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
Rachel
Hi, if I have my own Grass fed raw milk to make butter, can’t I just give my kids butter & cod liver oil together and skip the Butter oil??
Sarah
The butter isn’t concentrated enough. I don’t think your children would get enough K2 to heal a cavity, in all honesty.
Rebecca
Hi Sarah!
So appreciate your articles & rely on your sound advice. Curious why have you switched your family from fermented CLO to extra virgin?
Thanks!
Sarah
The reason we switched to Dropi is due to concerns about Fukushima radiation in the Pacific. Dropi is sourced from the Atlantic.
Heather
I have a 2 year old that I’m sure has a cavity in a front tooth and we are taking steps to try to heal it based on the advice from the book. How do I get her to ingest cod liver oil, etc since she can’t take capsules?
Sarah
The Dropi brand we use that is linked to in the article comes in liquid too, so you can give it to her off the spoon.
Amy
Why have you switched to fresh codliver oil vs fermented? I have been debating switching also!
Sarah
As mentioned before, I am concerned about Fukushima radiation in the Pacific. We switched to Dropi because it is Atlantic sourced.
Alexis Warren
I am so glad I found this. I just took my 6 year old to the Dentist and they “said” he has 8 cavities and 2 teeth need to be pulled and another 2 capped. My son is deathly afraid of all doctors so I am going to start him on your diet so he doesn’t have to be put under to have the supposedly “needed” dental work. My dentist didn’t even mention this as an option. So frustrated but so glad I found your articles so I can protect my son and heal his teeth! I wish more people knew about other options for cavities so that we don’t have to put our kids through the stress of dental appointment. Thank you again and my son is lucky to have people like you show us a more healthy way! PS we started 2 weeks ago and I swear I can already see less brown on his front teeth where the dentist said 2 of the cavities are, not to mention my son doesn’t have anymore swelling in his cheek either!!!!
Casandra
Is the Butter Oil for the K2? I’m only asking because I’m allergic to casein and although I have never tried butter oil, I cannot consume any cow Dairy. I have a milder reaction to the casein found in goats milk, but all in all its best for my health if i completely avoid any. So if its the K2 in the butter oil that helps, I should be able to use a different source and still heal a cavity in theory.
Angela
Well I just got back from the dentist with my five year old. Come to find out that she has four cavities and I feel like a failure as a mother. She has never had a soda, if she drinks juices they are homemade green juices, all organic foods, no sugar cereals at all. The dentist said that her teeth are very tight and the cavities are in between the teeth. He wants to caps two of them and do two filling on the others. I ran out of there and said I am going to reverse them just watch. So a friend of mine told me about you. I am going to start her on the Calc.Phos, Calc. Flour, cell salts, the butter oil, and cod liver oil. You had mentioned raw butter is that ghee? Also should I buy the butter oil and cod liver together mixed or eacch seperatly. I am thankful for any advice.
Sarah
Please understand that it will take more than just cod liver oil and butter oil to heal your child’s cavities (buy them separately is most effective I think). I had hoped I made it clear in the post, but for some reason, a number of folks are misunderstanding. It takes an entirely traditional diet including cod liver oil and butter oil to resolve cavities. The book Cure Tooth Decay linked to above outlines the entire dietary regimen.
Michelle
Is it one you have a recipe for or one you can purchase?
Sarah
Many healthfood stores carry both breads. I like to buy from a small bakery that ships to my door. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/go/sprouted-sourdough/
Michelle
Hi Sarah, can you share what type of bread your son is eating daily? I know your views on traditional sourdough so am curious if this is a home made traditional sourdough or one you buy that is of same quality. My daughter eats toast with an egg almost every day and I buy a sprouted sourdough but it’s make with yeast which I know isn’t ideal.
Sarah
Sprouted spelt or spelt sourdough bread.
Ruthie
Do you think the cod liver oil/butter oil blend would work? It seems far more cost effective.
Sarah
The blend is emulsified and quite thick. I don’t think your child would enjoy taking it! Also, in my experience, those who take the blend don’t get enough cod liver oil in comparison to the butter oil. It is my understanding that the butter oil is 1/3 of the blend. Best to take them separately to be sure you are getting the adequate dose.