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To truly understand natural healing, you must first understand biology. The tooth root—the structural part below the gumline—contains the pulp. This soft, living tissue is packed with nerves and capillaries, receiving a continuous blood flow that delivers nutrients, toxins, herbs, and medications.

This system builds, nourishes, and cleanses—or potentially contaminates—the tooth on a daily basis. The correct interaction and chemistry of nutrients and elements through an appropriate diet and herbs → health. Incorrect diet, smoking, etc. → bacteria and decay.

All living tissues, whether healthy or diseased, change daily, growing or deteriorating under the influence of favorable and unfavorable foods, herbs, etc. This includes bacteria.

• Essential fatty acids: Omega-3s (EPA and DHA) reduce systemic and gum inflammation, protect gum tissue, reduce bleeding, and protect against gum disease (periodontitis).
• Fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, and seeds: essential nutrients and natural plaque scrubbers. They leave less residue and are generally easier to clean from the teeth.
• Processed, sugary, oily, and animal-based foods leave greater residue, create toxins, and produce acids: enamel demineralization → decay (cavities); plaque → bacterial growth and infection → periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease and related dental concerns:

• Gum sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks.
• Gingivitis: red, swollen, bleeding gums.
• Pyorrhea: inflammation of the gums → pockets, abscesses, bleeding, pus, persistent bad breath (halitosis), and loose, distended teeth.
• Coffee (acidic) → enamel erosion and irritation of the tooth nerves → sensitivity and pain.
• Vitamin C deficiency → bleeding gums. Smoking depletes vitamin C, poisons oral tissues, and dries the mouth → gum infection and recession.

Best prevention and care:

• A good diet.
• Regular flossing and brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Ayurvedic or naturopathic toothpaste and mouthwash.
• A water flosser after meals.
• Saltwater gargling (antiseptic) for cuts on the tongue or in the mouth.
• Oil pulling: gargle 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (antibacterial and anti-inflammatory) with a few drops of neem oil (antibiotic, antiseptic, and antibacterial) for 15–20 minutes. This reduces bacteria, plaque, and pain and helps prevent decay, bleeding gums, infections, pyorrhea, and gingivitis. Do not swallow.
• Clove oil (antibiotic and numbs the nerves): gargle 3–5 drops mixed with 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil.
• Licorice root extract (antimicrobial) and triphala: reduce dental plaque and harmful oral bacteria.

• Dentist: regular visits, cleanings, and treatment have advantages and disadvantages.
• Fillings often lead to a cycle of more fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and implants.
• Root canals can fail within 5–20 years → persistent infection and bone loss around the tooth.
• Posts in cracked teeth: a temporary fix.
• Implants: generally the best, most practical choice, but they require diligent care, regular cleaning, a good diet, etc., to avoid bacterial infection.
• Hard, crunchy foods, such as nuts, candy, cookies, and chips, increase chewing and grinding, potentially weakening repaired teeth or harming low-density bone.

Theory and practice. The proof is in the pudding.

Case History #45 — 2014. I had not seen a dentist in five years. For the previous two years, I had profuse bleeding and seriously bad breath. Additionally, two old crowns on root canals broke off, and there appeared to be severe decay in my front teeth. I went to a dentist, who extracted five teeth and diagnosed severe periodontal disease. He stated that I needed gum surgery ($1,600) before he could treat the decay because of the excessive bleeding. He also said that my front teeth were loose and I would likely lose all of them—he was right. All of this freaked me out. I did not trust him and decided against surgery.

What to do? Implants were a possibility, but they were highly expensive ($3,000–$6,000 per tooth). I did nothing, became seriously depressed and withdrawn, and did not smile for a year. After researching dentists and dental implants online, I found Dr. Marco Munoz Cavallini International Dental Clinic in Costa Rica. I went there and received excellent treatment, care, and state-of-the-art technology at a substantially lower price. They provided free airport pickup, arranged a stay at their hotel, and included breakfast at their restaurant.

• Two teeth extracted: no charge with an implant.
• Three bone grafts: $900.
• One root canal: $450.
• Five implants: $600 per implant screw.
• Six zirconium crowns: $450 each.
• Super cleaning: $50. No decay or gum surgery.

In 2019 and 2021, I returned to Costa Rica, with the same dentistry and hotel prices. Five teeth with root canals → extractions → implants.

Case History #46 — 2023. I returned to Costa Rica. After having six teeth extracted and five implants placed due to failing root canals, I was in severe pain for two weeks, requiring 800 mg of ibuprofen every four hours. Surprisingly, the pain finally disappeared when I changed my diet from vegan to lacto-vegetarian, incorporating Swiss cheese.

Just about every root canal I had after 2014 failed within a year.

Case History #47 — 2026. At age 74, I experienced severe pain in my bottom front teeth and a rear implant two to three times per day. The pain was triggered by hot or cold foods or drinks. The eighth night was the most severe, with pain lasting two hours. I tried various remedies, including ibuprofen and herbs, but none provided relief. I then gargled 1 tablespoon of coconut oil mixed with 6 drops of neem oil for 15 minutes, which eliminated all pain.

Since then, I have had occasional inflammation, pain, and sensitivity, ranging from mild to extreme, due to poor diet. “It tastes so good yet hurts so bad.” I easily correct these flare-ups by gargling with the mixture described above and then adjusting my diet to include more nuts and seeds, which are high in essential fatty acids, for a week or more, depending on the severity. Now, two months later, I have no pain or inflammation. My gums have also grown significantly stronger, with fewer pockets where bacteria can gather.

While I do not know how long this relief will last, I am acting on my own beliefs. If my symptoms worsen, I will consult a dentist. Meanwhile, I will continue these practices and maintain a healthy diet, as other conventional remedies haven't worked for me. This is how I am learning to be my own expert.

The vast majority of tooth, gum, and root infections are caused by harmful oral bacteria that accumulate in pockets around the teeth. These bacteria continuously feed on dietary sugars to survive and multiply. While a healthy diet and targeted herbs can eliminate the bacteria and relieve pain, reinfection can occur if poor dietary habits resume.

My name is Richard Heft. I was a licensed Acupuncture Physician in Florida (1992–2002), a nutritionist, herbalist, and cooking teacher, also skilled in Ayurveda and Western Naturopathy. I was also the owner and operator of Food and Thought health food store in Florida (1984–2001). I questioned and counseled many people over the years, always asking, “What did you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the last two days?” This resulted in the majority of the 50-plus case histories cited in my book, The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, East and West, Western Naturopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.