Preventing Cavities Naturally

Preventing Cavities Naturally

Unfortunately, many of us have a mouthful of silver due to a lifetime of poor eating habits, as well as inherited soft tooth enamel that "helped" things along.

If you have always eaten wisely with lots of raw fruits and vegetables, well, you're way ahead of me. Still, sugar is sugar in the sense of harmful bacteria, if you don't brush your teeth immediately after you eat that piece of fruit or candy bar.

First we need to understand how cavities are formed.

Contrary to what you have been told all your life, they do not actually come from sugar itself. Rather, they are formed from repeated attacks by bacterial acids that create a highly acidic environment. So, allowing that bacteria to remain on your teeth for even half an hour after eating is deadly.

And please, don't use one of those horrible name-brand toothpastes that contain fluoride and other abrasive and harmful ingredients. Many years ago, when I first introduced toothpaste to my then young son, I noticed the dire warnings on all the toothpaste tubes and wondered why. (More on that in another article.)

Enter Xylitol - you may also know it as the New Sweetener on the block, but for now we'll just focus on how xylitol actually helps your teeth.

Consistent use of small amounts of xylitol tends to increase protective factors in saliva. Ordinarily, saliva bathes the mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralizes all acidity, and actually remineralizes the teeth. Saliva also washes away leftover bits of food and helps in the digestion process.

That's why it's recommended to at least swish some (distilled) water around in your mouth for a minute or so right after eating, if it is impossible to brush.

But when saliva turns acidic because of too many sweets, bacteria in the mouth go crazy feeding on it. Along with carbohydrate waste, these bacteria stick to the teeth and hold the acid close to the teeth where it eats away enamel.

Xylitol actually reverses the destructive effects of sugar on oral health. It is non-fermentable (unlike fruit sugar) and therefore cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria. This makes it a safe substitute for other sugars, in an oral health context.

But can it actually reverse gum disease?

Using Xylitol right before bedtime, after brushing and flossing, actually protects and heals the teeth and gums. Long-term use suppresses the most harmful strains of oral bacteria, making a long-lasting change in the bacterial communities.

Xylitol even has the ability to enhance the mineralization of the enamel, and is most effective in treating small decay spots. Larger cavities can harden and become less sensitive, although they won't go away.

Consistent use of small amounts of xylitol (8-10 grams) tends to increase protective factors in saliva. Ordinarily, saliva bathes the mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralizes all acidity, and actually remineralizes the teeth. Saliva also washes away leftover bits of food and helps in the digestion process. But when saliva turns acidic because of too many sweets, bacteria in the mouth go crazy feeding on it. Along with carbohydrate waste, these bacteria stick to the teeth and hold the acid close to the teeth where it eats away enamel.

Don't you feel like running for your toothbrush right about now?

Using xylitol right before bedtime, protects and heals the teeth and gums. Xylitol comes in chewing gum and as a mouthwash


One caveat: Please be aware that while Xylitol is safe for humans, it is deadly to dogs in large amounts.