Weird Vitamin Fix Slashes Cavities by 50%

You’re sitting in that dreaded dental chair, gripping the armrests as your dentist delivers the bad news…

“You’ve got three cavities. We’ll need to schedule you for fillings.”

Then comes the lecture: brush twice daily, floss religiously, use fluoride mouthwash, cut back on sugar.

It’s the same advice they’ve given for decades. Well, this advice clearly isn’t working—especially considering cavities remain one of the most common health problems.

But what if I told you that our ancestors lived for thousands of years without toothbrushes, fluoride, or dental floss—and they rarely suffered from tooth decay?

What if the real solution to preventing cavities isn’t hiding in your bathroom cabinet, but requires you to step out your front door instead?

Cavities are almost entirely a modern problem.

Our ancestors didn’t brush their teeth twice daily, use fluoride, or schedule cleanings every six months. Yet the archeological evidence shows they had remarkably healthy teeth, with little evidence of cavities.

So, what changed?

Our relationship with the sun.

You’re probably wondering what the sun has to do with oral health. Well, while your dentist has been focusing on what’s in your mouth, he ought to have also considered what’s happening in your bloodstream.

Spending time in the sun increases your body’s vitamin D levels, which, it turns out, happens to be one of your best shields against cavities.

A review of 24 clinical trials spanning 60 years confirmed it: people with adequate vitamin D levels have a 50 percent lower risk of developing cavities. Research has also linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of cavities in children.

But here’s the thing: It’s estimated that up to 65 percent of American adults are insufficient in vitamin D, especially those who spend their days and nights indoors under artificial lighting.

Here are a few ways vitamin D helps protect your teeth:

• Calcium and phosphorus absorption: Vitamin D acts like a master key, unlocking your body’s ability to absorb two minerals that build strong tooth enamel: calcium and phosphorus. Without adequate D, you could consume all the calcium in the world, and your teeth would still be vulnerable.
• Immune system activation: Your mouth is under constant bacterial assault. Vitamin D supercharges your immune system’s ability to fight back against harmful oral bacteria that cause tooth decay.
• Natural antimicrobial properties: Vitamin D doesn’t just support your immune system—its antimicrobial properties help to kill off cavity-causing oral bacteria.
• Saliva production: Adequate vitamin D encourages healthy saliva flow, which helps maintain a healthy oral environment.

Our ancestor didn’t need to work so hard to prevent cavities because their bodies were designed to resist them—they were properly nourished by the vitamin D their skin produced in sunlight.

We’ve traded this natural protection for a life spent indoors. And then we wonder why our teeth are falling apart despite obsessive oral hygiene routines.

The best way to increase your vitamin D is to get some daily afternoon sun. Eating foods rich in D, like eggs, fatty fish, and mushrooms, can also help. And then take a supplement if necessary.

P.S. CLICK HERE to discover the secret to maintaining your vitamin D levels year-round.

View Sources

Philippe P Hujoel, Vitamin D and dental caries in controlled clinical trials: systematic review and meta-analysis, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 71, Issue 2, 1 February 2013, Pages 88–97