Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

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How to Fix a Cavity Naturally

How to fix a cavity naturally

In this article, I want to discuss how to fix a cavity naturally.  I’ll also talk about some commonly perceived “health foods” that may actually be stealing minerals or breaking down your teeth…

…and I’ll tell you how to prepare them so they’re better for your teeth.

I’ll also share my “Remineralizing Smoothie” recipe with you as well.

Before we get too far, I’m going to explain a little more about naturally fixing cavities or “regrowing teeth” (also known as remineralizing teeth)

This is such an important concept and something most people don’t understand.

Let’s get started!

TOOTH ANATOMY AND CAVITIES

A tooth is made of layers.  

  • The outside layer is the enamel and is full of minerals.  

  • The next layer is called dentin and is much softer and full of nutrient tubules.  

  • The inside layer is called the pulp and is where the blood vessels and nerves live.

So how does a cavity form?

A cavity forms when minerals are removed from the enamel which can happen in two different ways.  

  1. When bacteria and plaque sit on the teeth they make acid that dissolves the minerals.  

  2. When your body needs minerals and isn’t getting them through food, it takes them from the teeth.

When the minerals are removed, a microscopic hole then forms. 

This hole is big enough for bacteria to crawl into and make a home with a few of their friends…

…they then create more acid and dissolve more minerals, and the hole gets bigger.

CAN CAVITIES BE FIXED OR REMINERALIZED NATURALLY?

A cavity is healed by removing the bacteria from the tooth and ADDING MINERALS. 

Pay attention to that!   

If the hole is small, it will completely remineralize or fill back in…

…if it is large, it will not.  

We don’t have any tooth construction workers that can put up scaffolding and rebuild the mineral structure of the tooth if large amounts have already been lost.

This is where I see much of the confusion…

People confuse re-mineralization with re-growing. They aren’t the same thing.

If the cavity is large, it will leave a large hole that the body can not rebuild.  

If the cavity is deep into the dentin, the bacteria have spread…

…and adding minerals won’t be enough.

That’s when we recommend bio-mimetic restorations. 

This involves two steps:

  1. Killing the bacteria that have spread deep into the dentin of the tooth. (We use ozone to do this.)

  2. Replacing the missing tooth structure with a body-friendly filling material.

You can learn more about biomimetic dental procedures here.

If you suspect that you have a cavity like this, don’t hesitate to contact me at Total Care Dental for an appointment!

The longer you wait, the more difficult and expensive the procedure will become. 

STEPS FOR FIXING CAVITIES NATURALLY OR REMINERALIZING YOUR TEETH

It is possible to fix a cavity naturally and remineralize a tooth when the cavity is small and still in the enamel – which is the mineral-rich portion.  

We teach and encourage you to do this!

It takes three things:

  1. Keeping all the bacteria and plaque off the teeth so no more minerals are dissolved.

     

  2. Adding minerals back in. This is best accomplished by using a high-mineral product on the teeth and taking a mineral supplement internally.

     

  3. Choose foods that will add minerals to your teeth and your body.

     

Learn more about how to add minerals back into your teeth with my tooth remineralization supplements here.

UNEXPECTED “HEALTH” FOODS THAT CAN LEAD TO CAVITIES

Some things I have consistently seen strip minerals from people’s teeth without them realizing it are green drinks and smoothies.

The dark leafy greens in green drinks and smoothies have a lot of something called oxalic acid in them.  

This oxalic acid inhibits the absorption of calcium…

…both from the greens and from other ingredients in the smoothie.  

I had a patient once that had been eating spinach three meals a day- because she had heard it was good for her health. 

Her teeth looked like someone had poured acid over them.  

The minerals had simply dissolved.  

The oxalic acid in the spinach had blocked the absorption of calcium from her meals…

…so her body had taken the calcium out of her teeth.

But don’t fear all you green smoothie lovers! There is an easy solution for this.  

Add a Calcium lactate tablet to your smoothie to bind the oxalic acid so it doesn’t bind to the other calcium and minerals in your food.

I drink green smoothies almost every day . . . but using this trick has saved my teeth from losing all those precious minerals. 

So, let me share with you my go-to smoothie right now!

MY REMINERALIZING SMOOTHIE

My go-to smoothie right now for good dental and overall health!
 
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
 

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Coconut Milk or water
  • 1 Date
  • 1 Cup Greens (Spinach or Swiss Chard)
  • 1/2 Cup Frozen Red Berries
  • A Pinch of Salt
  • 1 Calcium Lactate Tablet

Instructions

  • Blend until smooth and enjoy!