Can a Weston A. Price Diet Reverse Tooth Decay?

If you’re new here you may have missed how I kissed toothpaste goodbye and watched two of Katie’s cavities heal right before my eyes.

Sadly, confidence in my cavity correcting superpowers has been waning lately. As I said back then, there was still a lot of healing to be done in her mouth. And as you can see in the picture below, that didn’t happen.

At the time I wrote that post Katie still had two decalcified incisor teeth and the tips of her front teeth were so thin they were almost translucent. We implemented Ramiel Nagel’s Cure Tooth Decay protocol (which  is based on Dr. Price’s research) and almost immediately her front teeth solidified. The enamel near the top of her incisors regained their luster, but overall they became increasingly discolored.

I failed, and I felt the sting of it every time she smiled at a stranger and they looked at me wonderingly. I wanted to explain that I wasn’t negligent . . . that she’d never even had a processed food, but truth is I agreed with their disapproving looks. How could I let this happen and not do anything about it?

Because I didn’t know what to do. A dentist (who is a family friend) told us that the decay wasn’t spreading so it was best to avoid amalalgms and just let it be. But what if it was spreading and we just couldn’t see it? What would I do if my choice caused her adult teeth to be damaged??? I had to find out.

“This Is Alex And She Needs Her Teefies Checked”

Katie signs in her babydoll and “fills-out” some insurance forms. I make a mental note that my bank deposit receipt is now doubling as a medical record for baby Alex, but just can’t stop gaping at the copy of Cure Tooth Decay front and center on the bookshelf, followed by the Cancer Is Curable Now DVD and Homeopathic Medicine at Home.

Mental calculations on the likelihood that we’ve been sucked into a parallel universe with better healthcare are almost complete when Dr. Petre walks in. She takes a look in Katie’s mouth and gives me the grim assessment, “We can fill them or  I can try to save as much as I can until they fall out,” she says, then leans back in to probe a little. Shock floods her face for a moment and she smiles at me. “These teeth are completely hard! How is this possible??”

“Well, I’ve been using that Healing Tooth Decay protocol in your waiting room for a couple of years.”

“This is what we preach day after day but almost no one actually does it! You are a good mama!” ***Blush***

Understanding the words coming out of her mouth feels like solving quadratic equations while birthing a baby. They look so decayed and crumbly, but Dr. Petre tells me that Katie’s teeth are healthy and strong. A stained, crusty layer of decay is all that’s left of her “weak” teeth, and in just 15 minutes she’s polished most of it off. There are still a few deep stains we couldn’t get to because Katie was afraid of the drill, but here’s her new smile.

In case there’s any doubt, we had Katie’s teeth assessed by a dentist two years ago. He described them as weak and porous. The fact that her front tooth broke off without even so much as a fall says it all. There was little hope they’d make it to her 6th birthday intact and yet yesterday those very same teeth were deemed strong and healthy. Yay for Weston A. Price!!


I pulled up the toothpaste post so that I could link to it this morning and found that, ironically, it was written one year ago today. Totally not planned, but isn’t it amazing how things come full circle?

Do you have a question or story about healing tooth decay? Please leave a comment below!



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153 Comments


  1. Laurie
    Jul 06, 2011

    Wonderful! So happy that this worked for you.


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      Thank you, Laurie! We are thrilled it worked, too!


  2. Brynna
    Jul 06, 2011

    That is wonderful that you healed them AND that you have a dentist who endorses it!! Children’s teeth terrify me. My eldest started having problems at 18 months (and it was characteristic of what I’ve read can be caused by having an epidural, actually!), and at 22 months she underwent oral surgery to cap her top front four and fill her back molars. (I only saw damage on the top front four) We had started implementing a few of the WAP rec’s, mostly in the form of CLO (before I really understood the rest), and we already ate a healthy diet, only drank water, limited sugar, etc. I believe we have some serious genetic mineral deficiencies, as hubby and I (mostly him) have trouble with our teeth, too.

    My 3 year old has pretty good teeth so far, and even though I thought she had cavities (she has deep grooves in her molars that are sure to cause trouble!), our dentist appt two weeks ago revealed otherwise.

    Now my 15 month old is another story. He was on antibiotics at 11 months for strep (FIL wouldn’t have put him on them if we weren’t about to travel). I HATE antiobiotics but after a lot of thought figured they were the lesser evil in that ONE situation. Low and behold, a month later, he starts getting pitting along the gumline of 3 of his top 4 front teeth. We immediately became more diligent about our probiotics (which we already take daily), L. Rueteri specifically, since he and I both struggle with keeping normal flora in balance, so it makes perfect sense that he’d be affected that way. All the kids are on a careful regimen of fermented CLO and butter oil as well, and we are doing our best to keep up with the diet rec’s of Heal Tooth Decay (which thankfully we have a milk cow and butcher our own grass-fed beef, so those parts work out nicely). Unfortunately I’m not seeing as great of progress as you’ve seen…yet, at least. I pray that our results are as good as yours. The only thing that’s difficult for me is that it’s so overwhelming. I pray about it regularly, but it still feels like every move I make is based on healing teeth and I’m so afraid of making a mistake or missing a day.

    I desperately wish we could find a holistic dentist around here to be on our side, who won’t treat me like I’m nuts when I talk about healing through nutrition (he defaults to assuming parents feed kids juice (nope) and snacks (nope) a lot).


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      Brynna – I hope I am not overstepping here, but something stood out to me that you may want to look into. Two of your three kids have issues with their top four teeth in the front. Yes, I think diet and genetics play a role, but something I didn’t mention in my post is that when Micah was diagnosed with tongue/lip ties we realized Katie had a lip tie, too.

      Breastfeeding does not cause dental decay EXCEPT when a lip tie is present. That’s because milk does not clear properly from the area right above those top four teeth (it pools up there and rests on the teeth). If you have never checked for this with your little ones I highly recommend you check out the pictorial guide I linked to here http://www.mommypotamus.com/tongue-tie-qa/

      Realizing Katie had an undiagnosed lip tie relieved a lot of guilt for me. If you have any questions or would like to talk further on this just let me know. And Brynna, you’re doing great. :)


      • Brynna
        Jul 06, 2011

        Thanks for the reply! :) I greatly appreciate the info and will bookmark that to share in the future! We actually don’t have any tie issues, visibly or with nursing (by God’s grace we’ve never had any nursing issues in 5.5 years and 3 children, period, other than thrush…but that’s because I have serious issues I am trying to reverse!)…although sometimes I wish there was a culprit behind the decay! My son actually had WONDERFUL teeth until that one round of abx. (and even then, the decay he has is very different from what we went through with my daughter…though with her, she also had trouble with her molars as well…even though we had a great dental hygiene routine, our diets weren’t nearly what they are now). He has struggled with flora imbalances since birth (as I had trouble with it when I was pregnant and then was actually battling systemic candida and a yeast infection when he was born, so he definitely wasn’t colonized well). I have had trouble with systemic candida for the last few years, so it’s my own bodies fault, really.

        I believe we have stalled the pitting from the decay with more probiotics on top of our diet/supplements. I haven’t seen much in the way of remineralization, but it’s only been since February. How long was it before you guys started noticing changes (for the better)?


        • Heather
          Jul 07, 2011

          A couple of months, probably, but for the most part it’s what we DIDN’T notice that really stands out to me. The main decay on Katie’s teeth seemed unaffected by our efforts and I was so surprised to find out that healthy tooth enamel was hiding underneath!

          Regarding candida, don’t beat yourself up. Almost all of us were given antibiotics routinely growing up, which kills good and bad bacteria but leaves candida intact. It’s no wonder it’s thriving in women’s bodies everywhere. I’m so glad you’re working to get it under control, though! You are a smart mama!


          • Brynna
            Jul 08, 2011

            So I thought this was kind of ironic, but last night DS fell on his face and split his upper lip frenulum. So…as long as it doesn’t scar back together this DEFINITELY won’t be an issue now. LOL (not that his injury was funny, just the irony of the timing!)


      • Wendi Niccole
        Aug 12, 2011

        I have realized in the last month that my daughter (1) has a lip tie. Yikes! She is breastfed and probably will be for at least another year if not longer. She doesn’t seem to have any problems with her top teeth, but now I will be extra diligent in cleaning and keeping an eye out.
        Thanks for this post and congratulations to you and your daughter! Way to go Mama!


    • pip
      Mar 28, 2013

      Call Rick Malter at malterinsitute.org
      He deals with mineral deficiencies


  3. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    Thoughts? Questions? Any skeptics out there?


  4. Brynna
    Jul 06, 2011

    Oh yeah, did you guys by chance incorporate a black walnut tincture mouthwash into your routine as well? We’ve begun doing that over the last few weeks and I pray that it helps, too.


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      Yes, we did. Although we only started using it a few months ago because it was on hand when we ran out of tooth soap, so I don’t think it really played a role in Katie’s remineralization.


      • Kerligirl
        Apr 03, 2013

        I have a broken tooth that has a filling (amalgam from many yrs ago). It now has a cavity. I have black walnut tincture already from a cleanse. What does it do and will it help with this cavity?


  5. Mae
    Jul 06, 2011

    Eamon and I have been actively talking about this, thank you SO much for the update. Such an encouragement to our household!


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      You’re so welcome, Mae. Happy birthday!


  6. rawkinmom
    Jul 06, 2011

    wow, this has sparked some interest with me…I give my kids an all natural toothpaste with no fluoride and they do not receive fluoride treatments at the dentist but maybe I need to read this book…my daughter’s permanent teeth seem to be very thin!! I have used toothsoap and don’t care for the taste…I actually like feeling that minty fresh feeling right after brushing and using the toothsoap left me feeling like I had just thrown up!! UGH! I do use the toothsoap powder which is just the baking soda combo with magnesium….much cheaper to make my own though!!! Thanks for giving me a new subject to start researching!!!


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      I like that minty fresh feeling, too. Sometimes I actually brush with straight peppermint oil!


  7. Nicole Stidham via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    I’m a total believer. And I will def be getting his book. My oldest daughter started her first 7 years of her life with poor dental ‘health’. Even tho I refused to give her floride treatments while nursing I still sadly used florinated toothpast until she was 4:-(. Even with a good brushing regiment she had her first cavity/absess at 7. Against my better judement I let the dentist do a root canal and put a aluminum cap on another tooth. After that insident I was determined we would NOT be doing that again. I love old herbal/remedy books and went on some of their recommendations. When another abcess came up we packed it with thyme and fennel. It miraculously disapeared in hours, never to return. We now scrub our gums and teeth with fresh ground thyme at first signs of cavity or gum problems. We have 4 kids and haven’t had to treat a cavity since.


    • Melissa
      Jul 25, 2011

      Wow! I love herbs too! What kind of thyme? Dried or fresh???


    • Bonnie
      Mar 27, 2013

      Could you please share how you did the thyme and fennel? (fresh? ground? oils? on cotton? when and how much and how long?) Where can I get more info about this? Thanks

  8. I have to get that book … my 6yo son’s back molar came in discolored two years ago and when I looked last week, there’s a little brown hole! Thank goodness it isn’t bothering him, so I have some time to heal it. He’s never been to the dentist (I have no idea how to find a good one!) and I don’t want his first visit to be for a filling!

    We’ve been doing the FCLO/BO for about a month now and I’ve been debating on just brushing our teeth with just water and then flossing. I’m not sure the tooth soap will go down well. He hated my homemade toothpaste. Can you get away with using nothing but water to brush? Maybe a drop of coconut oil with an extremely diluted TTO or something?


  9. Emily Brown
    Jul 06, 2011

    awesome! I love that you have documented everything! :) Now, I’ll have something more “tangible” to pass along to parents.


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      Emily, my phone died while we were at the dentist’s or I would have REALLY documented everything, lol!


  10. Christin
    Jul 06, 2011

    Very cool! Congrats on your excellent parenting and to Katie’s fast-healing teeth!

    On a side note, I have a question/blog request for you. I might be your only reader without kids, but I love reading about your and Daniel’s parenting methods. We’re figuring on having kids within the next 3-5 years, and I think it would be awesome if you could write a series on how to prepare for “natural” birth even before conception. I know you’ve written a lot about vaccinations and natural birth. Maybe you could take some of those older posts and use them too? Here are just a few of my questions–

    What are your thoughts on not eating meat while pregnant? (I am a vegetarian.) What other foods/beverages/supplements do you think are or aren’t necessary or beneficial?

    Where do you even start looking for a midwife/doula? What personal qualities/professional qualifications were you looking for?

    How do you explain that to your insurance company (we are a military family, so more than likely, we’d have to pay for it ourselves)?

    How do you “get around” the whole vaccine issue? Especially years down the road if they go to college?

    What are your feelings on having the older child present for the younger child’s birth? Helpful or too distracting?

    How do you respond to well-meaning family and friends who think that you’re a nut for wanting to give birth without a doctor/hospital?

    These are just a handful of the questions I have, but your blog is such an excellent resource. I have no idea if any of those questions are blog-worthy, but for those of us who haven’t had homebirths yet, it seems like this amazing, empowering, completely terrifying secret club that there isn’t much information about. Your blog is doing so much to change that, but, as you can see, I still have more questions! :D


    • Lois
      Jul 06, 2011

      Christin, about your question about eating meat during pregnancy, I have read that being a vegetarian during pregnancy is VERY dangerous for the growing child. It can cause miscarriage, severe eczema, dental decay, crowded teeth, and a very narrow dental arch and jaw (also, infertility in a wanna-be mother). You don’t have to eat meat, if you really can’t stand it, but you need some animal products.

      “All healthy people regularly ate at least one of the following:

      organs of animals
      sea animals
      fish
      insects
      eggs
      raw dairy products: cream, butter, milk”

      This is according to Dr. Weston Price in his book “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.”

      Dr. Price was a dentist who did extensive research all over the world on the tooth conditions of the native people to see what made for healthy teeth vs. poor tooth health.


      • Christin
        Jul 07, 2011

        Thank you so much for the feedback, Lois. I’m not vegan, so I still eat cheese and yogurt. (Probably more than I should, even! I loooove cheese!) We’re a military family who travels a lot, so reliable meat from humane, small farms is hard to find on a regular basis. For us, it’s just easier to maintain a clean-ish diet without meat. It’s working for now, but before we start trying to conceive, my husband and I are going to sit down and really take stock of any nutritional gaps we might have. Thanks again, and I’ll definitely look up Dr. Price’s book.


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      THANK YOU for these questions, Christin! They are absolutely fabulous and I can’t wait to start working on some responses.


  11. Brynna
    Jul 06, 2011

    We also use our own toothpaste with coconut oil (antibacterial, antifungal, and whitening), sometimes xylitol (sweetener and antibacterial), baking soda (for pH and bacteria), cell salts, vitamin K, and probiotics.
    http://joyfilledmama.blogspot.com/2011/04/oral-health-homemade-toothpaste.html

    I have found it really makes a difference, even from our natural, fluoride-free store-bought toothpastes.

    What gets me is how oral health can have such a HUGE impact on the rest of the body. Even teeth that “seem” good but have had dental work or have undetected bacteria (often spirochetes) are often the underlying cause of other health conditions that we’re never told can be related to our mouths!


    • Christina
      Aug 28, 2012

      Hi Brynna :)

      I would love to see your recipe that you linked to, but it won’t let me see it :( Could you pass along your recipe here? Or tell me how to see your blog?


  12. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Nicole – Great tip about the thyme and fennel. Thanks for sharing!


  13. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Amanda – My post on toothsoap may answer some of your questions on what to brush with. You can find it at http://www.mommypotamus.com/i-kissed-toothpaste-goodbye/


  14. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Amanda – Oh and I’m thinking of putting together a post on how to find a holistic compatible dentist. Would you be interested in something like that?


  15. Kristen Rickloff-Williams via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    What protocol did you follow? I didn’t understand from post.


  16. Christin
    Jul 06, 2011

    Also (and I promise this is my last request!) my husband would be interested in hearing from Daddypotamus about his experience as a homebirth dad. For example, how did it make him feel, what were things he did that you found helpful (or not helpful!), did he have any reservations, etc.?

    Thank you!!!

  17. Yes, I would! (I’m in Georgia, btw.) Finding a dentist isn’t a problem, but finding one that won’t spend the whole visit rolling their eyes, or not letting me go back with my (special-needs) son, or even understanding that I won’t let them use chemicals and metals is another story.


  18. Kari Martin via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    Would you be willing to lend us the book for a couple o weeks?


  19. Megan S
    Jul 06, 2011

    Just ordered some tooth soap from toothsoap.com today. I used the code “FREEDOM” to save around $25 off of my order. Just wanted to share!


    • Leah
      Jul 06, 2011

      Megan, do you know what the minimum order is for using that coupon? I just tried it and it said I needed to add more to my cart to use the Freedom coupon.


      • Megan S
        Jul 10, 2011

        Hi Leah, I’m not sure, but I had some of the liquid soap and a container of the shreds in my cart when I applied the coupon. It cut the total price in half. So two for the price of one!


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      Thanks, Megan! I am also going to be posting a recipe for a homemade version soon. It probably won’t be as tasty as the original, but it will be cheaper. :)


  20. Meghan Stanley via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    I looked at the tooth soap website and was wondering, do you suggest the shreds, liquid, gel, or whip for a toddler? I’m looking for something more natural than the “natural toothpaste” i’ve been using for them but i don’t want a big process when it comes to brushing teeth, as I have 3 kids under 4 :) Thanks!


  21. Meghan Stanley via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    also, i have receding gums and some significant enamel loss which i think must be related to pregnancies. do you know if the tooth soap helps with receding gums?


  22. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Kristen – There is a book called Cure Tooth Decay that makes nutritional recommendations for dealing with decay. It’s almost identical to GAPS but with more of a focus on foods that contain what Dr. Price called “x-factor” – dairy that was made from animals grazing on lush green grasses – along with some other specific nutrients essential for building tooth enamel. The author is Ramiel Nagel :)


  23. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Kari – What city do you live in? Trying to get an idea of the logistics involved. . . .


  24. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Meghan – We used the liquid because it was all that was available at the time (besides the shreds). I know of a mom who says she just puts a little food grade peppermint oil in some castille soap and it tastes about the same (maybe add a touch of raw honey to sweeten it). We used to have a tooth powder that is supposed to be soothing for gums, which I linked to in the “I Kissed Toothpaste Goodbye” post. but I don’t think the tooth soap would necessarily help with that.


  25. Kari Martin via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    I’m in Springtown (due north of Weatherford). I could paypal you postage or my Hubby could meet you (he works in Arlington.)


  26. Elisabeth McCumber
    Jul 06, 2011

    Hey! What are the odds?! We both just posted on the exact same topic.

    Here’s mine: http://ludemans.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/remineralize/

    Tell me what you think of it!


    • Heather
      Jul 06, 2011

      Loved it, Elisabeth! Almost feels like we’re back in class together, exploring concepts and sharing our takes. Kind of makes me long for a reunion at Christi & Russ’ ranch.


  27. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Kari – Sent you a PM :)

  28. Wow! How amazing and wonderful! Congratulations!

    I had a badly chipped front tooth before I found the Weston A. Price Foundation. Weirdly, I didn’t even question it — just figured it was part of life.

    Then I started eating the Weston Price way — cod liver oil, raw, grass-fed milk, butter, cream and cheese, pastured meats and eggs, organ meats, shellfish and wild seafood, fermented foods and drinks, and if I ate grains/seeds/nuts/legumes they were soaked and/or sprouted.

    It took about 2 years. One day I looked in the mirror and the very noticeable chip in my front tooth was GONE! It completely remineralized. So much so that I had to file it down.

    Also, my tooth pain and sensitivity, which I have been plagued with for decades, completely disappeared after a few months on the diet.


    • Heather
      Jul 07, 2011

      Thank you, Ann Marie! So awesome to hear about your tooth. I’ve noticed shinier and more dense enamel since starting a WAPF diet. And now you tell me bone broth can banish cellulite?? Real food appeals to the desire for longevity, energy and vanity, lol!


  29. Michelle Allison via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    Mommypotamus, you are such an amazing rolemodel to me :) Thank you so much for all of your helpful blogs!! I see the Haggertons and my second sweet baby girl who just turned 4 months had to have a frenectomy, like Ellie did. Man, nursing is so smooth now! But anyway along that journey, we found Dr Cole in fort worth who is a holistic dentist and AMAZING (and sweet too:).


  30. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 06, 2011

    @Michelle Thanks for your kind words!! So glad nursing is going well now. Love love LOVE the Haggertons and all they do for families!


  31. Mellanie Gray Sheppard via FB
    Jul 07, 2011

    I wish I had this info about a year ago. :-) Bekah has very bad enamel and a mouth full of bad teeth (as do most kids with Kabuki Syndrome.) She has already had to have some major dental work done because she was in such pain from all of the decay. She is already starting to lose her baby teeth, so I think we need to implement some of these things ASAP. Going to find the book now!


  32. Mommypotamus via FB
    Jul 07, 2011

    @Mellanie – So glad you’re going to look into it! Email me if you want recommendations on where to source ingredients locally :)


  33. Margo
    Jul 07, 2011

    Love this post! My hubby has had bad teeth for a long as we have been married 6 yrs. Almost every time he goes to the dentist he has a cavity. He brushes, flosses, rinses religiously. Where I am the opposite. I never have a cavity and usually just brush (don’t tell my dentist). After reading your first post on teeth we started using toothsoap and really started paying attention to the regular toothpaste ingredients as well as the rinse ingredients. It’s amazing what you see when you pay attention to the ingredients. We are real good about ingredient reading on all our food but never thought to look at toothpaste. Anyway, we switched to toothsoap and a natural rinse and my husband got a “A+” on his dental health at his last visit. No cavities and the dental girl said his teeth looked the best that she had ever seen them. I am interested to learn more from the book since I have some sensitivity due to receeding gums in one area of my mouth. Thanks for sharing this story!


    • Heather
      Jul 08, 2011

      Wow, that’s awesome, Margo! Thanks for letting me know!


  34. Mellanie Gray Sheppard via FB
    Jul 07, 2011

    Thanks Heather! I just downloaded the book on my Kindle and will start reading today. :-)


  35. Margo Garrett
    Jul 07, 2011

    Hi Heather,
    A friend forwarded me the link to this post because I just read “Cure Tooth Decay” after my 6 year-old son was diagnosed with 8 cavities….ugh! Can I ask you exactly what you’ve incorporated into your diet. I just don’t think that we can stomach fish heads or cow tongues. Thanks! I’d love any info.
    ~Margo


    • Heather
      Jul 07, 2011

      Hi Margo! We do lots of chicken and beef broth, pastured butter, liver once a week (not too bad if you hide it in chili with ground beef!) and cod liver oil. I also supplemented with vitamin K2 and silica in the early stages. Does that help?


      • Alexis D
        Aug 04, 2011

        Just curious – why would one supplement with silica in the early stages? What are the benefits of silica?

        Thanks :)


        • Heather
          Aug 04, 2011

          Silica is a major component of tooth enamel, so in the early stages when the body is trying to rebuild rapidly it’s helpful to have extra available.


          • Christina
            Aug 28, 2012

            Heather,

            What form of Silica did you use? I’m looking into Hyland’s Cell Salts Silicea #12. I’ve tried giving my daughter ground horsetail for the silica, but she reacted to it with a rash so I stopped. I can’t believe I just found this post!!!!!!!!!!! I have Rami’s book on the way, but we have been doing the Butter Oil/Cod Liver Oil blend for 1.5 months now with no noticeable changes. Every dentist that my daughter goes to wants to put her under. We drink raw milk and eat raw cheese both from grass fed cows, I make toothpaste from baking soda/coconut oil/Young Living thieves oil and wintergreen oil, I make bone broths with chickens and we have switched a lot over to a Nourishing Traditions diet. Did you cut out grains completely or just soak them accordingly? What about breads? We are eating sprouted bread now. I noticed little white ridges on my daughters teeth at her second birthday and immediately took her to the dentist. I did flouride varnish treatments once every 3 months for a year until they told me it was time to put her under! I was pregnant and too overwhelmed to take it on by myself until they told me they were going to put her under. Forget that! So, now I’m desperately searching for anything and everything I can do to help her. Do you have a detailed protocol for what you did? That would be SO helpful to me :) I’m so happy to have found this post through your Eczema post today!!! Ahhhh!


          • Heather
            Aug 28, 2012

            Hi Christina! It’s been so long I can’t remember where we got the silica, sorry! Regarding grains, I didn’t cut them back completely but cut them back to very sparing portions during the early days of her healing process. Fluoride kills beneficial gut flora and therefore reduces nutrient absorption, so if it were me I’d consider putting my little one on a good quality probiotic :)

            Also if you’d like to talk to a holistic dentist who is familiar with the Cure Tooth Decay protocol and offers video consults, Dr. Felix Liao is a WAPF member that has spoken at Wise Traditions: http://wholehealthdentalcenter.com/


  36. Chiot's Run
    Jul 08, 2011

    So refreshing to see a parent that’s looking out for the best interest of their children and not feeding chicken nuggets and hot dogs because it’s “kid” food and tons of candy as 100% of the parents I’m exposed to all the time (it can get a bit depressing)!

    Have loved reading through some of your posts! Cheers to you and the love and care you show in feeding your children right! Keep up the good work, your children will surely thank you some day! I certainly appreciate that my parents made us eat liver, tongue, heart, and everything they ate as kids. As an adult I now can say I really enjoy eating liver and I’m reaping the rewards healthwise. Keep it up!


  37. Tanya
    Jul 08, 2011

    I have been reading your blogs especially with Micah’s frenumlum story. When my son was born I noticed his upper lip frenulum and thought that doesn’t look normal, but midwife and pedi didnt think the same so i kept on going. We didnt have issues nursing until month 2, he went on a semi strike, then got over it, now at 17 mo with a mouth full of teeth, his upper lip frenulum attaches posterior to his teeth. I read your Q&A, regarding this issue, and have thought alot about going, He is talking (blabbering) just fine and still nursing strong. At 10 mo he did fall and crack his front tooth. I am now going to look for a dentist bc I am worried about weak teeth. Gorgeous teeth and one with a slight crack. We do not do milk just good ole BM but concerned that he may be calcium deficient even though he eats lots of green leafy veggies. With katie and her teeth decay you mentioned that she had a tight upper lip frenulum as well, are you going to get hers’ corrected as well?


    • Heather
      Jul 08, 2011

      I’m not sure about having it corrected, Tanya. I think it definitely played a role in her tooth decay but my calcium absorption issue while I was pregnant with her was the main factor. I’m hoping to get a consult on her in the next few weeks. Hope you can find a dentist with the awesome pen laser caries detector! It was so easy on Katie and really put my mind at ease. :)

  38. what a wonderful thing to be proud of! What a wonderful example you are for everyone<3


  39. Kelly
    Jul 21, 2011

    Hi Heather! I so appreciate this post and thread. My 2 1/2 yr old has cavities on his top two front teeth and I’ve checked out all the holistic dentists in the area and what we’ve come to choose is a couple of fillings and also the Cure Tooth Decay diet. We’re on day 2 and it’s HARD. My little guy didn’t eat many veggies anyway, so this is a whole new world. I was wondering what your meal plan was when you were doing it. Did you do any bread at all? I’m wondering if baking my own from the NT cookbook would be okay. We’re really struggling here without bread. I need to get better at having other grains around like oats or quinoa.
    Any words of wisdom on what to feed a picky eater from this diet would be much appreciated! Thanks SO much for posting and responding to everyone. It’s monumentally helpful to know that others are going through the same thing. And have succeeded! I want more stories like this so I can show people.
    Take care!
    Kelly


    • Heather
      Jul 22, 2011

      Hi Kelly! We did grains at first but have since cut them out. Based on what I know now, I would limit them as much as possible. What are your son’s fave foods? Maybe I can suggest some nutrient dense alternatives with similar flavors/textures.


      • Kelly
        Aug 03, 2011

        Hi Heather – Thanks for your response. We’ve been doing limited grains. Only fermented, fresh ground flour or sprouted grain breads from the store. He really likes quesadillas and sandwiches. Those are my staples for lunch. Yesterday he ate broccoli for the first time after many many offerings. YAY!! I was so relieved. So it’s shifting slowly. Today he got two fillings, which was hard for me to watch. But I feel better now and I’m moving on with a great diet to help his teeth stay healthy.
        I had the Cure Tooth Decay book from the library. And now I’m second-guessing my memory. Is it right that he recommends 1/2 tsp. of the cod liver/butter oil 3x/day? Do you recall?
        Thanks again for your AMAZING blog. I’m loving all of it!
        Kelly


      • Nina
        Jun 14, 2012

        Hello, What a superb site you have and what a tremendous resource for parents. I have known about Weston Price for nearly a decade and still seem to have managed to allow foods that I am “opposed” to b/c when my husband brings them in the house, the kids get to know and like them, and I am not strong or clever enough to keep them from getting addicted to the bready/snacky foods.

        I would love to echo the other poster’s request for suggestions on how to get children to transition to this diet. Unfortunately, both my daughters have decided last year to be vegetarian and have gone off eggs. I feel my only recourse is bone broths, which I make but don’t use often enough. We are near a farm that can sell raw milk but half of us don’t do very well with cow dairy, and one daughter can’t stomach goats milk. I need Family Dietary Counseling! Any advice would be welcome.


  40. Jessica S
    Jul 21, 2011

    I am so SO hopeful reading this post! I just noticed Hunter’s top 4 front teeth have started having HORRIBLE pitting right at the gum line, and I’m really nervous about it. I had baby “crowns” and “root canals” (can’t remember what they’re called on baby teeth, but I know it’s something different) on 2 teeth when I was a toddler, and 2 of my brothers had to have extensive dental work as toddlers as well, for “baby bottle mouth” despite being exclusively breastfed. Hunter does appear to have a lip tie, can’t believe I missed it! Definitely making an appointment with Dr. Cole, and getting the Cure Tooth Decay book! This post makes me hopeful that I don’t have to put my (22 month old) baby through a bunch of awful dental work!


    • Heather
      Jul 22, 2011

      Jessica – The protocal is almost identical to GAPS, so you’re in for a smooth transition :)


      • Jessica S
        Jul 22, 2011

        Good to know! If I go see Dr. Cole, do you think I can specifically get him to recommend that Hunter follow the Cure Tooth Decay diet? I think having it recommended by a health professional will get certain family members off my back about it!


        • Heather
          Jul 23, 2011

          I’ve never been to Dr. Cole, but a friend of mine went and said that he believes sugar on the teeth can cause damage but not sugar in the body (i.e. he doesn’t necessarily make the diet connection).


  41. Jessica S
    Jul 23, 2011

    Hmm, so would you recommend Dr. Petre instead if I want someone who makes the diet connection?


    • tt
      Jul 25, 2011

      Dr Petre doesnt specifically tell abt nutrition and teeth connection unless adked for. She actually started holistic dentustry since a year and half. I find her ok but not all that experiencwd or great. she has stopped doing RC but recommends otger dentist to get it done. Does subscribe supplenents that are teeth-heart related. Also i find her doing procedures that are not asked for.
      , sometimes pushy and money is the main motive rather than healing the tooth issue. this has been ny personal exp. though.


    • Heather
      Jul 28, 2011

      Dr. Petre is Russian (or somewhere nearby), so she’s not going to be able to chat with you in-depth about nutrition. She might make an “official” recommendation for a GAPS-style diet, but I don’t know that for certain.


  42. Guggie Daly
    Jul 25, 2011

    Thank you for sharing your experience! I also worked hard at remineralizing DD’s teeth when spots began to appear on her four front, upper teeth around 14 months. And I think the transformation was great, but she still has what I’ve been calling “shadows” or “smears” that won’t go away. I am going to ask her dentist if they are stains and if they can be polished. YAY!


  43. Kelli
    Jul 25, 2011

    Heather, I have a few questions for you: I am taking my daughter to the dentist tomorrow as her four front teeth are a hot mess. I have the Weston Price book, but I have to be honest–I’m having a super hard time with what it says because it seems that they’re just a lobby that insists that the only products that will help heal your child’s teeth have to be purchased from them! I’m not sure who to believe! I don’t know a single person PERSONALLY for whom this has worked and I only know of people who say that it’s worked for them on the internet–I’m skeptical! This kind of diet would be a gigantic departure from the diet that I believe is healthy for my child. (I’m SOOO not trying to be insulting here–I’m just sort of desperate for the truth!!). So I’ll just ask the question that’s burning in my mind and I hope you’ll be straight up with me–Is the Weston A Price Foundation paying you for posting this? Is this for real?

    Thanks for being honest and I really hope you aren’t insulted. I am so lost in all of this.


    • Heather
      Jul 26, 2011

      Hi Kelli! I’m not offended at all! And I totally understand your skepticism. To answer your question, no I was not paid to write this post. I am a member of Real Food Media, which supports the Weston A. Price Foundation in whatever way we can (including donating a percentage of our sales to them). Meaning we give them money and free advertising, not the other way around! The WAPF is a non-profit and as far as I’m aware they don’t recommend any products that have to be exclusively purchased from them. There are some products, fermented cod liver oil for example, that only one company makes. So they may say that’s the only place to buy it, bu tGreen Pastures (the maker of fermented cod liver oil) is not associated with the WAPF in any way that I know of except that they both value traditional foods. In the spirit of full disclosure I want you to know that if someone goes to my resources page and buys butter I will earn a small amount on a cost-per-click basis. However, I don’t allow anyone to advertise with me if I don’t love their products and services. I believe that advertising serves an important purpose, and that my readers really want to know about products and services that I sincerely endorse. I hope that helps!

  44. I remineralized a cavity that was painful…it only took about a month or so of doubling my fermented cod liver oil and the pain was gone. Haven’t used commercial toothpaste in years….all I use is baking soda with organic peppermint essential oil.


    • Heather
      Aug 10, 2011

      That’s awesome, Tiffani! We love our FCLO, too! Well, the effects but not the taste :)


  45. Georgia
    Aug 10, 2011

    I have recently read Cure Tooth Decay, and am currently following most of his suggestions. Okay, I am not very strict with my whole diet, but I AM staying off sugar and taking fermented cod liver oil daily! :)


    • Heather
      Aug 10, 2011

      Thanks for stopping by , Georgia! Best of luck to you!


  46. Sarah
    Aug 10, 2011

    I’m working on my 2 year old’s front top teeth, she has a lip tie and a gap between her 2 front teeth which I think is caused by the lip tie. One tooth especially has a line across it that is a pit. Do you think this will grow back up? I’m a Nourishing Traditions fan and try to follow WAP diet. We do green smoothies, bone broth, pastured eggs and kefir daily. I try to find grass fed meat but usually organic is the best I can find. I found liver at our health food store one time, and they haven’t had it since. What do you think about Dr. Ron’s Organ Delight? She eats veggies pretty good, but really loves fruit. She has been gluten free for quite a while, and now we’re down to practically no grains (the only time she gets some is GF PB&J when we have to go places around other kids that are eating cheetos, hotdogs, etc.) I cannot get her to take the FCLO (I can barely take it myself). So I’ve been trying the Nordic Naturals CLO for kids. How do you get your kids to take FCLO? What other supplements did you use? I’ve ordered bioplasma cell salts and pasca-dent. I just ordered “Cure Tooth Decay” a few days ago, too. So your blog came at a great time!


    • Heather
      Aug 10, 2011

      Hi Sarah! I am not familiar with Dr. Ron’s but from everything else you wrote I’d say you are following very closely the approach I took with my daughter. About the FCLO – I’ve heard it can be absorbed through the skin, so maybe you could rub some on her bum at night before bed . . . that way the fishy smell will fade by morning! Just a thought. :) There is some info on my resources page about where to buy grass fed meat that you may find helpful. And last but not least, in our experience the tooth that was already lost did not grow back, but what remained re-enamelized. Hope this helps!


  47. Sarah
    Aug 10, 2011

    Forgot to mention, she still nurses (at night, too).


    • Heather
      Aug 10, 2011

      Mine did, too. The dentist that corrected my sons tie said that in his experience breastfeeding doesn’t cause decay, but breastfeeding a lip-tied child can because the milk doesn’t clear properly from the mouth. So just in case you are beating yourself up about this, please don’t <3


  48. Vanessa
    Aug 11, 2011

    My son’s teeth are awful. I hate saying that, but it is true. His 4 front teeth, and a couple molars have bad spots. I have taken him to the dentist, but we just have a regular pediatric dentist who kind of chuckled at me when I suggested reversing the decay (and wanted $2,000 and to put him under for nearly 2 hours to fix it…. almost 1.5 years ago) . I thought I had stopped it, but it seems they are just getting worse at a slower rate. He is 3.5, and has 4 broken teeth. They cause him no pain. But, I wonder if they will last until they fall out naturally, and if they are causing damage to his adult teeth. It causes me worry every day. I just don’t know where to go from here. What resources would you recommend with practical advice? I really don’t want to put him through going to this dentist, but when I realized it was in fact still getting worse, I also realized I have to do *something* more.


    • Heather
      Aug 11, 2011

      Hi Vanessa – I’m so sorry for what you’re going through! Now this probably won’t affect your decisions going forward, but I am wondering if you have checked him for a lip tie (http://www.mommypotamus.com/tongue-tie-qa/). When the four front teeth are the primary ones affected it’s often because of a lip tie. Finding out about them helped alleviate a lot of guilt for me.

      For practical advice, I took my daughter to a holistic dentist. I wanted the least toxic filling possible and figured a holistic dentist was my best shot. If you’re interested in finding one near you here are some tips: http://www.mommypotamus.com/how-to-find-a-holistic-dentist/).


      • Vanessa
        Aug 11, 2011

        This is incredible. When I looked into the links you provided, I almost cried. It may not seem like much to you, but it explained so much. And not just with my 3yo. My 6m old is having latch problems. I always thought it looked strange on both my boys, but thought it was normal. I had my youngest checked for TT, and this was never mentioned as a possibility. The holistic dentist links provided me with a dentist 30 minutes away. !!! Who knew?? This has been incredibly helpful….. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I am so very glad I decided to post here. You have no idea how glad! :)


        • Heather
          Aug 11, 2011

          Vanessa – Oh, I’m so glad I mentioned it! Many children who have lip ties also have tongue ties that are tricky to diagnose. There are only a few dentists in the country that are trained to correct lip ties. If you think you might want to have your baby looked and are also in DFW I can recommend a great dentist who just went up and trained with Dr. Kotlow. Otherwise I would contact Dr. Kotlow directly for an informal diagnosis and either a referral or appointment (www.kiddsteeth.com). My son was 7 months old when he had his procedure done and life has been SO MUCH easier since. Because he couldn’t drain my breast well he woke me up ALL NIGHT LONG to nurse . . . and then afterwards started sleeping several hours stretches! My daughter was the same way and I was in a sleep deprived fog for two years. Now that I know why it all makes so much more sense. Anyway, I’m rambling here. So glad the info was helpful ;)


          • Vanessa
            Aug 12, 2011

            I’m glad you mentioned it as well. I’m so nervous about the correction of this. I am meeting with a LC next week. I’m just glad to have found a possible cause. I don’t mind if you ramble….it just seems I have brought us off the original topic. ;) Again, thank you!


  49. Heather Brandt
    Aug 11, 2011

    The book you mentioned sounds interesting but right now we are off of dairy trying to heal our guts & possibly dealing with dairy intolerance as a result of celiac disease. Does the book make suggestions that people off of dairy could use to improve dental health? I really don’t want to have a root canal ever again :(


    • Heather
      Aug 11, 2011

      Hi Heather! While the book does recommend dairy, it also mentions a variety of other foods that contain the essential nutrients recommended. Not sure if you are talking about the GAPS protocol, but our family is currently on GAPS and it is very compatible.


      • Heather Brandt
        Aug 11, 2011

        We’re not on GAPS protocol right now due to my son not being able to have almonds, dairy and eggs. Hopefully, if we can figure out if he has celiac we can work towards getting his body healed of some food sensitivities that may have developed as a result of celiac. I guess the book would still be useful in the meanwhile. My understanding is that people with celiac often have teeth problems so we hope to avoid his teeth getting worse.

  50. [...] here for an amazing photo update on Katie’s [...]

  51. [...] Do these photos convince you? They did me! In fact when my daughter began showing signs of tooth decay I put her on a Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) diet excluding grains and her decay reversed. Yes, you bet I took pics! [...]


  52. Erica
    Sep 08, 2011

    This is wonderful. I always had awful teeth. I remember sitting in my history class in 8th grade and one of my teeth just broke off. My best friend looked at me in horror. I just laughed. I didn’t know why it happened and there was no use getting upset. I have severe food allergies also that went ignored or undiagnosed for my of my existence. I’ve figured out the food issues and within the past year my teeth have become remarkably stronger. At the beginning of my pregnancy (Fall 2009) I was told I had two cavities and that we would need to fill them after the pregnancy. They were quite painful. Now I don’t feel a thing. I think they’ve healed themselves just by eliminating all of the food/chemical/derivatives from my lifestyle.

    My mother never understood what was happening with my health and did not have the time to research everything (single mom of three). I’ve had so many useless root canals, fillings, etc. Now I need to figure out a way to get the mishigas out of my mouth. I applaud you for researching a better approach for your daughter. That is what I’m doing for my little one now. Great article. I’m order the book today =)


  53. Mommy
    Sep 30, 2011

    Thanks for writing this article. You’re a great mom and a great example for many moms to do research for kids health instead of just trusting a dentist. I don’t like those dentist procedures and pain associated with the procedures, I’d been there. Now I’m a mom of two little boys and I want them to be at their optimal health and be happy. I’m getting this book now and bookmark your site.

  54. [...] you know that real food can help kids avoid braces? It can also prevent – or even heal – cavities, clear up eczema, help your kids focus in school and improve their moods. Did you [...]


  55. Misty aka Elvisgirl
    Nov 18, 2011

    I don’t know what I did, but I think I lost the message I just tried add hear. I am hoping to get some more info from you. I don’t know if there is anymore than is on your site, besides I need to buy that book. Our dentist is a tennis buddy of my husband. My hubby’s family always went to the doctor and trusted drs completely. My family began using natural alternatives along with doctor visits when I was elementary age. I am feeling so bad about my son, almost 9 yrs old, who we were told yesterday needs “fillings” on the sides of his top molars that came in without enamel (which I remember the dentist mentioning a couple years ago, but of course didn’t remember until this dentist visit. My son is really good at doing whatever “healthy” thing is needed to make him well. After I read this article, he asked me if he had a cavity again (so far they had all been in baby teeth, and none for years) that we could try this. I said we could, but didn’t really think it would happen. Now we face convincing hubby to try this and I am also worried about letting them go too far. Although I did some research last night & found testimonials of people whose chipped teeth regenerated! Any encouragement or advice would be greatly appreciated.


    • Heather
      Nov 18, 2011

      Hi Misty! So sorry about what you are going through – these kinds of decisions are not easy! I encourage you to read the book and check out his website. I am not sure if they are talking about doing a root canal but I would definitely look into that more before allowing it. The holistic dentist I see is completely against them. My advice is don’t panic and do your research.


      • Misty aka Elvisgirl
        Nov 20, 2011

        Thank you! I will check out the website. I didn’t even think to look into that. I really felt like I was an informed mother-to-be, but all the info and know now and keep coming across… I just have to give it to God and not beat myself up about past decisions. When my kids were younger, they actually had “baby root canals” from the pediatric dentist. Each of my two kids had a baby tooth with ah “baby root canal”. The the Lord, this dentist is not talking root canal, but I am afraid if we cover up the teeth that were missing enamel that we will not be able to help them heal. I am going to check out the website and see what we can do.


  56. Ester Perez
    Jan 19, 2012

    Hi Heather, I have been wanting to leave a reply but you know how busy it is being a Mom. You inspired me with your story and did the diet for the second time and my sons cavities reversed and my daughters have halted. I posted a blog article about it and put a link to this page on your website. Thanks for all you do. Blessings, Ester http://supermilkmama.com/cure-for-cavities-part-2/
    Ester Perez´s last [type] ..Cure for Cavities-Part 2


    • Heather
      Jan 23, 2012

      Woohoo! So happy to hear that Ester!


    • Heather
      Jan 23, 2012

      Woohoo! So glad to hear that, Ester! Go you!


  57. Katherine
    Feb 29, 2012

    Hi Heather, Thanks so much for sharing this information! I wouldn’t have looked into Rami Nagel’s book if it wasn’t for this post, and I was able to greatly improve my dental health due to it. Since adopting a diet based on the recommendations of the Weston A. Price foundation, I have been able to heal a cavity, eliminate my extreme tooth sensitivity, and I believe my teeth have actually begun to move closer together (they are too far apart) and my jaw is widening (I’m still growing, I’m 17)! Thanks so much. I will share this with my cousin, whose daughter’s tooth erupted with soft enamel.


    • Heather
      Mar 01, 2012

      That is awesome, Katherine! Thank you for coming back to let me know!

  58. I tagged you in my post on homemade tooth powder, since my Katie isn’t all the way healed yet and your Katie’s results are such an inspiration. :) This was the first blog post I read that inspired me to feel that healing cavities really could be done. Much love mama!!
    Jennifer @ 20 something allergies´s last [type] ..Homemade Tooth Powder

  59. [...] others have more advanced training such as Dr. Liao). Ramiel Nagel, whose protocol I used to heal Katie’s cavities, also has some great resources for finding a holistic dentist [...]

  60. [...] It was a miserable time, and it had long lasting effects. Katie’s baby teeth, which formed around the second month in utero, were very weak and porous. Fortunately, her adult teeth formed around 20 weeks after I had plenty of sunshine, but I still wish we hadn’t had to work so hard to strengthen her crumbly baby teeth. [...]

  61. [...] can read what her dentist had to say here, but I think the pictures alone tell quite a [...]


  62. Jenny
    May 11, 2012

    I wanted to share a toothpaste recipe we use and love. It’s 4 tbsp each purified water, calcium bentonite clay, and xylitol; 1 tbsp virgin unrefined coconut oil, and several drops of essential oils of choice. I used clove and cinnamon. I modified this recipe from here: http://www.aboutclay.com/info/Uses/toothpaste.htm
    She healed her child’s cavities this way.
    Anyway we see a huge difference in the shininess, whiteness, and overall cleanness of our teeth! My sister had dark staining on her front teeth that went away after a few uses!

  63. [...] mamas who have healed or are healing their childrens’ cavities. Mommypotamus has a great one. Eventually, I’ll get to one [...]


  64. Fuji
    Jun 09, 2012

    I have a question as to if you fololwed the which part of the protocol of Ramiel’s you followed. If you could please be specific as to if you employed all techniques of the regimen or a few. Bone broth? organ meat? CLO? Butter Oil? Please let me know. I am so interested! Thank you


    • Heather
      Jun 10, 2012

      I did it all (and still do just because it’s good for us!) We also reduced grains after reading his thoughts on the subject :)

  65. [...] cavities (Note: Rami is AWESOME. I used his book to heal Katie’s cavities and posted pics here. If you have questions about tooth decay don’t miss your chance to ask him at the [...]

  66. [...] from other mamas who have healed or are healing their childrens’ cavities. Mommypotamus has a great one. Eventually, I’ll get to one [...]


  67. Chris
    Aug 01, 2012

    Fascinating post and discussion (I was going to share a post on Real Food Wednesday and I got distracted by this link to your site :) Ironically I was going to share a post on oil pulling that my sister in law had just written – I haven’t researched it enough myself yet but it is supposed to have a lot of benefits to oral health – I wonder if it would help anyone here? It might be hard for kids to do under age 4 or so but I thought I’d share it.

    Also I’ve been using an herbal toothpaste called Vita-Myr (http://earthfriendlygoodies.com/239/vita-myr-natural-gum-disease-treatment-and-bad-breath-banisher) that helped heal my gum issues, I had the beginnings of periodontal disease and now I always hear I have very pink healthy gums from the dentist. It wasn’t as successful for my wife but she has always had really bad teeth issues – I’ll definitely look into the “Cure Tooth Decay” book you mentioned for her! Thanks so much. :)
    Chris´s last [type] ..What is Oil Pulling? Benefits of Oil Pulling with Coconut Oil or Sesame Oil

  68. [...] Preventing Tooth Decay: http://www.mommypotamus.com/can-a-weston-a-price-diet-reverse-tooth-decay/ [...]

  69. [...] that could happen is that we’d feed her really healthy food. Man-on-man was he thrilled when it actually worked! Since then I’d say we’re pretty much on the same page with the kids – he even [...]

  70. [...] photos because they show just how possible the “impossible” is! (Kinda like my before/after pics of reversing Katie’s tooth decay, [...]

  71. [...] Heal a cavity, help with ADD, or work on your lifelong goal of being able to turn chairs into butter with your mind, prepare yourself. The road to grain-free living is not some easy jaunt paved with vanilla sandwich cookies, apple tarts, and chocolate freezer pie. [...]

  72. [...] What to do about it? The sealants are considered safe for kids, for whom they’re most popular. And the exposure disappears a few hours after the sealants are applied. But researches at Mount Sinai advise pregnant women to steer clear. I personally would just say “no” and make sure to eat a real foods diet to avoid cavities.  [...]


  73. Denise
    Dec 03, 2012

    I was especially intrigued by this article when I read it some time ago, and now that my 3 yo daughter has 3 cavities, I’m even more intrigued. I ordered Nagel’s book, and it finally arrived. What now? Where in the world did you start? There is so much information! We have always fed our daughter a whole foods diet: minimally processed foods, no refined sugar (only maple syrup and honey), no juices. Just fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and meat. I’ve ordered the fclo and hvbo, and eliminated grains. Did you feel like you couldn’t do enough fast enough? Help!


    • Heather
      Dec 03, 2012

      Yes, I can totally relate! I eliminated grains, too, and added a silica supplement to her diet in addition to the FCLO and lots of butter. I also made sure she got lots of probiotic rich foods to help her assimilate the nutrients I was working so hard to get to her. Bone broths are like liquid gold, too! S


  74. Becca Bussert
    Dec 10, 2012

    I’ve found a variety of affordable, homemade organic tooth soaps and powders on Etsy! Just thought I’d let everyone know :)

  75. [...] cavity-free smile. You can read more about what the dentist had to say about her transformation here, but make sure to come back because I have great news! Are you ready? Here it [...]

  76. [...] be able to find a time to watch that works with your schedule. If you need more convincing, read this post by Mommypotamus that shows exactly the difference that nutrition can make in your teeth. Her little girl’s [...]


  77. Rachael
    Feb 06, 2013

    Hi Heather,
    This article really hit home with me. My son is 21 months and was diagnosed with tooth decay on his top 4 front teeth about 2 months ago. We coincidentally started a Weston A Price type of diet shortly after he turned 1. He was breastfed at night until he was 14 months (the dentist says that is what caused the tooth decay – our ped & lactation don’t agree.) We started GAPS intro the end of nov and he is doing great eating lots of soup with homemade bone broth, well-cooked non-starchy veggies, meats and liver from pastured animals, eggs from pastured chickens, 24 hour yogurt, kefir and sour cream made with raw milk, no grains and fruit only once or twice a week. Also no sweeteners except stevia concentrate from whole leaf. Also butter or ghee from pastured cows. He’s also been taking the FCLO from Green Pastures (about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon a day.) We’re also doing fresh pressed veggie juice every morning and a daily probiotic. I’m so thankful he is adapting to this diet without any resistance. My question is what to do now? The ped dentist is pushing for dental crowns and baby root canals (we went through this with our first son and really don’t want to do it again.) I would like to take the wait and see approach but feel great pressure from the current dentist. I have found a local (as in “small town”) dentist who is willing to periodically check his teeth to see if they decay is getting worse. If we do wait and see do you have any helpful suggestions how to watch his teeth ourselves? How to know if what we are doing is working? They have not crumbled at all (like our first son’s did), they just have some light brownish spots (mainly on the backside.) Also, you mentioned a silica supplement that you gave your daughter. Where did you get this and what is the purpose of this supplement? Thanks so much for your support. I guess that is what I’m really looking for during this “wait and see” time. So afraid I’m not doing enough.


    • Heather
      Feb 23, 2013

      Hi Rachael, I am so sorry I am just now responding. I don’t know if the investment would be a possibility for you, but I recently attended an online conference that covered in detail how to avoid root canals, plus info on using ozone (which is completely non-toxic) to treat cavities. You can buy the take home package here.

      According to Ramiel Nagel of Cure Tooth Decay, silica can help rebuild tooth enamel. I found mine at a local health food store :) Hope that helps!


  78. Jennifer
    Feb 17, 2013

    lots of talk here about the internal healing efforts but I’m also interested in the external protocol you used. You mentioned Katie liked the tooth powder more than the other. Can you describe in more detail you used these products? I’ve been trying to follow WP for a long time to the extent of raising our own meat & milk but like another mom that posted here – I’m still having issues with children’s teeth particularly between ages 8-10 years. Any info on the external regimine would be appreciated.

  79. [...] [...]

  80. [...] Also of interest in this discussion:  Can a Weston Price diet cure tooth decay? [...]

  81. [...] (Wondering about her teeth? Click here for the story!) [...]


  82. Lucy N.
    Mar 23, 2013

    Hi Heather! How did you use the silica? Also, did you use xylitol to help heal Katie’s teeth? Thank you kindly for your time! :)


  83. Lc
    Mar 27, 2013

    Interesting how a good diet makes wonders!
    Yet, from this good story here and Ramiel’s children’s I have an impression that food in the US usual diet must be pretty bad. Here, in Canada, I have not heard of such bad teeth as in these stories in children among families who have a “normal” diet.
    It is very good that more and more people are taking the time to find out how to eat properly.


  84. Tosha
    Mar 27, 2013

    Our diet is not perfect but I still hoping that it is making a difference. A month or two after I started the FCLO/HVBO my daughter said, “My teeth don’t feel soft anymore.” We are also doing raw milk, pastured eggs and occasionally broth and chicken bones.

    I make a wonderful toothpaste with Redmond clay and xylitol. I add an organic flavor from Natures Flavors. My 3 year oid and 6 year old love it! Here is the link to the recipe http://www.natural-organic-products-and-recipes.com/kids-toothpaste.html.


  85. Scot
    Mar 27, 2013

    I had lost track of this information some time ago. I think I got a link in an email and was happily going through some of the articles when I realized there was a question I had long been searching for an answer to.
    I am aware that the thinking here is that fluoride is not our friend. I tried NOT to use a certain brand that contains said material but, it is the only brand that has any effect on the stains and calculus that form on the lower front incisors.
    My question has been what is the polishing/abrasive agent used in shall we say the top 5
    commercials brands and how do I acquire it to make something comparable for myself?
    Namaste’
    Scot
    (BTW, I do have several websites but, something
    seems to be not kosher with your system’s accepting it. )


  86. tygmusic
    Mar 28, 2013

    beautiful pix of your daughter. had the same trauma w. my teenage son (organic food and breastmilk and yet!) oh the anguish- oh, I cried and didn’t hear of remineralizing til recently and working on it for myself and him.
    Dr. Manhart advises to keep your wisdom teeth if possible http://www.calciumtherapy.com
    having a dental crisis myself right now and need to inspire my teen about this as well.
    if I’m not the first to ask this question, do you have an immediate protocol to start for someone in a dental crisis doing everything they can to turn the boat around and save teeth?
    thanks for your blog.
    give your child a hug for me
    you are blessed


  87. Edyta
    Mar 29, 2013

    Hi my toddler has her firs tooth decay.I want to change her diet on grain free .I’m looking for good recipes book .Do you now any.Thanks. Edyta .


  88. Julie
    Apr 03, 2013

    Hi Heather –

    Thank you for your encouragement – it’s so exciting to see pictures showing this works! Can you or anyone else reading this please help me with some practical issues? We have a 3 year old with decay. As others – we have a good diet compared to most Americans (very little processed and organic when possible) and she still nurses. All bread we eat is either sprouted or made with freshly ground flour (in my Vitamix).

    We tried to change to Ramel’s diet, but it was just too extreme for our family. We are scared to use raw milk or give little bodies suppliments (even cod liver oil), and going without any grain or fruit brings resistance and constipation.

    Can you recommend any single change that you find most helpful, since I can’t bring my family on board for a complete overhaul? Do you have any suggestions for breakfast foods other than eggs and sausage/bacon (for variety)? Do you eliminate all breads and potatoes? Do you eat almost all meat, raw dairy and veggies, with little else in your diet? Also, how do you prevent constipation?

    Thank you so much.


  89. Katie
    Apr 14, 2013

    What a great story! I have been very interested in natural dentistry and the WP diet to promote healthy teeth.

    I have a question for you (and/or anyone else here who might know): My 3 year old daughter had a fall in a gymnasium and bumped her front teeth about 2 months ago. Since then one of the teeth has turned grey. I took my daughter to a dentist who explained that the fall damaged the tooth and probably the nerve. The colour change was due to blood in the tooth (much like a bruise). My question is – is there anything that I can do to heal her tooth? Ramel talks about our teeth healing themselves and it seems to me that should apply here yet I have spent a long time online researching this topic and I have not found any info about it. I have started my daughter on the Blue Ice Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend and am starting to try to incorporate the other dietary concepts as well. Do you think this will help? Do you know if there is anything else I can do? How long before you saw a difference in your daughter’s teeth?

    Thanks!!!!!
    ~Kate


    • Heather
      Apr 14, 2013

      Hi Katie! I wish I had some insight to share, but I’m not sure if this protocol will have any effect on a damaged nerve. I can’t quite remember how long it took before I saw a difference, but I’m going to write a series about it soon and will be able to piece that info together with photos (one of her teeth actually grew!)

  90. [...] right? and found all sorts of interesting stuff, including this mama’s testimony, along with this mama’s testimony, which together led me to Ramiel Nagel’s book, Cure Tooth Decay. Being a cheapskate, I [...]

  91. [...] an excerpt from a post I wrote about that [...]

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I'm Heather, aka The Mommypotamus. As a wife, mom, writer, researcher, and real food lover, I write about the topics that concern me most. What is a Mommypotamus?

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