Finally finished the thread after 3 weeks of on and off reading. So happy to have found all this great info. Thank you!
My 26 month old daughter has 3-4 cavities, all on molars. My 5 y.o. DS has never had any. We had an appointment to have them drilled and sealed and it didn't feel right so we cancelled. She had been traumatized at the dentist when we first when for the exam. We are going to see if we can halt or reverse decay through food and supplements. Feel nervous but optimistic. A few questions:
1) I'd like to find a great holistic dentist who is familiar with a lot of the info. on this thread whom I can consult about a "wait and see" plan. A dentist within a couple hours of either Houston, TX, or NYC (where my family lives, and we visit frequently enough). Any suggestions?
2) This thread began years ago -- would anyone be willing to share their success story with me? I could use some reassurance that this is really possible and that I'm not being a totally neglectful parent for not getting these filled immediately.
3) Xylitol -- I am now on the fence about using this. Any input? Would you use it again? Did you stop using it?
4) Does anyone know if there is phosphorous in seltzer? We drink A LOT of seltzer in this house and have for years. This includes the kids. Is it possible it is depleting our calcium intake somehow? We don't drink any soda.
5) Does anyone have more info./insights into the approach to kids' cavities in Europe vs. here? Is it true that dentists here are more aggressive when it comes to (unnecessary?) drilling?
The stuff about the sugar levels Jane posted some pages back was super interesting to me... I am something of a sugar addict and have spent most of my life on a blood sugar rollercoaster. Also a bit anemic, have fatigue problems, etc. I really wonder if this has something to do with all the cavities I've had in recent years and now my DD's. I guess I should get tested for deficiencies.
I also find it interesting that so many people who posted on this thread were vegans or vegetarians for long stretches of time. We have been veg. and mostly vegan for the past year and I wonder if it may have contributed to or exacerbated the problem. We eat little sugar, almost all organic, not much processed food, tons of veg and fruits, no added stuff, and my kids are good eaters -- they try stuff and are generally adventurous. Because of DS and his teeth I did not suspect this problem would arise with DD.
DD and I also did have antibiotics when I got mastitis when DD was 2 months. And DS and I are gluten-intolerant so DD may be too... I have been slowly putting a lot together after reading this thread.
Our plan of attack (please tell me if I should add to or change any of this!):
unlimited raw milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, kefir (my kids love raw dairy and I am lucky we have access to it)
pasture raised eggs
bone broth (haven't done this yet)
begin offering meat to the kids; me start eating beef daily (I'm still nursing)
HVCLO (ordered from Green Pasture) (we've been using the inferior NN one, my kids will eat it in cold apple sauce -- though they eat it with a puzzled expression)
HWBO (will order from Green Pasture when back in stock; for now ghee)
limit non-soaked grains, limit sugar, limit beans and nuts
lots of green veggies, sweet potatoes, and carrots
look into seafood options -- mussels, oysters, clams, roe, etc.
celtic sea salt
seaweed (my kids stuff this in their mouths and scream for more... is this a sign of a deficiency?!)
try to get DD to drink water after meals
cell salt hylands #2 calc phos 6x (3x/day)
Concentrace trace mineral drops in our filtered water
brushing teeth before bed with water, no toothpaste (DD isn't night weaned or I would try the cheese before bed!)
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hylands #1 calc fluor (?)
K2 supp (?)
vitamin c supp (?)
MI paste 1x at night (?)
xylitol 5x/day (?)
pascalite clay (?)
toothsoap (?)
dental essentials drops (? I ordered some but not sure if it will be overkill...)
TIA for your advice!
Kate
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