We’ve been taught to see our teeth as separate from the rest of our body. As if they’re inert, lifeless structures that can only be drilled, filled, or protected with synthetic chemicals. But the truth is far more hopeful.
Your teeth are alive.
Mineral rich, blood nourished, constantly regenerating tissues, deeply responsive to the foods you eat and the rituals you practice. They are mirrors of your internal state: resilient when nourished, fragile when neglected.
And perhaps most surprisingly, tooth decay is not inevitable. It’s a modern disease, born of nutrient loss and processed food. And yes, it can be prevented, and even reversed, through ancestral nutrition and gentle, rewilded care.
And your ancestors? They barely knew what a cavity was.
Why this matters so much
Your oral hygiene ripples far beyond your smile.
Inflammatory gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis don’t stay confined to the gums, they leak inflammation into the entire body. Oral pathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis can enter the bloodstream, trigger immune reactions, and even cross the blood-brain barrier.
In fact, chronic gum disease has been linked to:
- Alzheimer’s disease, via inflammatory plaque in the brain
- Heart disease, through arterial inflammation and bacterial endotoxins
- Type 2 diabetes, which is both caused by and worsened by gum inflammation
- Gut disorders, via the oral-gut microbiome axis
- Systemic fatigue and autoimmune flares, often downstream of oral infections.
A tale of two diets
In the early 1930s, dentist and researcher Weston A. Price travelled the world to study the dental health of traditional communities. From the Swiss Alps to the African savannah to the islands of the South Pacific, he found something astonishing: populations eating their native diets had straight, white, cavity-free teeth, and most had never seen a dentist in their life or even used toothpaste.
These communities were eating whole foods: raw dairy, wild fish, organ meats, root vegetables, fermented grains, and animal fats. Their dental arches were wide, their smiles radiant, their immunity strong.
But when these same groups began eating imported white flour, sugar, and canned goods, tooth decay appeared within a generation. Crowded teeth, narrow jaws, and cavities became common. Their once impeccable oral health collapsed under the weight of industrialised food.
Tooth decay, then, is not a genetic inevitability. It’s a consequence of modern life, and one we can choose to step away from.
The true foundation of healthy teeth
Modern dentistry focuses on the surface: fluoride treatments, antibacterial mouthwashes, and fillings. But ancestral wisdom, backed by emerging science, tells a different story: healthy teeth are built from the inside out.
To support vibrant oral health, we must nourish our bodies with the nutrients that structure, remineralise, and defend our teeth, and avoid the habits that quietly undermine them.
Here’s how:
1. The trinity of tooth integrity: Vitamins A, D & K2
Vitamin A (retinol)
Retinol is essential for the formation of dentin, the hard tissue beneath your tooth enamel. It supports immune defences in the mouth and helps maintain mucosal membranes.
Most importantly, it works with vitamin D and K2 to help cells lay down mineralised tissue. Deficiencies can lead to malformed teeth and increased risk of decay.
Found in: Liver, egg yolks, grass-fed butter, and fatty fish
Vitamin D
This sunshine vitamin facilitates calcium and phosphorus absorption in the gut, setting the stage for proper tooth mineralisation. Vitamin D receptors are present in tooth-forming cells, your teeth literally listen for it.
Found in: Sunlight exposure, fatty fish, egg yolks, and raw milk.
Vitamin K2 (MK-4)
Perhaps the most overlooked guardian of oral health, K2 activates proteins like osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein, which guide calcium into the bones and teeth. Without K2, calcium goes rogue, often calcifying soft tissues instead.
Found in: Grass-fed butter, cheese, goose liver, pastured egg yolks, and fermented foods
These vitamins work in synergy. Without enough fat or dietary cholesterol, their absorption and function is limited. Nature never delivers them separately. They’re bundled together in the sacred foods our ancestors prized most.
2. Flood your body with bioavailable minerals
Enamel is made primarily of calcium and phosphorus, held together in a crystalline lattice. These minerals must be supplied consistently through the diet to maintain and rebuild enamel.
Focus on:
- Raw or low-processed dairy
- Bone broth and gelatine-rich stews
- Sardines or salmon with the bones
- Powdered eggshell (as a homemade calcium boost)
- Sea salt and magnesium-rich foods like cacao or mineral water
Many traditional societies even consumed softened bones or mineral-rich clays during pregnancy, to nourish growing jaws and teeth in the womb.
3. Protect your oral microbiome
Your mouth contains over 700 species of bacteria, some protective, some destructive. A traditional, low-sugar diet supports microbial balance, while modern foods create a breeding ground for decay-causing strains like Streptococcus mutans.
Avoid: constant snacking, sugar, white flour, and seed oils.
And support your good bacteria with raw dairy, fermented foods, and gentle, microbiome-friendly oral care.
4. Rewild your oral care rituals
You don’t need mouthwash that burns or toothpaste that foams like a science experiment. Traditional oral care practices are simple, effective, and deeply supportive of long-term health.
Oil pulling
An Ayurvedic ritual with roots thousands of years old, oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 10–20 minutes (start with 5 and build up). Traditionally done with sesame oil, coconut oil is now popular for its antimicrobial benefits and pleasant taste.
Oil is lipophilic, meaning it binds to toxins and the fatty membranes of harmful bacteria. As you swish, it slips between teeth and gums, gently lifting debris, plaque, and even the beginnings of biofilm. It’s like a daily detox bath for your mouth.
People who oil pull regularly report:
- Whiter teeth
- Fresher breath
- Less plaque and bleeding gums
- Smoother enamel and stronger immunity
Infuse your oil with herbs like clove or neem for added antibacterial effects. You can also add a drop of vitamin K₂ oil (MK-4) for a remineralising boost, K₂ is fat-soluble and can help heal tiny lesions when applied topically.
Pull in the morning while showering or tidying , multitasking meets mouth medicine. Always spit the oil in the bin (not the sink unless you want a call to the plumber) and rinse with warm salt water or herbal rinse afterward.
Herbal tooth powders
Before tubes of paste, people used powdered roots, clays, and salts to clean their teeth.
A good tooth powder includes:
- Bentonite clay: draws out toxins and provides minerals
- Calcium carbonate or eggshell powder: supports enamel
- Baking soda: neutralises acids and whitens
- Sea salt: antiseptic and mineral-rich
- Clove and cinnamon: anti-inflammatory and warming
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Optional: activated charcoal, myrrh, or peppermint oil
Brush gently with a soft brush, dipping into the powder Use once or twice daily for gentle polishing and remineralising.
Propolis & mastic gum (chew your medicine)
Long before Wrigley’s, people chewed tree sap, bee resins, and plant gums to clean their teeth. These natural chewing gums are rich in antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds.
- Mastic gum (from the mastic tree) strengthens jaw muscles, reduces harmful oral bacteria, and may support facial structure development (though you've probably heard about that already from the looks-maxxing bros ).
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Propolis (bee resin) soothes inflammation, heals gums, and supports immunity. You can chew raw chunks or use it as a tincture diluted in water as a post-brushing rinse.
Chew after meals to stimulate saliva, freshen breath, and mechanically clean the teeth
Tongue scraping
Your tongue is a sponge for bacteria and toxins. That white coating in the morning? A sign your body is detoxifying overnight.
Use a copper or stainless steel scraper to gently scrape from the back to the front 2–3 times first thing upon waking, before drinking water. It improves taste, freshens breath, and reduces the microbial load in your mouth.
Pair it with oil pulling and brushing for a full morning oral detox sequence.
Flossing
Silk floss may seem modern, but early humans used fibres, twigs, or horsehair to remove stuck food and plaque.
Modern flosses often contain PFAS (forever chemicals). Instead, use:
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Silk floss coated in beeswax
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Plant-fibre biodegradable floss
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Coconut oil or saltwater swish after flossing to flush debris
Wrap the floss around each tooth in a gentle C-shape and work slightly below the gumline.
Chewing whole foods and crunchy roots
Jaw development and oral hygiene were once built into daily life. Our ancestors chewed meat off bones, snacked on raw vegetables, and nibbled bitter herbs, all of which exercised the jaw, stimulated saliva, and cleaned the teeth.
Chew crisp raw veg like carrots or celery after meals. Gnaw on meat or ribs. Chew sticks like licorice root or guava leaves for antimicrobial benefits. Chewing is a lost hygiene tool, and it’s free.