Natural ways to regrow teeth--save thousands of dollars, avoid mercury/etc. and grief of dentist

The interesting exchange above about K2 and natto lead me to read up on the K vitamins on Wikipedia. I know all of you know how to go read on your own, but I thought I'd drop a link to the K2 page here for ease of reference.

On xylitol and dogs: first, I'm very, VERY careful about taking information from Wikipedia with a large grain of salt, because anyone can edit anything, there. I trust very little from that site, without double and triple checking the ORIGINAL sources,  and digging way deeper. (I was taught to think for myself and do my own research,  long before the advent of the internet.) This is only somewhat better, but imho, the fda is a little bit more trustworthy: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs

But, what it boils down to, in my eyes, is something that holds true for many things; the poison is in the dosage. We have a big dog and a little dog. I don't know how much xylitol would make a lethal dose for either of them, but there are also many stages between the best health I can provide, and death. 'Just' sick isn't ok with me, either - and that would likely take much less xylitol than the dose to reach lethality. I do my best to provide a high quality diet, good healthcare (including their teeth), and a safe, healthy environment for all my critters. Accidents happen. Things get spilled, dogs find their way into stuff they're not supposed to be into, eat stuff they aren't 'allowed' to have, etc. Anyone who has ever asked a dog, "what do you have???' knows said dog is A. Not going to say, "Oh, I measured out 1 tablespoon of xylitol, because I know more than that will upset my tummy"; B. Not going to willingly give it back; and C. Is very likely to try to run, and swallow as fast as they can. As the person responsible for the health and wellbeing of all the critters in our care, I'm not going to knowingly put them at risk.

I read that taking Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2 and Magnesium supplements will help remineralize the teeth to stop progression of cavities. I take no responsibility for its effectiveness but I will be trying this myself and already purchased Magnesium supplements.

Donna Caine wrote:I read that taking Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2 and Magnesium supplements will help remineralize the teeth to stop progression of cavities. I take no responsibility for its effectiveness but I will be trying this myself and already purchased Magnesium supplements.

I have had it from several sources that magnesium is not readily, or only minimally absorbed through diet.

From my understanding, magnesium is best absorbed through the skin.  A good long soak in an epsom salt bath a couple of times a week is a good excuse for a luxurious interlude.  Put in way more than the few tablespoons some recommend!

And there’s “magnesium oil”.  It has nothing to do with oil.  When you dissolve the salt (magnesium chloride I think) and apply directly to your skin, it feels slick.

Carla, I didn’t know that xylitol was dangerous to dogs.  Thanks for posting that!

I followed one of the links and read about dog getting a pack of sugarless gum out of a purse or pack.

It might seem far fetched that a dog would mine a person’s stash, but—-

When my dog was a pup, she got into my purse, opened a pouch (strong Velcro closure).  Got out my thumb drive housed in plastic, and chewed until she destroyed it.  

My guess is she was teething, but it was the only thing she took, and it was inside a closed flat pouch.  I had it there because of how much I didn’t want to lose it.  I had stored everything I wanted to keep out of the dying computer’s memory.  8 gigs!  Photos, writings, data treasures, all gone.

Ok a little off topic, sorry.  Just adding to the warning of xylitol toxicity to dogs, and what is not a safe way to store it.

I am pretty sure Xylitol is also marketed as birch sugar.

Thekla McDaniels wrote:

Donna Caine wrote:I read that taking Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2 and Magnesium supplements will help remineralize the teeth to stop progression of cavities. I take no responsibility for its effectiveness but I will be trying this myself and already purchased Magnesium supplements.

I have had it from several sources that magnesium is not readily, or only minimally absorbed through diet.

From my understanding, magnesium is best absorbed through the skin.  A good long soak in an epsom salt bath a couple of times a week is a good excuse for a luxurious interlude.  Put in way more than the few tablespoons some recommend!

And there’s “magnesium oil”.  It has nothing to do with oil.  When you dissolve the salt (magnesium chloride I think) and apply directly to your skin, it feels slick.

I never heard of this so I figured I would do some research and wanted to share this scientific article.

Paper

To Long Didn't Read - There might be something to magnesium creams.

For most of human history, humans have acquired magnesium by eating leafy plants.  Chlorophyll is very similar structurally to magnesium.  People have eaten lots of leafy plants, partially because they can't run away.  Several doctors have said this on podcasts I've listened to .  The problem is that most people don't eat leafy green vegetables any more.  They eat french fries and ketchup and say, "Done. I ate my vegetables!"

John S
PDX OR

Aaaa

This is a great thread!  I have ordered some Dr. Christopher's Tooth Powder and want to express gratitude for all of the information in this discussion.  I tried oil pulling in the past and I didn't feel it was possible to continue.  It was mildly nauseating (all in my head, I know, but too uncomfortable).

I suffer from significant dental anxiety, so I take very good (conventional) care of my teeth.  I'm excited to add some of these things to my regimen.

Vitamin K2 is in dark leafy greens!  People on blood thinners have to avoid kale (etc.) because of the high vitamin K levels, as Vit. K can thicken blood.  They are super healthy for the rest of us.

Doug's Alternatives to Dentistry video is also available right here on permies:
https://permies.com/wiki/143579f239/Alternatives-Dentists-movie-HD-streaming

I just read about the Drs. Mew and their approach to orthodontics. Someone earlier mentioned not having room for wisdom teeth and this is a problem of modern humans  caused by not breast feeding long enough and eating soft foods. Here's an interview that I found extremely interesting.

https://drronehrlich.com/dr-mike-mew-why-preventing-crooked-teeth-and-all-the-problems-they-can-bring-is-essential-for-your-health/

Speaking of Doctors and Dentists and all kinds of chemical-type treatments with plants  -  why is it that when you walk into any medical facility, for whatever your appointment is for, WHY DO THEY NOT CHECK YOUR BODY'S PH???

They check your height, weight, and blood pressure. Why not the body Ph? And, has anyone ever had a Doctor or Dentist asked for you to give a saliva sample? Urine, sure! Blood, sure, But, still no saliva to check the body's Ph!

I asked that of our Head Nurse in the local Community College. Her answer, "You're looking through rose-colored glasses." And most doctors and dentists would prefer that you do not ask such questions either!

Ingestion of flouride is implicated with the huge number of thyroid problems in our society.  Flouride, Bromium, Chlorine and other halogens displace iodine, which is required for health, particularly in your thyroid.  That's why they add it to cheap salt, although, it may be less bioavailable than in actual foods.  Manufacturers put bromium into bread as an additive and it also displaces iodine.  Chorine and Flouride are in our drinking water, which is among the reasons why some people get a filter for their water.  The number of surgeries to remove the thyroid are ballooning, as well as people who are suffering from a lack of iodine in the thyroid.  Seaweed is a good natural source of iodine, as well as many other minerals.  All of the dentists and doctors who I've listened to on teeth health say that it's not optimal to take a huge supplement of one mineral, but rather to ingest a broad balance of different minerals and vitamins to keep your teeth healthy.  Vitamin D and Vitamin K are also often mentioned.  Natto, a Japanese fermented soy bean product, is often listed as the best food source of vitamin K2.  I make a meal out of a nori seaweed wrap with natto in it, among other healthy items.
John S
PDX OR

right now I am listening to : holistic oral health summit
it is on day 4 and I don't think it is too late to sign up to listen free for a limited time

Jesse Glessner wrote:WHY DO THEY NOT CHECK YOUR BODY'S PH?

One reason might be that there's no such thing. Saliva pH varies according to what you have eaten, and the pH of other parts of a healthy body vary also. What do you think would be a useful pH test? How would it be done?

John Suavecito wrote:Ingestion of flouride is implicated with the huge number of thyroid problems in our society.  Flouride, Bromium, Chlorine and other halogens displace iodine, which is required for health, particularly in your thyroid.  That's why they add it to cheap salt, although, it may be less bioavailable than in actual foods.  Manufacturers put bromium into bread as an additive and it also displaces iodine.  Chorine and Flouride are in our drinking water, which is among the reasons why some people get a filter for their water.  The number of surgeries to remove the thyroid are ballooning, as well as people who are suffering from a lack of iodine in the thyroid.  Seaweed is a good natural source of iodine, as well as many other minerals.  All of the dentists and doctors who I've listened to on teeth health say that it's not optimal to take a huge supplement of one mineral, but rather to ingest a broad balance of different minerals and vitamins to keep your teeth healthy.  Vitamin D and Vitamin K are also often mentioned.  Natto, a Japanese fermented soy bean product, is often listed as the best food source of vitamin K2.  I make a meal out of a nori seaweed wrap with natto in it, among other healthy items.
John S
PDX OR

Ya, but the same can be said with virtually everything. Salt is also implicated in many health problems…. Such as high blood pressure for one.

But I agree in general, fluoride isn’t good for the body… but it is good topically for teeth, and low amounts aren’t harmful…. Zero amount of radiation is good for the body, but people still fly and people still live at higher altitudes like Colorado where there is more radiation too.

Elderberries/ elder plants contain cyanide and many many fruits including apples contain cyanogenic glycosides. The former can be cooked to safe levels, and the latter would have to ingested in quantities of excess difficult to imagine….. although, I did read one case of a person drinking so much Green Tea on a regular basis that they caused fluorosis of their skeleton. So such things are possible.

Just goes to show that calling something “natural” doesn’t automatically make it good

These are particular problems created by particularly bad habits.  I agree with you on salt.  Most cultures have developed traditional ways of dealing with these kinds of problems. When we just say "SCIENCE!" and then change our way of living without regard to the traditional ways of mitigating the problem, we may be creating some of the many problems we have in the modern world.  Just because someone might get rich on a new way of doing things doesn't mean it's good for the rest of us.  Huge cancer and autoimmune rates, arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, obesity, huge numbers of cavities don't occur in traditional societies. We are clearly overlooking many things.  

John S
PDX OR

John Suavecito wrote:These are particular problems created by particularly bad habits.  I agree with you on salt.  Most cultures have developed traditional ways of dealing with these kinds of problems. When we just say "SCIENCE!" and then change our way of living without regard to the traditional ways of mitigating the problem, we may be creating some of the many problems we have in the modern world.  Just because someone might get rich on a new way of doing things doesn't mean it's good for the rest of us.  Huge cancer and autoimmune rates, arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, obesity, huge numbers of cavities don't occur in traditional societies. We are clearly overlooking many things.  

John S
PDX OR

Ya , saying “science” is just as much propaganda and branding as saying “natural”. People  make lots of money off of “natural” branding too. I’ve seen at least a half dozen brands of toothpaste working off of the anti-dentite/anti-fluoride fear using the language of fear, the market for supplements is less regulated and less quality control and higher profit margin than pharmaceuticals but people take all sorts of “natural” vitamins and supplements.  “Organic” labeling in the US is a joke too…. People imagine the use of marigolds and lady bugs to control pests but in actuality they just use pesticides that have earned the label “organic”… generally they are less effective and have higher toxicity to humans and require more frequent application Not to mention we get a lot of produce imported to us that is labeled as “organic”  but there is no oversight to actually see what the practices over seas are to tell if they even live up to the “organic” label instituted by US policy makers

Understanding is the best approach.

Mark Beard wrote:Understanding is the best approach.

Indeed. And focusing attention on nutrients over label s that have more to do with marketing than food quality fosters understanding.

I am going to agree with you about imported organic.  It's really hard to trust that.

I am going to disagree with you about organic being more toxic than non-organic.  There are rules. They can be checked.  There is certainly industry pushback. Small organic farms don't have armies of lawyers, accountants, and lobbyists to change the laws.  Yet, if you buy US organic, it's not GMO.  There are many, many practices that are outlawed.  Before people started pushing for cleaner food, it was legal to feed arsenic to your chickens. It made them heavier because it killed the parasites before it killed the chickens and they sold them quickly, so they just killed us. Now, if you buy rice from the Southern US, it will almost surely have lots of arsenic in it.  That is likely to be true for decades.  I don't like cancer, heavy metal toxins, or autoimmune disease.  It was the push for organic and cleaner food supply that finally stopped that practice, only a few years ago.  

Could it be better? Yes.  But the Supreme Court has ruled, in Citizens vs. United, that our elections must always be auctions. Money is just as sacred as other free speech. So rich and powerful wins. They get to pollute whoever they want to  (not their own neighborhoods), because making money is way more sacred than other people's health.  Poor and organic loses.  We need to be careful about who we elect as president and senators.  

Also, the wealthy control the media, mainly through Big Pharma advertising. We won't be allowed to hear about inexpensive forms of natural medicine that you can make yourself because Big Pharma already prohibits such information in the media.  If you want to keep finding out about natural ways to grow teeth, you won't find it on major media.

John S
PDX OR

Except that some people have regrown parts of their teeth.  You are objecting to people being imprecise,  and you yet you are being quite absolute with your statement after others have given examples of what they say they are actually doing.  What they have already done is something that you are saying is impossible.

John S
PDX OR

We all have our reasons for holding our individual beliefs.  And here on permies we practice leaving room for others’ opinions, so if a person wants to believe missing tooth structure cannot be restored, then I won’t contradict the statement.

I can tell you I have remineralized parts of my teeth.  And I can tell you that I read Dr. Weston A Price DDS’s research , including looking at his photographs.  Being familiar with his published research is why and how I gave something besides industrialized dentistry a try.  It took a long time and was inconvenient but I was a lot healthier for the effort.

Fermenting and or soaking any grain to lower the phytic acid requires planning, and adds at least a day to preparation of any grains.

Using hydroxyapatite tooth powder two or three times a day aiming for a 10 minute exposure to the substance each time, also takes time, but I found it worthwhile.



Someone asked for ideas about preventing receding gums.  I have a shower flosser (brand name oral breeze or something like that).  It allows me to adjust the temperature and pressure of the water.  I use it at least twice a day to flush food debris from the space between teeth and gums.  It’s wonderfully stimulating, feels like a massage.  I think it stimulates the circulation.  I’m very biased in favor of circulation, I believe there is no healing without circulation, there is no healthy tissue without circulation.  It might work well for others. 😊

I've been using celery juice not just for oral health but overall body cleansing as well.  Do some research and see if this may work for you.  I have receding gumlines, bruxism, tinnitus and this has really been helping me.  My mother also has a loose tooth and she is starting find relief using this method as well.

Juice at least 16oz of PURE celery juice (remember Masanobu Fukuoka and don't let human intuition get in the way by adding stuff to the juice).  First thing in the morning, before eating, fill your whole mouth with each gulp and hold in your mouth for at least one minute, then swallow.  You can concentrate holding the juice on the problem areas of your mouth.  Hold EVERY gulp of the entire drink in your mouth for at least 60 seconds.  Wait at least 30 minutes before drinking or eating anything after.  Do this every morning and results can come fast.

I've read that celery juice has sodium molecules that are bonded to vitamin c and plant hormones making the pure juice a very potent medicine. It can start to cleanse you within just a few days so be sure to drink plenty of water about 15 to 30 mins after.

If you're really trying to cleanse, drink the juice of a whole lemon or lime in 32oz of water (or just 32oz of pure water)  prior to the celery juice.

This has been said to work on all oral problems including cavities, receding gums, gum disease, plaque buildup, etc..

Hope this helps! Blessings of healing to all.

This is an old thread but since it's been bumped up I thought I'd offer some thoughts and experience.
There's a great book by Ramiel Nagel called "Cure Tooth Decay". He makes many good suggestions including cod liver oil.
Doug Simons' DVD also has good info on caring for cavities well so that they can remineralize.

Years ago I was getting the occasional cavity and I read about how glycerine,  a slippery substance which is in almost all toothpastes, actually coats the teeth and prevents them from remineralizing! Wouldn't it be the greatest irony if the very tool that 4 out of 5 dentists recommend to prevent cavities , was preventing the body from healing them on its own???
So, I experimented by quitting toothpaste. It's been 15 years and I've not had a single cavity since! For awhile I used homemade toothpowders but now I just snip a willow twig from my backyard , chew the tip into a "brush" and brush my teeth only with that. It gets my teeth incredibly clean and no more plastic brushes into the landfill for me. You can also buy neem tooth twigs or use other shrubs like hazel, etc.

The other thing I did for my gums was quit dental floss. Do you know that a lot of floss is coated with teflon which can be very irritating to people with sensitivities? After decades of flossing religiously, I stopped cold turkey and my gum "pockets" started closing up and became a non-issue during subsequent dental check-ups.

Having the right minerals in our bodies is essential. Most food is devoid of minerals because of the lack in soils these days. The body knows how to remineralize cavities but we need to have those minerals flowing through our blood, tissues, saliva for the body to do what it knows how to do. We need to grow our own food in soil that is rich in essential and trace minerals. Eating nutrient-dense, high-brix foods will heal our bodies and our teeth and will provide the nutrients for our children to inherit good teeth as well.
Smile everyone!

Mark, it's awesome having a dentist here! My in-laws were dentists, but completely disinterested in anything remotely alternative. I don't know how much time you have to dedicate to this sort of thing or if this interests you, but to my mind, the coolest way you could contribute to this thread is to find any extraordinary claims that people are making -- not assertion of general facts that you want to dispute, but claims about what they have themselves experienced, and try to puzzle out what you think actually happened. Assume anyone saying that a thing happened is being honest and as accurate as they can, and if you think their causal explanation is off, just totally ignore it, but then explain your best guess about what they experienced.

Joshua, seeing your posts about eggshell and comfrey, wondering 8 years later if you got any results to report.  My wife sees a natural dentist in Farmington, VT., Dr. Yuriy May.  Excellent, not cheap.  She got zirconia implants as she is allergic to metal in the mouth.  MI paste and something called Wonder are supposed to help regrow enamel. I am using the latter and not sure if it works but Dr. May says it will.

It makes sense to me that if your tooth falls out, you probably won't grow a new one, but that you can save and strengthen the ones you have, or prevent damage.

John s
Pdx, or