If you ask most people whether or not you can heal a cavity, the answer you would get 99.9% of the time is that it is impossible.
Even conventional dentists would agree with this assessment. Ask a typical dentist at a routine cleaning whether you can heal a cavity on your own and he/she is likely to look at you like you’re crazy (I know this from experience).
In stark contrast to this current conventional “wisdom”, Dr. Weston A. Price DDS wrote of numerous situations in his dental practice back in the 1920s and 1930s where cavities healed with no need for drilling and filling. Dr. Price discovered through research that cavities are caused by nutritional deficiency and when this nutritional deficiency is corrected, the cavity heals.
Biological dentists also understand and teach their patients that teeth can remineralize naturally when the diet and microbial conditions in the mouth are conducive to the healing process.
If you think about this in an open-minded manner leaving all preconceived ideas about cavities behind, doesn’t this make sense? Shouldn’t the body be able to heal a cavity just like it heals a broken bone or a cut on your arm? Why would teeth be any different from a broken wrist after all?
Having read Dr. Price’s epic work Nutrition and Physical Degeneration some years ago, I’ve been of the school of thought that cavities can indeed be healed with proper nutrition for some time. But believing something intellectually and knowing it works from experience are two very different things, are they not?
For this reason, I am very excited to relay to you a recent story regarding one of my children. You see, my oldest child (12 years old at the time) developed a cavity in his top right lateral incisor. It was behind the tooth right on the gumline. My husband noticed it one night as he was checking his teeth to see if he was doing a good job brushing and flossing (he’s way too old for nightly brushing by Mom or Dad).
There was a definite hole in the tooth and not a small one either. My husband called me over to take a look and I was alarmed to see the hole and I used a rubber-tipped tooth probe that we have on hand to check how deep it was. The tip of the probe went way into the hole. There was no doubt that this was a cavity, and we both agreed that we needed to get it filled pronto.
Our reasoning was that the incisors are very prominent teeth and taking a chance that the nutritional approach would not work quickly enough to save the tooth was a big concern for us especially given that our soon to be teenager’s diet could likely not be controlled closely enough to ensure rapid success.
I called the dentist right away and made an appointment. In the meantime, I began insisting that my son take 3 butter oil capsules every morning along with his normal, daily teaspoon of fermented cod liver oil. I’ve always been pretty strict about the daily cod liver oil dose before school, but a bit slack about the butter oil along with it to be perfectly honest.
Not anymore. With this big hole in the back of his incisor, I knew that he needed to take both together. Dr. Price discovered that cavities healed faster when these two therapeutic and nourishing oils were taken together.
The dental appointment was a few weeks out, so I continued with the butter oil capsules every single day. I also told my son that he really needed to go back to his breakfast of two slices of toast each morning with raw butter and honey. This instead of tahini and honey which is what he had been having in recent months.
He was fine with that as he loves raw butter and had just gotten out of the routine of having it every morning. Did this simple change of breakfast have an impact on the development of his cavity?
Probably.
I didn’t change anything else. He didn’t go off grains and he still ate the occasional sugar junk that he gets at school (ugh). It was Easter time too so this type of stuff was rampant. He is almost a teenager, after all. Try to take all grains and sugars out of their diet and you are going to get a rebellion. Kids need to learn some things on their own.
I’ve found you can’t protect your kids from this stuff and raise them in a bubble. You can only teach them to be wise and they will learn moderation on their own over time.
On a side note, I was pleased to see that at a party following his class’s Poetry Day that he bypassed the big bottles of soda and Hershey bars. Amazingly, this junk was being handed out by the parents afterward (no, I’m not kidding).
I was very very proud of him. He knew that eating that stuff would give him a couple of zits for sure and make him feel lousy all afternoon and probably the next day too. We Moms have to celebrate little victories along the way, don’t we?!
Anyway, back to the cavity story.
As it turned out, the day before his dental appointment, the receptionist calls to say that the appointment needed to be rescheduled as the dentist had to unexpectedly go out of town for family reasons. This pushed out the appointment for another couple of weeks, but all the while, we continued with the 3 capsules of butter oil with a teaspoon of fermented cod liver oil after a breakfast of 2 slices of raw butter and honey toast.
Last weekend, I decided to take a peek at the cavity to see if it was getting any worse. It had been about a month since my husband discovered it and I was a bit concerned given that it was one of his top front teeth. I took a flashlight and he tipped his head back and I looked, and looked, and LOOKED!
NO CAVITY!
That’s right. There was no hole at all. It had completely filled in and was as smooth as the tooth next to it. I told my husband and he took a look too. He was delighted to see that the hole was gone.
I took the probe and pressed around just to be sure and confirmed what my eyes were telling me – the cavity had indeed healed over.
I will still be taking him to the dentist to have a check-up but there is no doubt that there is nothing wrong with that tooth any longer.
The best news of all is that I changed very little to get this tooth to heal. He didn’t use coconut oil pulling or any special remedy. He simply continued on his normal, nourishing traditional diet at home with the lapses that typically occur at school and playdate events. We added the butter oil with his daily dose of cod liver oil, and he substituted raw butter for tahini on his toast every morning. The butter oil added critical Vitamin K2 to his diet which supercharges the absorption of the Vitamins A/D in cod liver oil.
That’s it!
I hope you find this story encouraging! Dr. Price’s research really does work in practice!
Dentist’s Conclusion After Examining My Son’s Cavity
This brief update has been added since the original posting date of this blog. I did indeed take my son to the dentist to have a full examination and there was no cavity to be found anywhere in my son’s mouth. A hole was there, the hole is gone. Nutrition can indeed heal cavities!
Diet not only heals early cavities, but it can also heal severe ones where a root canal is recommended. This article on avoiding root canals details that scenario.
Please note that a cavity in a tooth that has already been drilled and filled in the past cannot be healed. Please see a dentist right away to have that cavity filled with non-toxic materials (not mercury amalgams).
Also, a tooth that is cracked or has had part of it broken off cannot be healed with diet. Again, consult with a dentist to have that situation properly handled.
Best Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil to Heal a Cavity
Please click here for where to buy cod liver oil and butter oil. Note that any old store brand of cod liver oil is not going to work for healing cavities. These brands contain synthetic Vitamin A and D and are heavily processed. Only use these vetted and tested brands to ensure quality results.
Click here to watch my video blog on how to make ghee if you are not able to order butter oil where you live.
Also, this article which provides photographic proof cavities heal can help you see the visual results.
Child Needs to Be on Traditional Diet
Please note that if your child is not on a healthy diet already, the addition of cod liver oil and butter oil (for Vitamin K2) alone will not be sufficient to heal a cavity. A diet consisting primarily of convenience foods that resulted in a cavity problem cannot be rectified with a couple of superfood supplements. It will definitely help and may prevent future cavities, but won’t fix existing ones.
For more information on the diet necessary to heal cavities including high vitamin cod liver oil and butter oil, read the book Cure Tooth Decay.
A Second Cavity Healed!
In May 2017, the same child mentioned in the story above healed yet another cavity. This time he did it all by himself (he is 18 years old now). He noticed a small hole in one of his front teeth. Like the last time, the early cavity was right along the gumline. It was also on the front of the tooth and easy to see in the mirror. I am kicking myself now that we didn’t take before and after pictures!
He asked me what to do about it, and I referred him to what we did 6 years earlier to heal a hole in one of his lateral incisors. He hadn’t been taking much cod liver oil for awhile. So he immediately went back on 1 tsp raw, extra virgin cod liver oil per day (which we are now using instead of fermented liver oil). To supercharge the absorption of the Vitamin A/D in cod liver oil, he also doubled his Vitamin K2 intake (180 mcg/day). Finally, he cut out the few sweets he was eating. Within 2 weeks, the hole was gone!
Please note that instead of butter oil to add K2 to the diet, this time he used a potent natto extract supplement. Both butter oil and natto extract contain the critical Vitamin K2 necessary to heal cavities. It is best used synergistically with cod liver oil for optimal and fast results. Butter oil contains MK-4 and natto extract contains MK-7. This article contains more discussion on MK-4 vs MK-7 forms of Vitamin K2.
Diet is Always First to Heal a Cavity Followed by Cod Liver Oil/K2
My son felt very empowered by the experience. Please note that other than lagging on his cod liver oil/K2 supplement regimen, he was eating an excellent Traditional Diet. Certainly no fast food (ever), candy or soda. Junk to him is a piece of pizza at a party and sweets are a couple of organic cookies after a quality whole foods dinner.
As a Mother, there is nothing better than knowing your children have learned from your efforts raising them and are able to successfully put traditional health into practice for themselves as young adults.
Where to Find a Biological Dentist
I get many requests about who I recommend as a truly holistic dentist. If you are looking for one, I recommend Dr. Carlo Litano of Natural-Smiles.com – (727) 300-0044. Be sure to tell Dr. Litano that the Healthy Home Economist sent you and get 10% off your first visit!
He sees children and does phone consults too!
More Information
Child’s Severe Tooth Decay Healed with Diet
Whiten Your Teeth Without Dangerous Chemicals (that will eventually destroy the enamel)
Healing Periodontal Problems with Bone Broth
Natural Alternative to Baby Teething Gels
Coconut Oil Stops Oral Strep Bacteria from Damaging Tooth Enamel
Cause of Crooked Teeth
10 Signs Your Dentist is Truly Holistic
Could the Cause of Your Illness Be Right Under Your Nose?
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
I want to get the liver and butter oil. I see there is a combo and then you can purchase them separately. Would you recommend one over the other to help get rid of cavities in children? Thanks so much for this amazing info!
After not having any cavities for over a decade, I finally got my first two this year.
One is very big, the other is smaller. They are on the first molars (closest molars to the front of the mouth) on the lower jaw on each side. They are on the outside at the start of the groove. The bigger one is large, round, deep, and extends upward to the chewing surface of the tooth and stops there. It’s on the right side of the mouth, whereas the smaller one is on the left side.
The bigger one can be easily seen in indoor lighting when I pull my back my mouth and the viewer gets close to see it. When using a flashlight on it, it’s very clear to see, especially the depth.
We took a photo of the bigger one, though the quality isn’t the best due to the camera. My wife, daughter, and mother have all seen it. My mother insisted that I go to a dentist right away to have it filled and that there’s no way a cavity can heal. I’ll show it to a few more people (particularly non-family members) to get some more witnesses.
The only significant dietary change that I had was eating WAY too much cayenne pepper over the course of several months. No one else in the family has gotten any cavities (I was the only one eating cayenne pepper). Cayenne pepper is very healthy in moderation, but not so much in excess 🙂
A while back, I had researched cavity cures and knew that it was possible, but never had the opportunity to try it myself. And now it’s time to test the hypothesis for the glory of God, for the benefit of others, and for the fun of it! 🙂
I’m starting Green Pasture’s Blue Ice Royal – butter oil and fermented cod liver oil blend – today. It’s the non-flavored, gel variety. I plan on taking this for 2-3 months and going from there, based on the results. Also, I’ve already cut back on the cayenne pepper. Everything else is going to remain basically the same.
I’ll post an update in the next month or so.
Quick question, do you know if this is safe to give to a 1 and 3 year old? And how much to give to them? I’m trying to avoid oral surgery to repair cavities.
Hi Michelle,
Sorry for the delay in replying. I didn’t notice your comment until now.
I can’t guarantee Green Pasture’s manufacturing and bottling practices, but based on merely the ingredient label…
Yes, Green Pasture’s Blue Ice Royal is safe to give to a 1 and 3 year old. It’s totally natural and the only ingredients are fermented cod liver oil, high vitamin butter oil, and silica.
Cod liver oil was historically given to children to prevent rickets and other Vitamin D deficiency symptoms. Green Pasture’s ferments their cod liver oil like cultures of the past did. The fermentation process is thought to preserve the nutrients and also make more of the nutrients readily digestable for our bodies.
Butter’s an obvious one 🙂
Silica is naturally found in some of our food, such as whole grain breads, brown rice, spinach, etc, as well as in water. It’s touted to have many benefits in our body, from connective tissue support to bone support to gum support to aiding in aluminum elmination and more.
A few things to keep in mind and which concern me:
– It’s not certified organic.
– Our oceans get polluted by mercury and other pollutants. Fish, including cod, absorb methyl mercury (a highly toxic organic compound of mercury). When we eat oceanic fish, like cod, we’re likely digesting those said pollutants.
That being said, the Green Pasture’s company appears to be naturally minded and, based off of scientific studies, the mercury levels found in fish are deemed safe.
By the way, Ramiel Nagel, author of “Cure Tooth Decay”, mentions in numerous sources that his family uses Green Pasture’s and it’s what he recommmends. He also mentions that he started researching ways to heal tooth decay naturally when his daughter was around 1.5 years old and her teeth started crumbling. Long story short, her teeth ended up healing.
As to how much to give to a 1-3 year old, I’d first like to start off mentioning the taste. It has a bite to it and tastes very… fishy. So I’d recommend thinking of creative ways of consumption ahead of time, since they might not like the taste. I personally like the taste, but I also grew up on unique foods that weren’t the typical modern American diet.
A good way tasty way to eat is on a piece of toast with lots of butter, then fold it so the cod liver oil doesn’t run off. The butter hides the taste well and the dryness of toast makes the oil desirable.
OK, back to how much to give. Based on Green Pasture’s FAQ on their site, they recommend:
25 pounds or less: 8 drops orally a day
25 pounds: 1/4 tsp. a day
35 pounds: 1/3 tsp. a day
45 pounds: 1/2 tsp. a day
55 pounds: 2/3 tsp. a day
If it’s just the fermented cod liver oil (rather than the butter blend), they recommend:
Children age 3 months to 12 years: 1/8-1/2 tsp.
Children over 12 years and adults: 1/2-1 tsp.
Pregnant and nursing women: 1-2 tsp.
That seems reasonable to me.
Also, since it’s currently winter time in the north hemisphere and assumming you’re in the US (judging by your name), I’d recommend you get the Green Pasture’s Blue Ice Royal – butter oil and fermented cod liver oil blend like I did. During the winter, we can’t get a sufficient amount of Vitamin D from the sun so we have to get it from our food sources (or specialized light bulbs that mimic the sun … food sources are probably a lot better route though).
During the summer (and spring and fall if you’re in the South), if your family gets enough sunlight, you can just use the fermented cod liver oil (rather than the butter blend), since your Vitamin D levels would be high.
Finally, I’d recommend definitely not buying the cheap cod liver oil that’s prevelent in department stores and onlines. During my research, I found reviews of people saying that it accelarted their cavities or didn’t help at all. It appears that not all “cod liver oil” is equal and the manufacturing process can ruin cod liver oil’s benefits. I found a few other brands that might have been quality cod liver oil, but in the end I decided to try Green Pasture’s since it had the most concensus that it worked.
As always, consult a good doctor or several with any concerns.
Hope it all works out for you and your family!
@Michelle,
Sorry! I need to make a correction on one of my statements. Fermented cod liver oil is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin D (a variety of D types), regardless if it doesn’t have the high vitamin butter oil (which is high in Vitamin D3) with it. So ignore the part about the winter/summer reasoning and which variety to take (i.e. just fermented cod liver oil or the butter oil blend with fermented cod liver oil)
——
Update on my progress:
I haven’t been able to consistently take the cod liver oil, but I do take it every once in a while. The arrested [?] cavity on my right side is still present, possibly smaller, but certainly not gone. After my upcoming dental cleaning, I’ll restart the daily regiment.
My 19month old daughter have cavity I am scared and confused..dnt know what to do, dnt know where to start….need help
Update:
I’ve been taking it regularly and have only missed two days so far (both in the last week … oops). If I’ve forgotten any days, it’s five at the most, but I’m pretty sure it’s only two.
I’m on my second bottle and there’s about 40% left in it.
The first half a month, I was taking 1/2 a teaspoon 2-3 times a day. I grew undisciplined and eventually it was 1 teaspoon once a day. As more time went on, I started taking it later and later in the day, often times taking it at night.
Usually I took it on a piece of toast with butter. Sometimes I took it with a little butter and swished it around my mouth for a few minutes.
An intentional dietary change I decided to make was getting the calcium and Vitamin D fortified orange juice instead of the non-fortified high pulp one that I usually get. I’ve also been drinking a glass of orange juice every day or two, whereas before I was drinking it less often. With the orange juice, I’ve decided to try diatomaceous earth (1-3 teaspoons). I started this regime about a month ago.
But, beyond that, my food consumption has remained relatively the same.
Results:
The smaller cavity on my left side is completely gone! Praise God! 🙂 There’s a very small dark line on part of the groove now, which has been there for maybe at least a month now. This concerned me for a while since it hasn’t appeared to get smaller, but I found out today that it might be what’s termed a “brown spot lesion” (i.e. brown/black spots that are arrested decay).
When I asked my mother to check the cavities last week when she was visiting, she was looking for the left one and said she couldn’t find it. As soon as she said that, I just started laughing 🙂 She realized why and became less serious about needing to go get my teeth filled. She’s now in the, “Well, let’s see how it turns out” phase.
The right cavity is still there, but it appears to be smaller. However, I wouldn’t bet it was smaller and I’m hesitant to say that it is. It certainly might be less deep, but I’m not certain.
My wife has checked periodically and said it’s gotten smaller (except in the last two weeks it’s looked the same as the previous two weeks). She says it also used to be brown, but now it’s the same color as the rest of the tooth. I can’t remember the initial color though and I didn’t log that anywhere.
It for sure hasn’t gotten bigger. It appears to be arrested.
In summary: One down. One to go.
I’m going to continue with the regime. One of my New Years resolutions is going to be to consume 1/2 teaspoon at the 2-3 times per day, rather than 1 teaspoon once a day.
I’ll try and give an update in 2-3 months.
How many capsules do you take per day and how long do you need to take them to heal the cavity?
I’m wondering that too because I have two cavities and my dentist said I had to get an appointment togged them both drilled out and filled and I just hope that before then my cavities can heal through that time.
hey guys! I got a cavity in my molar at the age of 6. Now I’m 11. I’m really worrying about my decayed tooth. Don’t we any other way except extraction. Cause u see, I’m really afraid of such horrible and painful things.If any one of u know, please share with me.
Love your story. I am wondering and hoping my child with a severe dairy allergy can take the butter oil capsules. She doesn’t have a reaction to butter. It has only been milk and dairy.
Hey sarah! this is so inspiring! I just got back from the dentist myself and found out i have a cavity too. it doesnt hurt or anything so im not sure how bad it is but i really dont want a filling unless I had to! I looked at the link that you posted about the pills. Should I just get those and take three times a day AND get butter oil? What would you recommend? Thank you!
This sounds amazing! Do you know of any vegan alternatives to butter and cod liver oil?
There are none 🙁 Animal foods contain the fat soluble activators necessary for optimal oral health.
Does the healing work for an adult tooth,..for which a dentist recommended root canal to be performed? Its a pre-molar tooth #13 on upper left.
Anyway to save the tooth? or is root canal the only option?
Thanks very much
Whatever you do, do not have a root canal. They are very dangerous and poison you through your blood. Research research research!
Sarah, As a practising dentist with 25 years experience, I find this posting of yours EXTREMELY offensive and misleading. A large hole in the enamel of a tooth CANNOT heal on its own no matter how much butter oil or any other ointment you put in there. Enamel is a dead tissue just like your nails. Vital tissues can heal thus if you break a bone, it heals because it has circulation and osteoblasts to repair the break. This CANNOT happen in enamel as it has no blood flow. The underlying pulp has blood flow but it does not have access to the enamel. Try filing a little nick in one of your nails. Now put butter oil, snake oil, or whatever you want on it. Will it heal? No. The nail grows from the nail bed but the nick will not heal. Unfortunately with enamel, once the tooth comes into the mouth, that is all the enamel it will ever have. Bacteria ferment the sugar in your diet and produce acids that burn holes in your teeth. Especially STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS. So brush and floss well and minimize acids and simple sugars in your diet and you WILL NOT get cavities. If you have a hole in your tooth, get it fixed with a nice white filling ASAP. If that hole progresses to the nerve, you will get an abscessed tooth. Find a dentist that is very conservative. By this I mean one that explains and shows you the findings on the xrays and doesn’t fill every tiny little cavity. Very small surface cavities (demineralizations) can be arrested if the patient takes better care of their teeth through diet and hygiene. Your son having honey sandwiches for breakfast is definitely not helping the situation. I beseech you to remove this entry as it very irresponsible to the dental health of the general public.
Dr. Galo, I would respectfully suggest you read Nutrition and Physical Degeneration where large cavities do indeed heal and are documented … by Dr. Weston A. Price DDS. He also healed many cavities in his patients simply with a change of diet.
Nice post and beautiful replyreply. Our bodies are intelligent and when given the tight nourishment, they are able to do things that Western medicine teaches is impossible. Thankfully, many people are opening up to these thing.
Wishing you good health and continued success.
L.B., ND
The reason why doctors and dentists are closed minded is because it is a business, no rotten teeth means no paycheck for them. Also pharmaceuticals would never reveal anything like this to the public as they like to sell expensive medicine. I have actually been told this by a dentist who was surprised to hear about the use of coconut oil which pretty much does the same thing as you’ve described in this article 🙂
Shows how doctors are so closed minded and status quo. You do not know everything. Minerals can bind to teeth and repair and fill holes / cavities. This is what you dentists say Fluoride will do to enamel. Unfortunately fluoride is toxic, weaker than bone and tooth minerals and enamel and fluoride causes bone to stop regenerating new material.
I have the perfect opportunity to try this protocol. I’m already gluten free and almost grain free. I’ve had an area around a tooth that has been ‘suspect’ for some time. The last 2 times I went to my dentist (cleaning), he found nothing. Not even on the x-ray. Now I have a hole in my tooth (it’s pretty sensitive, so I’m not sure if it’s between the tooth and gum, or in the tooth). I can poke a toothpick in 2-3 mm and get bright red blood flowing. I’m not in pain, there is no cold/heat sensitivity. I also have a sensitive area on the tooth next to it – as if the enamel has worn away. I have 6 months to see what I can do about these issues. Here’s my plan:
1 cup of broth per day
FCLO/BO daily
liberal Kerry Gold butter daily
coconut oil pulling
brushing with either Earthpaste or HealThy Blend oil
liver capsules
no sugar/grains (I might have to be 99% here..I do occasionally use some raw honey in my tea/coffee – I will be giving up coffee during the summer)
If I can’t make this tooth better, I have a feeling it will be another crown. I’ll post results in 6 months (unless I can see tangible improvement sooner).
Magda, how’s this working out for you? I’m in the same position and very confused about what to do.
Hi Sarah,
Could you do a post in the future on tips and suggestions on how to stop bruxism and TMJ, possibly? I know the potential damage those can cause when trying to halt dental related issues but I’m at a loss as to how to stop it for good. So much conflicting literature out there…
Thank you
B12 has helped a number of folks I know with TMJ and teeth grinding. Liver is by far the best source (use desiccated liver powder capsules if you just can’t stomach it).
Thank you, Sarah!!