What about Cavities and Teeth Health?

When I was a young kid, my parents told me that placing my fallen teeth under my pillow, would prompt the tooth fairy to visit me, and exchange them for some cash. I believed this “white lie” until I was four years old, when I noticed that it was my parents who placed the money under my pillow. I get it, it is a cultural game, a children’s tale, no harm there… unless we consider the true value of bones… but I digress.

There are other “tales” our parents told us that may also be false. Perhaps, the idea that sugars will lead to cavities is another one of those tales, a story our parents told us to avoid giving us candy, or to make sure we would brush our teeth at night. Of course, this is true when talking about man-made sugars, but it’s different when we consider naturally occurring sugars in fruit.

During my research I found myself particularly interested in this topic. After much reading and consulting I have concluded that many dentists are not sure if sugars are the leading cause of cavities. Think about it this way: If our brains run on sugars, would it make sense for our brains to need what our teeth are not supposed to chew?

Of course we can trust that there is a correlation between sugar intake and cavities, but again, these studies have not been performed on subjects following fruit-based or fruit-only diets. In fact, most dentists agree that it is not the sugar that causes teeth problems, but the germs that feed on remaining food particles left in the mouth.

When looking further into this we learn that our mouths are full of germs. Multiple types live around our teeth, gums, tongue and inner walls. These germs can stick to the teeth and create plaque, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. (1) More specifically, it is said that it is the acidic waste product from germs feeding on food remains that damages gums and teeth. It is possible that non-sticky, high-water content fruits may be ideal for avoiding this problem, since they are less likely to remain in our mouth.

An important point to consider is that teeth, just like bones, are living organs. Every organ in our body consists of living cells. All organs, including teeth and bones, are constantly breaking down and replacing their cells.

In healthy people, new dentin and enamel is regularly generated from vitamins, minerals and enzymes. These are found in our bloodstream and are transported to the outer layers of our teeth. With enough vitamins and minerals, and in the right proportions, teeth will keep regenerating and remain healthy without the need of cosmetics or external intervention. (2)

This is where I agree that diet influences our teeth health, but not in the way most people think. Those who follow a Standard American Diet, place many known and unknown substances in their mouth including grains, animal products and processed foods. Almost all of these substances are highly acidic, sticky and hard to break down. Many contain little amounts of useful vitamins and minerals. On top of that, they brush their teeth using toxic chemicals that include Triclosan, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Fluoride and Propylene Glycol.

On the other hand, raw fruits are mostly water, packed with vitamins and minerals. They break down easily in our mouth. They hardly ever stick to our teeth and are, in general, highly alkaline.This is why I believe that, when compared to other diets, fruit-based diets provide a superior environment to sustain and promote teeth health .

We know that 90% of adults in the United States have had dental cavities in their permanent teeth. (3) Considering that the average American diet includes very little fruit, it is illogical to blame fruit for problems such as tooth decay. According to Dr. Melvin Page, a dental surgeon with 30 years of research experience, it is the disturbance in the ratio of calcium to phosphorus within the blood that causes tooth decay and gum disease. It is possible that whole foods diets high on fruits could improve this ratio, contributing to teeth health. (4)

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