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
Many people who have trouble with dairy have no trouble with butter oil as the milk solids have been removed.
Great post, Sarah! We have been taking the FCLO/OB combo, just my husband and I at the moment, to see if it really makes a difference. My husband recently went to the dentist and needs some deep cleaning procedure and 4 crowns. I suggested we try this first. In just a week, he said the pain of the 1 tooth has subsided considerably! I have a tooth that just broke off, so I don’t think I have any other option besides a crown. I have 2 root canals from many years ago that have never felt right, but the holistic dentists in the area are way beyond our budget. ( I have issues w/ their pricing…not all of them are that way as we had a holistic dentist in WA who was wonderful! He gladly billed our ins. and did not inflate prices just because his services were unique. He even goes around the country teaching other holistic dentists! ) We have also eliminated most grains (I had even ‘properly’ prepared them prior to this) and found a raw milk source nearby. The same dairy will be coming out w/ raw butter this summer. Now we need to figure out how to afford the FCLO/OB for all 4 of my kids! I have been giving them Nordic Naturals clo, but this is probably not at all equivalent. My 17yo has 4 cavities, and my 12yo has one tiny one. I want to work on these before submitting them to fillings. The good news is, the dentist we are going to a dentist who practices functional orthopedics. My 17yo and 12yo will be using these services and we are quite pleased w/ this vs. converntional orthodontics.
One other thing, Sarah, concerning your comment “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.”
I heartily agree! I would just add, if their choices affect the whole family (they make poor food choices/don’t brush/floss the way they were instructed, etc.) and the family budget is blown because of what is necessary to correct those poor choices, then, in our house, consequences follow. This may sound harsh, but I think it teaches them at an earlier age that there are consequences for every action in life, be it good or bad.
Thanks again for the great post!
Hi Lori .. sounds like you are making some awesome changes in your home. Congratulations! Nordic Naturals has next to no vitamin D. It is not a good brand to take by a long shot especially compared with Green Pasture Products which is so far above the rest of the brands out there. You can make your own butter oil (ghee) to save $$ – just get GREAT quality grassfed butter. It won’t be raw but it will be almost as good. I have a video on my site on how to make butter oil:
https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/2011/03/video-how-to-make-ghee-butter-oil/
Thank you for the encouragement, Sarah! I will check out your video. Do you know what the difference is w/ Green Pasture’s ‘gel’ formula (which we have now and can swallow it in a lump) and ’emulsified?’ We would have to get the emulsified if we get it w/o the butter added (or liquid and put it in caps ourselves!)
They are very similar. I don’t know the exact difference so just give them a call if you need.
I like Kim have been avoiding dairy due to allergies, but is there something different about the raw versions of dairy? I would love to think I could use raw butter and take the oil, but I’m a little scared since cutting out dairy has had very positive effects on my digestion.
Many people do report that they can tolerate raw dairy but not pasteurised/homogenized. (It has to do with the changes to the fat structures caused by those processes, and how those altered fats interact with your gut.) I can handle minimal amounts of very old cheese or well-cultured yogurt, but pretty much as much clarified butter/ghee as I can get in my mouth! Clarifying is dead easy and a lot cheaper than buying ghee, at least where I shop.
Yes because it’s in the fat that the pesticides and harmones etc…all those toxins accumulate.I get it.When you say raw do you mean Organic?
Ah, thanks.
Raw milk is great but not enough. Raw butter is a magical food and was given special preference for pregnant mothers and growing children by Traditional Societies.
I am very pregnant and admit that there are times I have simply EATEN butter. I crave it. People look at me like ‘OMG!’ but I just have to have it. Smart traditional societies. 🙂
When I’ve been going through my growth spurts, I, too, have been guilty of eating straight raw butter! Grass-fed butter is SO delicious! 😀
I am excited to try this…I was wondering, tho. Raw butter v. raw milk. We already drink raw milk. Is raw butter necessary for healing a cavity through proper nutrition, or will raw milk suffice? Thanks!
Holy Cow!!! That’s insane! How exciting! I admit, I did not know that was possible. SO glad I found your website. We have changed quite a few things in our diet as a result of what you share here, even though we have eaten a fairly traditional, nutritious diet already.
This couldn’t have come at a better time! Just yesterday the dentist told us that my 7 year old daughter had a “sticky spot” in one of here molars (a permanent tooth). She wasn’t positive it is a cavity, but wanted me to bring her back in a couple weeks to “get it ready for a sealant”, saying that once they clean it out to prepare it for the sealant, they’ll be able to tell whether it really is a cavity or not. I’ve been lax on the FCLO/BO-taking (all my kids take the combo), so I’ll get right on making sure she takes it. Two questions: should I also have her take just the butter oil by itself (I do have some that I recently got to try) to help speed healing? And somewhat off topic, but any input you have on getting the “sealants” would be much appreciated!
Hi Jennifer – NO SEALANTS. They are full of estrogen mimicking chemicals!
Take the FCLO/BO together always if possible. They work better together than on their own.
I guess I was a little foggy in my question. She does take the Green Pastures combo product that has the Fermented Cod Liver Oil and Butter OIl together. I was just wondering if I should be adding MORE butter oil to that dosage to help her tooth heal faster?
And this is somewhat off the topic, but I’d love your input on a different tooth issue, if you don’t mind. My son broke a top front tooth off nearly at the gum line when he was 8. The dentist put a hard coating over the exposed dentin, but several months later my son started having pain in that tooth area, and we were referred to a pediatric dentist, who sent us to an oral surgeon for a consult on the tooth. The oral surgeon did a root canal on that tooth (without asking my permission, and I was so shocked and frozen that I failed to step in or stop it; I’ve been kicking myself ever since!). Any way, he is now 11, and every day I feel terrible about the fact that he has a root canal-ed tooth. My gut feeling is just to pull it ASAP, but then what? We found out last week that he’s got all his permanent teeth in now (early!), so it seems like now is the time to do something, since we don’t have to worry so much about shifting or crowding. Any thoughts? Is an implant just as bad as a root canal-ed tooth?
Hi Jennifer, I would consult with a holistic dentist about this. Root canals are bad news even that young. My husband was in a car wreck at 8 and had 2 front teeth knocked out and had root canals in them. Those 2 root canals caused him more health grief over the years until he FINALLY had them out a few years ago. Major improvements since that time. Wish we had done it years ago but we didn’t know.
If you are giving the FCLO/BO together to your daughter that is fine and enough BO.
do you mind me asking what your husband did when he removed his root canals? i have a root canal and another that turned into an implant unfortunately. i have been researching non stop to try and figure out what to do with either/both since i have experienced horrible health problems since my implant. i feel stuck. and hopeless. i would love any advice you could give me.
and THANK YOU for the FCLO/butter oil info. i had no idea and am ordering it today. i just want my children to avoid all the dental problems i have had to go through and have now been given some hope.
PS – Thanks for the input on sealants! Very good to know.
What is a Sealant?