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They Did Not Have Tooth Decay

December 18th, 2007 · No Comments

An article by Dr. Rajen M. in Current News tells us that in 1900, a dentist named Dr. Weston Price saw a decline in the health of his young patients and came to believe that the downward spiral had a direct correlation with process foods. After studying 14 tribes who ate primitive (unprocessed) foods over the course of about a decade, in  1920 Dr. Price published Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, along with photos of the natives’ dazzling smiles to support his theories and findings.

Dr. Price found that because these tribal peoples ate primitive foods, they did not have tooth decay. They did not have tooth decay. That is amazing. Similarities in the tribes’ diets included: natural, unprocessed, organic foods; no sugar besides honey in small amounts; locally grown, seasonal foods; unpasteurised dairy products; fermented foods (which are good for digestion); much raw food; animal products included fat, full-fat butter, and organ meats; and ten times the amount of omega-3 fats as is in a normal, modern diet. (Studies show that since 1940, our intake of omega-6 fats, or polysaturated fats, has doubled. On the contrary, our intake of omega-3 fats, or essential fatty acids -EFAs- found in polyunsaturated fats, is only 1/6 of what it was in 1850.)

How can we emulate these ancient, primitive ways to turn oral health around? With children’s caries at astounding levels, maybe we should learn from history and our ancestors. If you practice general dentistry and want to help your patients ward off tooth decay through diet, provide them with these tips by Dr. Rajen M.:

  • Eat fresh foods
  • Eat 1/3 of your diet raw
  • Avoid processed foods, artificial flavorings and dyes
  • Avoid artificial sweeteners
  • Eat fermented foods (ie: yogurt, cultured vegetables)
  • Eat many omega-3 fats and reduce omega-6 fats

Tags: Just for Fun · Uncategorized