A review of Cure Tooth Decay: Heal & Prevent Cavities With Nutrition by Ramiel Nagel

According to Ramiel Nagel’s book Cure Tooth Decay: Heal & Prevent Cavities With Nutrition, raw milk “will substantially contribute to your health and well-being, and to your children’s health and well-being.” He highlights the findings of the dentist/author, Dr. George Heard, who had observed that those who drink raw milk consistently seem to be “immune to cavities.”

Dr. Heard encouraged the people in his town to drink at least one quart of raw milk/soured raw milk per day and was rewarded in 1942 by earning his town of Hereford, Texas the name of “Town Without A Toothache.” Quite the award for a dentist! It is a relief to know that teeth can be healed through diet and lifestyle changes, though this knowledge isn’t often promoted in the media. 

It All Starts With Your Diet

Raw milk is delicious. So is milk kefir, yogurt, butter, buttermilk, cheese, et cetera! We consume a lot of raw dairy in our house and I am grateful we have access to it. But, if you’re interested in both delicious foods and cavity-fighting foods, you can benefit from knowing that it’s not only raw milk that can help maintain oral health and even heal cavities. Mr. Nagel’s book explains that a diet of raw dairy, cod liver oil, gelatin-rich bone broths, meats, eggs, organ meats, cooked vegetables, and fish eggs supports teeth by providing enough nutrients to heal any potential deficiencies and support the body in its healing process. Of course, things like sugar, unsoaked grains, too much fruit, hydrogenated oils, food additives, and junk food are to be avoided if you’re on a journey towards oral health. Personally, I wouldn’t have any problem avoiding those things if I was full of high-quality sources of animal products and tender, cooked vegetables. That sounds like the most delicious diet, in my opinion!

On Synthetic Vitamins

I disagree with one major thing in his book: Mr. Nagel recommends avoiding synthetic vitamins altogether. In my own health journey, I’ve learned that a lifetime of poor food choices, an eating disorder (binging/purging/over-exercising), pharmaceuticals, veganism, and back-to-back pregnancies/nursing have completely drained all of my nutrition stores. I’ve written before about how I got help with Prairie Naturopathic Doctors in Moorhead, MN to recover my depleted body, and I don’t regret taking the supplements they’ve prescribed me in order to get my life back, even though I was eating a very nutrient-dense diet before scheduling a visit.

As a result, I am feeling so much better now. So, just because Mr. Nagel recommends avoiding supplements does not mean that avoiding them is something you should do. I always recommend getting evaluated before supplementing, as taking synthetic vitamins can easily overload your system with things it doesn’t need, but having the advice and care of a naturopathic doctor has increased my quality of life substantially, and therefore has made life better for my family, as well! Just do whatever you need to do to ensure you’re getting taken care of. Like I’ve said before…you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Personal Experience

At one point, my teeth were turning grey and translucent, were highly sensitive, and I was having receding gums, which painfully exposed the roots on some of my teeth. Now, they are white, opaque, and I have significantly less sensitivity. I recently visited the dentist after taking a ~8 year break from dental visits (I know…that is a very long time!!), and no cavities were found. The dentist even mentioned that I have “nice teeth” and approved of my toothpaste recipe. What a relief after taking such a long hiatus from a dentist!

I have used Cure Tooth Decay’s diet loosely in the past few years, and I’ve also been brushing my teeth with homemade toothpaste for 6 years now. The most recent recipe can be found in the book. It is conveniently very cheap and easy to make in bulk qualities, and I’ve modified the recipe by sometimes leaving out the third ingredient and playing with citrus essential oils for flavor. My children have no problem with it, either! 

“Peppermint Tooth Powder Recipe:”

• 2 tablespoons baking soda (pure sodium bicarbonate only)
• 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt
• 5-10 drops of organic peppermint essential oil (available in natural food stores or online)

Mix these ingredients together and dust on your toothbrush instead of toothpaste.