At GetzWell, we emphasize that a balanced diet of whole foods helps us thrive, both physically and mentally. Small dietary changes can add up, ultimately making a big difference in our health. Food is medicine, and that is as true for our gut health as it is for our teeth—and for our child’s dental health.
Thanks to one of our partner practices, Dr. Keeper’s Dental Wellness, we have a remarkable story to share about 2 year-old Johannes who was suffering from severe early childhood cavities. While many dental practices focus on drilling cavities to repair them, Dr. Keeper’s approach to dental health for kids is non-invasive. He leverages brush-on therapies, dietary changes, and other strategies to get to the root cause of the problem and help the body heal itself.
This non-invasive approach to dentistry for kids is what drew Johannes’ mother to make an appointment with Dr. Keeper’s office. Johannes had recently turned 2, and his pediatric dentists had advised that his severe cavities would need to be addressed in the hospital, under general anesthesia. Johannes’ mother felt the treatment sounded far too invasive and risky for such a young child.
Read on to learn directly from Dr. Keeper…
Johannes’ First Appointment
After introducing Johannes to the dental instruments, we examined his teeth and confirmed that he did indeed have a cavity in every single tooth. Significant portions of his teeth were soft from bacterial growth, the enamel was chalky from demineralization, and chunks were missing in some areas. We began to explore what might be causing this situation. In talking about Johannes’ diet, we learned that he almost exclusively ate veggie straws, puffs, and crackers. He also nursed on demand and occasionally to sleep. His mother was surprised to learn that all these packaged organic snack items (though named after vegetables!) could cause cavities. She pulled out a package and reviewed the actual ingredients which were almost entirely ultra-processed carbohydrate flours.
When we eat ultra-processed carbohydrates (including sugar, but also ingredients like potato and corn starch in puffs or flour in crackers) the bacteria on the surface of our teeth also eat those carbs. Even though we may not immediately think about crackers as sugars, the bacteria sure do, and crackers stick in our teeth for a long time. The longer these carbs sit on our teeth, the more the acid-forming bacteria grow and the more acid they produce, which ultimately dissolves the tooth enamel. Eventually, a hole forms.
Johannes and his mom were excited to learn that other simple foods, like cheese and yogurt, help prevent cavities. She said she would plan to consolidate Johannes’ carbohydrates into meal times and make sure he ended his meal by drinking water.
We applied a dual-actual antimicrobial and tooth-strengthening medicine called nanosilver fluoride (NSF) to Johannes’ cavities. The way it works is a tiny amount of water with small concentrations of NSF is applied with a microbrush to decayed areas to stop the progression of cavities. Meticulously manufactured silver nanoparticles diffuse into areas of decay and latch onto pores in the tooth. When exposed to acid from cavity bacteria, they release ionic silver, killing the microbes and promoting balance. Then they stay, ready for bacteria and sugar to try again. Many clinical trials validate that this new addition to non-invasive dental therapies is just as effective (in every situation tested thus far) as conventional methods, and unlike some other treatments, leaves the teeth their natural color. NSF also has no flavor. Dr. Keeper is leading the validation and integration of this procedure in the United States.
When Johannes’ mother asked what else she could do at home, we suggested a weekly povidone-iodine swab to suppress cavity causing bacteria but allowing healthy bacteria stay. However, we emphasized the most important changes to make were the dietary ones.
Follow-Up: Consistency is Key
Three weeks later, Johannes returned and we placed biomimetic therapeutic fillings to seal and strengthen the cavities in the back teeth (placed quickly and painlessly without needles or drills). We also reduced the at-home iodine application to once per month.
Three months after their first visit, Johannes and his mom returned so we could check on their progress. We were thrilled to see that Johannes’ teeth looked shiny and hard. The enamel looked glossy, too. The cavities had stopped! Feeling victorious, Johannes’ mom agreed to return again in three months, meanwhile continuing with the monthly iodine swabs.
At the six month visit, we had a setback. The decay had returned, and it looked almost as if we were back to square one. Johannes’ mom shared that Johannes had become very willful and between that and his preschool, she was no longer able to effectively manage the processed carbs he was eating. We explored a few solutions to more consistently provide whole, minimally processed foods to Johannes. Meal prep kits and pre-cut celery, carrots, and broccoli, as well as string cheese and nuts for snacks sounded like they would work well. And importantly, she committed to ceasing buying crackers going forward.
The adjustments Johannes’ mom made after the six month visit made a huge difference and put him back on track. Now we are a year out from his initial visit, and the cavities are gone. The glossiness has returned, and the therapeutic fillings are holding well. We were all thrilled to see how effective these dietary changes have been, setting Johannes up for a lifetime of strong, healthy teeth.
If you want a dental care option for your family and yourself that is built to solve the problems of overtreatment, and focus on optimizing long-term health, we suggest you consider Dr. Keeper’s Dental Wellness. They treat patients of all ages, and GetzWell members receive a complimentary functional microbiome “plaque-pH” test to assess the health of the saliva and the dental plaque – the two primary factors for cavities, along with nutrition. If you’d like to learn more about GetzWell’s unique relationship with Dr. Keeper or more about balancing your child’s diet with whole foods for wellness, contact GetzWell today.