🦷 My granddaughter bought a cavity—right here’s the precise protocol I put her on

When my three-year-old granddaughter was recognized with a cavity, my first thought wasn’t simply, She wants a filling. It was, How did we get right here?

Fillings occur. Even in households who eat effectively, brush recurrently, and keep away from soda.

However when a cavity kinds, it’s not simply dangerous luck—it’s an indication that one thing deeper is happening. And if we don’t perceive the foundation trigger, it’s more likely to occur once more. So, right here’s what I did…

In her case, the reply turned clear: she had spent a number of weeks within the hospital battling a kidney an infection. It was an extremely robust time for her and her mother and father.

Throughout that interval, she was on IV antibiotics (which disrupt the oral microbiome), consuming principally hospital meals, and—as a result of her favourite animal is the panda—her mother and father indulged her love for Hiya Panda crackers, letting her have as many as she wished.

They felt terrible seeing her so sick, and like several mother and father, they only wished to deliver her some consolation.

Sadly, that mixture—microbiome disruption, ultra-processed snack meals, and diminished saliva stream—set the stage for her cavity.

And right here’s the exhausting reality my daughter and son-in-law realized the exhausting approach:

You Can not Out-Brush or Out-Floss a Dangerous Weight loss plan

My daughter did every part “proper” when it got here to brushing and flossing. She was meticulous. And but, her daughter nonetheless ended up with a cavity.

Why? As a result of food regimen is simply as—if no more—essential than brushing and flossing.

No quantity of brushing can absolutely defend in opposition to a food regimen excessive in fermentable carbohydrates like Goldfish, Hiya Panda crackers, and saltines—particularly when these meals are eaten all through the day.
These processed snacks break down into sugars that gasoline acid-producing micro organism, creating the right storm for cavities.

This was an enormous realization for my daughter: oral well being isn’t nearly what you do with a toothbrush and floss—it’s about what you set into your physique.

When my daughter referred to as me to inform me concerning the cavity, she was heartbroken.

“I really feel so ashamed, Dad,” she stated. “I ought to have identified higher. I grew up in your own home. I run Ask the Dentist. How did I let this occur?”

And I get it. No dad or mum desires to listen to that their youngster has a cavity. However I advised her precisely what I wish to inform you:

Cavities should not an indication that you simply’ve failed as a dad or mum.

They’re an indication that one thing is out of stability—and when you determine why it occurred, you possibly can course-correct.

As dentists, we’re taught that cavities are a hygiene drawback, however they’re really a dietary and microbiome imbalance drawback.

It’s not nearly brushing and flossing—it’s about what you eat, the way you breathe, and the well being of your oral microbiome.

I used to be lucky to boost three daughters cavity-free, with out fluoride. And I’m extremely pleased with that. However I additionally acknowledge that right this moment’s world is completely different.

Mother and father right this moment face extra challenges—processed meals is all over the place, stress ranges are larger, and medicines like antibiotics are extra generally used, usually with unintended unintended effects on the microbiome.

So in case your youngster has a cavity, don’t get caught in guilt. As an alternative, take it as a chance to ask the proper questions, make changes, and transfer ahead.

After her filling, I put her on this actual protocol to revive her oral microbiome, remineralize her enamel, and ensure she didn’t find yourself again within the dentist’s chair anytime quickly.

1. Checked for Mouth Respiration & Began Xylitol Nasal Spray
Mouth respiratory is likely one of the most ignored causes of cavities as a result of it dries out the mouth, decreasing saliva stream—the physique’s pure protection in opposition to cavities. If a toddler snores, wakes up with a dry mouth, or is often congested, this needs to be addressed first.

Whereas my granddaughter wasn’t a mouth breather, that is one thing I verify in each youngster who will get a cavity. If she had been, I might have:

• Used a xylitol nasal spray (Xlear) to assist clear nasal congestion and promote nasal respiratory.
• Made positive she may breathe correctly via her nostril at evening, since mouth respiratory throughout sleep creates an excellent atmosphere for cavities to kind.

In case your youngster has cavities regardless of nice brushing habits, verify for mouth respiratory!

2. A Magnesium-Wealthy Lemonade Each Day
Magnesium is important for sturdy enamel, however most youngsters (and adults) don’t get sufficient. I began having her mother and father make her a easy lemonade with:

• Filtered water
• A high-quality magnesium complement (that is the one I like to recommend—scroll down and also you’ll see the place it says “raspberry lemonade”)

She loves it—it tastes like a enjoyable deal with, but it surely’s really strengthening her enamel from the within out.

3. Cod Liver Oil for Fats-Soluble Nutritional vitamins (A, D, E, and K2)
Fats-soluble nutritional vitamins—particularly K2—are important for guiding minerals into the enamel the place they belong. I advised my daughter to offer her:

• A day by day teaspoon of high-quality cod liver oil (wealthy in nutritional vitamins A and D)
• Additional K2 in complement kind (since most youngsters don’t get sufficient from food regimen alone)

4. Oral Probiotics to Restore Her Microbiome
The micro organism in your mouth decide whether or not your enamel keep sturdy or develop cavities. After a spherical of IV antibiotics, her oral microbiome wanted some assist.

I added:

• An oral probiotic with Streptococcus salivarius like this one (code ATD15 to avoid wasting 15%) to assist repopulate her mouth with useful micro organism.

Quick-forward to right this moment—my granddaughter is now seven years previous, thriving, and cavity-free.

Her different smaller cavities had been utterly ARRESTED—to the shock of her dentist—by brushing with Fygg varnish each evening.

They’re monitoring it with X-rays, making use of the ALARA precept—retaining publicity as little as attainable whereas guaranteeing they’re not lacking something.

She’s nonetheless on her protocol—persevering with with magnesium, cod liver oil, and Xlear nasal spray each evening.

This expertise taught my daughter one thing invaluable—not nearly cavities, however about how one can take management of oral well being from the within out. And now, as a substitute of feeling disgrace, she feels empowered.

Cavities don’t occur in a single day. They’re the results of an imbalance—generally attributable to food regimen, generally by sickness or medicines, generally by mouth respiratory and dry mouth. And whereas fillings are generally crucial, they need to all the time include a why.

For my granddaughter, we now know precisely what occurred and how one can stop it from taking place once more. In case your youngster has had a cavity (otherwise you wish to stop one), begin this protocol now. And bear in mind: it is a shame-free zone. Cavities don’t imply you’ve failed as a dad or mum. They simply imply it’s time to make changes.

And if there’s one takeaway from this expertise, it’s this:

You can’t out-brush or out-floss a nasty food regimen.

To your nice well being,

Mark

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P.S. This article is sponsored by BiOptimizers—my go-to magnesium complement. I like to recommend it to all my sufferers, not only for higher sleep, but in addition for cavity prevention and even reversal. Use code ASKTHEDENTIST for 10% off at checkout.

I usually hear from individuals who say, “Magnesium didn’t work for me,” and my first query is: Had been you getting all seven kinds? Most dietary supplements solely include one or two, however your physique wants all seven for full advantages. If me, I’m extraordinarily choosy about dietary supplements. BiOptimizers is likely one of the few manufacturers I belief, due to their rigorous third-party testing and complete formulation.