Tooth Decay

[Wendy Geesey]

Hi Everyone!Hoping to find some input from my fellow rawists.I've had some dental issues in the past, but for the most part I'd go to a yearly cleaning/exam and have no issues. I'd say for a good 8 years I had great check ups and no decay. 2 years ago they canceled my  cleaning appointment, and I just failed to call back and reschedule (tisk, tisk, I know- no lectures on that or the flossing please ;) I started having issues with a tooth, called, got a cleaning and exam and I have SIX cavities!!! WHAT???!!! I brush a lot (but don't floss much- never did)- even have one of those expensive machine thingys... I know I missed a couple of cleanings, but I seriously doubt that is the cause. It's hard not to "blame" raw food for this- however, for quite a while I drank kefir made from raw milk and also some raw cheese from raw milk. I asked my husband what he thought- he said "stomach acid". My breath and digestion were "off" really badly for a while- quite a while. I've since gone to just raw fruit and leafy greens (fruitarian) and the breath is sweet again and no more gas and bloating. I'm wondering if all will be well with my teeth now??? Where the seeds and nuts (yes, I ate a LOT of those!) really producing that much stomach acid so as to deteriorate my teeth?! YIKES!

Anyone else experiencing tooth decay, have any experience of knowledge that would be helpful? Thank you in advance!

[Pumpkin pie]

I'm just coming off years of 8/1/1 and my dental appointment today showed 9 cavities :-(
Not surprised I was always needing to eat on the high fruit diet and my saliva didn't stand a chance to remineralize my teeth.
The dentist asked if I ate a lot of sweets and acidic foods....
All I ate was fruits and green juices with lemon (Dan the man style)

Sorry but I would stay away from all acidic fruits if you have teeth problems.

[Wendy Geesey]

Tooth soap? I'll have to look that up. Thanks so much for sharing here- confirmation about toothpaste! Excellent advice- thanks again for sharing your experience! This is an awesome resource (Raw Food Rehab- so glad I found it! :) The straw thing is a great idea too- will implement everything I've learned. So happy your teeth have remineralized- I've heard that can't be done! And what an awesome report that your teeth didn't even need a cleaning- WOW!! great job!! very encouraging!! :)

[Jane]

I stopped using ordinary toothpastes a couple of years ago because they all contain glycerin (including the healthier fluoride-free varieties) and started using tooth soap or plain water. I had quite a bit of enamel erosion from years of eating/drinking acidic foods, particularly citrus fruits and vinaigrette salad dressings. My teeth were hyper-sensitive to heat, cold and pressure, and the enamel at the bottom of my front teeth seemed to be “thinning” and looked transparent in certain lights. Anyway, after a while my teeth became far less sensitive and nowadays are barely sensitive at all; the enamel has clearly ‘thickened’ and is less transparent. I still visit my dentist once a year for a check-up, but the last time I went he felt my teeth didn’t need a professional clean/polish, which I can only assume is because I’m not continuously coating my teeth in sticky glycerin. In addition to NEVER using ordinary toothpaste: I always rinse my teeth with plain water after eating/drinking but avoid brushing for at least 30 minutes because the enamel is softer after eating; I only drink juice though a straw to minimise contact with my teeth; I take a Vitamin D supplement most days

[Wendy Geesey]

Watched a video today with Don Bennett- he said to not use tooth paste- just water. I've heard this before too. But he added the why... b/c the glycerin in tooth paste which is designed to coat the teeth against decay actually prevents the saliva from remineralizing the teeth too!!

[Bette Bliss Shaw]

My dental story is not a good one. I beleive I spent too much lingering in green smoothies (all morning until noon) when I first went raw. Lotsa trubs with my teeth/cavities. Now I am on it. Lots of money to repair.

[Wendy Geesey]

Thanks for sharing Peggy. On the 30BaD website they do say to at least rinse well after eating/drinking- so we can at least do that, right? Ugh, flossing... why do I hate doing that so much! I can do the brush picks tho. I've also decided to NOT skip any more 6 month appointments! I will keep monitoring the situation. Hey- just had a funny thought- maybe my teeth are detoxing! BAHAHAHA!! :D

[Peggy Speir]

I feel you rpain! I just went and had FOUR cavities - at the age of 46yrs old! Geesh.

I did read that fruit juices eat at your enamel and that you should brush after your juices.

I have by no means been diligent with this, but I am brushing more frequently - can't really be a bad thing, can it? Uh, and flossing. Yes. You do it, and I'll do it too, k?

[Wendy Geesey]

Thank Myra, I totally trust my dentist- been going to him for 15 years  now. He pointed out 3 of them that I can actually see- the one that was hurting to badly I couldn't see- so that leaves just 2 I can't see, but it's quite possible considering the other 4 :(  3 of them are along the gum line- would not be effected by flossing ;-)  But the one that hurt probably would have. Hate those plastic ones- brush picks aren't too bad tho... I'll start using those, at least it's better than nothing. Thanks!

[Myra Sarikaya]

Flossing is essential. After having some cavities myself I started flossing everyday. I use the plastic flossers, they're very easy to use. Dried fruit can cause problems. I would get a second opinion. That's a lot of cavities in a short time. Good luck, I hope your dentist us wrong.