeth and Gums Tincture
For extra support, our Healthy Teeth and Gums tincture is made with organic white oak bark, peppermint leaf, bayberry root, echinacea root, habanero pepper, tea tree oil and clove bud oil. It is one of the things I always keep on our bathroom counter. You can learn all about how we use it on the product page.
The energy side of things.
I know this one is far out there for some, but look your here so might as well tell you if you want to go further: each tooth is connected to an organ, meridian and our ancestors. There might be other layers that need taken care of. Check out these charts and find someone to help you with that direction if you want to be through:
Want to Learn More About Natural Cavity Prevention?
Dr. Clayton has a full guide called The Ultimate Guide on How to Cure Cavities, and he shares a lot of free information on his podcast, Dentistry Disrupted. Understanding what really causes cavities has helped me feel so much more empowered, and I hope it does the same for you.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
