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
Charlie
Pics or it didn’t happen
Sarah
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/photographic-proof-cavities-heal/
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/more-photographic-proof-cavities-heal/
Nancy
I was wondering if you could help me heal my daughter’s cavities. Maybe give some advise I dirty changes she needs?
Joanna
Is Nordic Naturals not considered a reputable fish oil supplement? My naturopath feels it is a good one. Green Pastures is awful in taste. It would be a battle with my children and my 7 year old has a couple cavities I would like to attempt at healing. Why drill when they are just going to fall out, right?
Sarah
Nordic Naturals is NOT a good product. The vitamin A/D in this product is too low to be of much benefit at all in healing cavities.
Heather Strid
Hi Sarah. I found your article giving me some hope. I just got back a few hours ago from a pediatric dentist for my 4 1/2 year old daughter. I was shocked (almost to tears) that she has numerous cavities including one right behind her two front teeth. There is also a visible cavity on one of her smaller molars. We religiously brush 2 times a day but the more I have been reading and researching, a lot depends on the diet (and I don’t mean just staying away from sweets). Anyways, the dentist wants to put her under anesthesia to fill cavities, crown one tooth and pull out front teeth. I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS!!! I want to get more specific info about the cod liver oil and butter oils. Which brands would be okay for a toddler? How much to give? She is 40 lbs. I am also going to seek a second opinion. We have state insurance so it’s hard to find pediatric dentist who take state. I will pay out of pocket if I have to. Please feel free to email me. I appreciate any guidance you could give me. Thank so much. Heather
Crystal
Hello there! I’d like to start healing my cavity trying this remedy you have recommended. I can’t stand cod liver oil gel, as I have tried this before, so I’d like to try the capsules this time instead. When you say 1 tsp of cod liver oil, how many capsules would I have to take to equal that?
Thank you!
Sarah
About 8-10 capsules of Dropi cod liver oil equals one tsp. I would suggest taking the liquid off the spoon as this is a lot of capsules! Please note that you need a source of Vitamin K2 to take WITH the cod liver oil. With this latest cavity healing, we used natto extract (2 tiny capsules at 90 mcg Vit K2 each)
Jessa
Hi Sarah,
Can your methods be used on a 18th month old? The 3 butter oil times a day with the cod liver once a day?Do you think I should purchase the combination of the two from green pasture brand? Or should I do it separately? Side note: I wrote before on here before but I don’t see my comment. Please excuse me if you see my comment twice on the board.
Thank you.
Sarah
I can only tell you about what I’ve done in my home. I never attempted to resolve cavity issues in a child that young. You will have to try it and see. Important note: DIET IS KEY. Cod liver oil and butter oil won’t do much of anything to resolve cavities if the toddler is snacking on Cheerios and other refined carb snacks and drinking juice boxes.
Faith
Hopefully ‘m leaving this reply in the correct place. I’m going to get the Butter Pecan Oil but I would also like to try the “K2 from natto exract” that you mentioned. Unfortunately, I’ve searched your shopping list and can’t find anything on it.
Sarah
The K2 we use was linked to in the post. Here it is again: https://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/jarrow-formulas-mk7/superfoods-supplements/?a=58537
Note that there is far more K2 in the natto supplement than in the butter oil. This is why we now use it instead.
Amber Korby
Please, do not read this as a flippant remark, I am wondering how he got a cavity in the first place considering his nutritious diet. Any thoughts? I am tandem nursing 28 and 13 month old babies. I just went to the dentist after years of missing visits, at least before being pregnant. I have three, new, small cavities that need attention. I doubt that my self nourishment is up to par to keep up with the constent leaching, this is no doubt related to the three cavities I feel. I’m learning more and more each day and trying to integrate changes one at a time. Your son’s story is inspiring. I was looking for examples of folks healing their own teeth and I found it. The flip side is a bit of feeling dismay that even someone who has their diet dialed in and on point nutritionally can still get cavities. Thank you for all your well researched articles. I guess I’ll just keep diving in.
Sarah
Good question and one I’ve considered myself! I can only surmise that he needed more A/D/K2 than he was getting through his regular traditional diet. Once a whole food supplement of these nutrients was started, the problem resolved quickly.
Julie
What is the best alternative to cod liver oil for a child who cannot tolerate fish? Liver?
Sarah
Liver for Vitamin A and fish eggs for Vitamin D are the best food based alternatives to cod liver oil. Pastured lard is also very high in D. Beware, most of the lard on the market is not very high in vit D. This one is good. https://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/fatworks-lard/healthy-fats-oils/?a=58537
Faith Van
Hi Sarah. Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m wanting to try to heal 2 cavities that my 5 year old has. I was thinking about doing the Blue Ice Royal Butter and Cod Liver Oil Blend in Chocolate Cream Gel but, like you, I’m concerned about radiation from Fukushima as well. If I were to go with the Dropi for cod liver oil, what would you recommend I use for the butter?
Sarah
You can use butter oil from Green Pasture products, Emu Oil or K2 from natto extract (that is what we used for this most recent cavity healing). All of these are linked to in my Shopping Guide if you want to price compare.