I’ve always been really interested in dental health, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to chat with the amazing holistic dentist, Dr. Steven Lin, on a podcast. He focuses on the root causes of common dental issues, including crooked teeth, and offers some interesting solutions.
In our conversation, Dr. Lin confirmed a lot of what I’m already doing to avoid braces for my kids and even introduced me to some new ideas. Many of these insights aren’t widely available in traditional dental practices yet, but the good news is that’s starting to change!
Thinking back to when I got braces as a kid, I remember asking my orthodontist why my teeth were crooked. He blamed genetics. But if that were the case, many of our ancestors would have had the same problem, right? Interestingly, anthropologists would argue otherwise. As Dr. Lin notes, crooked teeth weren’t common until the Industrial Revolution. While heredity might play a part, it’s our modern diets that seem to be the main issue.
Most people think the link between food and dental health extends only to sugar causing cavities. However, food is much more deeply connected to our oral health. Dr. Lin’s book, “The Dental Diet,” delves into this connection. Starting with Dr. Weston A. Price’s research in the 1930s, it’s clear that modern diets lack critical nutrients, leading to issues like misshaped jaws and crooked teeth.
Dr. Price found that communities that maintained their traditional diets, rich in fat-soluble vitamins, had straight, beautiful teeth and rarely relied on toothbrushes or toothpaste. Here’s the reason behind it:
Vitamin A is necessary for bone-building cells and facial growth signals. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, and Vitamin K2, more recently understood, activates proteins that transport minerals to our bones and teeth. Unfortunately, today’s diets often fall short of these vital nutrients, and without them, the jaw can’t develop properly. This lack of space for teeth can lead to crowding and crookedness.
There’s a common belief that kids either have crooked teeth or they don’t, and you can’t tell until their adult teeth come in. But Dr. Lin suggests there are early signs parents can watch for, even in infants, that might indicate future crowding. Spotting these issues early increases the chance of correction.
But there’s hope! Dr. Lin and my research suggest several strategies to help reduce the need for braces:
Breastfeeding is a great initial step toward healthy jaw and teeth development, according to the American Dental Association. It helps shape the palate’s arch and promotes proper tongue posture, which is often linked to tongue tie issues that are identified during breastfeeding difficulties. Breastmilk also contains enzymes and probiotics that bolster the immune system and digestive health.
It’s important to include plenty of fat-soluble vitamins and healthy fats in your diet. This means eating foods like fermented items, pasture-raised organ meats, butter, coconut oil, avocados, and fish.
When babies are around six months old and ready for solid foods, choose nutrient-rich and textured foods like meat, liver, and egg yolks, which encourage jaw development through chewing. It’s better to delay or reconsider foods like rice and oatmeal.
As Dr. Lin points out, early detection of jaw issues makes correction easier. Observing a child’s nighttime breathing or facial posture can offer vital clues. Seeking help from professionals like an ENT doctor, chiropractor, osteopath, holistic dentist, or craniosacral therapist can also be beneficial.
Our family is currently using Vivos, a device worn at night to naturally expand the palate as our kids sleep. Unlike traditional braces, Vivos has led to less mouth breathing and improved sleep, and their jaws seem to be developing well as their adult teeth emerge. We’re hopeful this means we can avoid braces altogether!
Despite conventional wisdom suggesting that the upper palate fuses in adulthood and becomes difficult to change, Dr. Lin highlights that this isn’t true. He mentions that stem cells in the palate enable it to expand even in adults and teens, although it may take longer (anywhere from six months to two years) to see results. Applying these techniques can help adults and teens achieve straighter teeth and enjoy better health overall.
We don’t have to wait until our kids are older to identify and address dental problems. By focusing on diet and being attentive to signs, we can significantly improve dental health and prevent issues before they arise. And that’s definitely something to smile about!
Did you have braces when you were younger? How was your experience?
