Tooth Decay

🌿 Overview

An estimated 98% of Americans have dental cavities, yet populations that have never eaten Western foods have essentially none. This contrast reveals tooth decay as almost entirely diet-driven. Plaque (a sticky bacterial film) forms on the tooth surface; when bacteria feed on sugars they produce acids that dissolve the hard enamel, then the softer dentin beneath. Cola drinks are especially destructive — they contain phosphoric acid and sugar, and the acid directly dissolves tooth structure. If decay reaches the nerve (tooth pulp), pain begins. The disease is almost entirely preventable.

Common signs

• Initial stage: no pain or symptoms
• Visible cavity or dark spot on the tooth surface
• Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods as decay deepens
• Pain beginning when decay reaches the nerve (pulp)
• Toothache when chewing

🔎 Why it happens

Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.

• Sugar and sticky sweet foods (bacteria produce acid as they metabolize sugar)
• Cola and carbonated drinks (phosphoric acid + sugar — directly dissolves enamel)
• White flour products (sticky, cling to teeth)
• Soft, gooey, and processed foods
• Dairy products (especially soft cheeses)
• Poor oral hygiene (allows plaque to accumulate)
• Calcium and vitamin D deficiency

✅ What to do

Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.

1. ELIMINATE the primary causes: no cola drinks, no sticky sweets, no white sugar products
2. Rinse mouth after every meal — or finish a fruit meal by eating an apple (natural teeth-cleanser)
3. Brush carefully after each meal (soft brush, move from root to tip of tooth, gentle strokes at gumline)
4. Floss faithfully
5. Use an electric toothbrush — removes 98% of plaque vs. 48% for a regular toothbrush
6. CALCIUM supplementation — vital for maintaining tooth and bone structure; needs increase with age
7. Eat raw fruits and vegetables: leafy greens, raw carrots, parsley, turnip greens, garbanzo beans, whole grains, nuts, and legumes
8. Strawberries: rub halves on teeth — natural tooth cleanser
9. To remove tartar: mix equal parts cream of tartar + sea salt (or baking soda + sea salt)
10. ANTI-BACTERIAL HERBS: Bloodroot (reduces plaque); bay leaf (contains cineole — kills dental bacteria); licorice (glycyrrhizin and indole — kills bacteria); wild bergamot (thymol and geraniol — prevents decay)
11. Goldenseal extract (alcohol-free): use as antibacterial mouthwash
12. Massage gums daily with finger
13. AVOID: rhubarb, poke, and spinach (high oxalic acid, inhibits calcium formation)
14. AVOID: commercial toothpastes and powders (detergents are harmful to teeth and gums)

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🍽️ Eating to help

Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.

Favor these

• Raw fruits and vegetables (cleanse and exercise teeth)
• Whole grains, nuts, and legumes
• Calcium-rich plant foods
• Clean water (rinse the mouth)

Go easy on

• Cola and carbonated drinks (phosphoric acid dissolves enamel — most destructive)
• Sugar and sugary foods (feeds plaque bacteria)
• Sticky foods and candies
• White flour products
• Soft cheeses and dairy products
• Chewable vitamin C tablets (acid damages enamel)

Drop a tooth into a glass of Coca-Cola and watch how many hours it takes to completely dissolve — this demonstrates what cola drinks do to teeth over years of daily consumption.

💬 Ask Remy about Tooth Decay