Below is my interview with Melinda, co-owner and founder of The Dental Essentials. She's also offer a (very generous) giveaway and coupon code!
What is your company and how long have you been in business?
Just over a year ago my partner and I created, "The Dental Essentials", a small line of nutritional supplements designed to help remineralize teeth and reduce the risk of cavities. Our formulations are largely based on the work of Weston A. Price and Dr May Mellanby.
What inspired you to go into this line of work?
My daughter's own experience at the dentist as a very active, healthy, organic-foods-eating girl was the spark. She developed her first cavity and the dentist told me, basically, that due to her poorly mineralized teeth, she would continue to get cavities. "Its not if, but when," she said with no more advice than to brush and floss, certainly nothing regarding a nutritional, more holistic approach. This just seemed wrong.
As my partner and I learned more about the link between dental caries and nutritional deficiencies I can honestly say I was shocked. The research of Weston Price and May Mellanby helped us determine what the key nutrients for mineralization are and I started to supplement my daughter's diet. She has never had another cavity, nor has my son. Formulating and creating these products for the public at that point seemed like a great step to take.
How do you believe you and your business are bringing good into the world?
Great question, Rachel, nobody has ever asked me that before! I do think my business is bringing good into the world. No matter where and how you live, all parents want their children to be as healthy as possible but having teeth with holes and decay in them is definitely not part of that equation. Our company is built on the knowledge that cavities are not inevitable and, with a little knowledge up front and a small, consistent effort, they can be significantly reduced and even eradicated.
What else should we know?
I know when a family is struggling with cavities, it can feel overwhelming and finding alternative approaches to care is not easy. I would urge parents to visit our blog at www.thedentalessentials.wordpress.com for some really interesting articles about the research we based our products on.
There is also information there (and on our website) about breastfeeding and cavities– as you can imagine we wholeheartedly affirm that nursing at night does NOT cause tooth decay — as well as links to current studies looking at a pregnant mother's intake of vitamin D and their child's subsequent incidence of cavities. Fascinating stuff.
The approach to dental health appears to be undergoing an much needed overhaul right now and it's largely being led by parents and families who know there are better ways to keep teeth healthy that are natural and complementary.
If you are interested in The Dental Essentials and our philosophy on preventing cavities through nutrition, head to their facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheDentalEssentials. Make sure to "like" us, too, since twice a year we announce a big 48 hour sale via facebook and twitter. Our twitter account is #Cavity_Free if you'd like to follow us.
The Dental Essentials has offered 15% off the purchase of any of their products with code "Lusa15". (Can be used once per customer and cannot be combined with any other coupons.) Enter the code on the order page where it says "coupon code" then hit "apply." Valid through May 30, 2012.
They are also offering a family pack of The Dental Essentials containing three bottles of tablets and one bottle of their liquid formula (Valued at $120). To be entered, just leave a comment below. Good luck, and have a great weekend everyone!
Comments are now closed. Congratulations to Liz who said, "headed over to your blog now to get more info- so happy to have come across this!"
i found your blog researching early childhood tooth decay. the make your own toothpaste post was the first one i read. the link between nutrition and tooth decay is definitely new to me but it makes a lot of sense. i feed my daughter healthy foods, she didn’t really drink fruit juice, never had sugar and still developed decay before a year. it’s frustrating when you think you are doing things right and your child has a problem you don’t know how to fix. thanks for this interview and much needed, valuable information!
I have never heard of this until you mentioned it a while ago. Worth looking into for sure.
Oooo…would love to try this. It is so frustrating to be doing everything you’ve been told is “right” (including a healthy diet) – and still end up with decay.
I would love to try this. I’ll definitely be checking out their site as I have been curious about this for awhile. My Dad is a traditional dentist and we have started to have conversations about these things as I now have boys of my own and have been seeking out more natural approaches than I grew up with.
I found out about The Dental Essentials company through your blog and would love to try their products. My son experienced dental issues when he was very young, not to mention dealing with some horrible dentists. Keeping our teeth healthy is really important to us. Thank you for the discount and the giveaway.
We are so excited to have found this supplement. We can’t wait to hear some good news from the dentist in 3 months! Thank you!
I am glad to read your interview with Melinda. I wasn’t aware of anyone making supplemental support that would support my daughters teeth as she struggles with this issue. I appreciate the discount offer and giveaway opportunity!
Teeth! I’ve got a boy with a mouthful of cavities. We’ve been trying to do the FCLO, with some success, I’m interested in this as well. Rachel, I love that you are bringing together all of this toothy wisdom.
i just came back from reading a few articles on their website. very interesting. thank you for guiding us to this information.
I, too, have been looking at dental health in relation to diet. My daughter and I both have issues and am glad that we now have options like Dental Essentials. Thanks for the chance to win some great stuff.
Would love to try this! Thanks for the chance!
I’m so glad that there are alternatives out there! My family has struggled with cavities for years and I’m only beginning to understand what is the real cause and how to deal with it. Thanks for this info and I would love to win some great products!
Wow this would be great!
I didn’t even know there were other options besides fillings. Thank you so much for bringing this to light for my family. Maybe my youngest will have a better outcome.
I am very interested in this. After seeing the dentist last month I know we need to make some changes and this could get us started. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’m so encouraged by this. I’ve had almost every tooth in my mouth filled because of cavities. My oldest daughter seems to be following my path.
thank you for sharing this wisdom and alternative way to look at teeth!!!
Definitely eager to check this out more! Thank you for bringing them to our attention!
I have a 5 year old daughter (who was breastfed until age 2) whose enamel is breaking down on several of her teeth (and had to have a dental procedure done at age 2 to prevent further breakdown). She also just experienced the trauma of getting her first cavity filled and was given a paste (with terribly unhealthy ingredients) to put in her mouth each night. Needless to say, we never used the paste. I found your site….after seeing it on the Clean blog….and was amazed at the natural options out there….thanks so much!!! Also, making my first batch of bone broth now!!! 🙂 I would love to win the giveaway….crossing my fingers!
I would love this. We’ve been trying to follow a traditional foods diet for two years now since my 12 month old got brown spots on her teeth. Since eating more traditional foods they haven’t gotten worse. But helping out any deficiency would be such a help.
I would love to win this. I never had a cavity until I was pregnant and vegan, since then I have changed my diet. My son would also greatly benefit.
Oh, I would love to win this! I’ve never heard of this before but would like to give it a shot.
Oooo me! me! me! my bottle that i had for almost 2 months fell out of my fridge while i was opening it, and broke. oil spilled everywhere. needless to say, i need more. thanks for offering this giveaway.
My siblings and I suffered from cavities as children so this topic is truly intriqing to me. I love forward to reading the link provided. Thanks for offering this give-away.
Hello all,
Great to see the positive comments and interest! If anyone has any questions, I’d be happy to answer.
Cheers,
Melinda
Awesome giveaway, thanks!
Would love to win this, a bottle goes fast with 3 kids!! Thank you!!
Karen
I’ve considered trying this, but haven’t managed to justify the initial cost with my husband. This would be a great trial!
It’s so great to have your products available!
Would love to try these with my sons.
Wow! This is so perfect. Two of my kids get cavities more often than I’d like even though we’re so careful to brush and floss and even use fluoride rinse. It is SO frustrating! Thanks for letting us know about Dental Essentials.
We’d love to try this on our cavity prone teeth. Thanks for the give away.
A dental health supplement is such a great idea! My 5yo has had three cavities so far and I’ve been researching our options. I would love to try this. Thanks for the great giveaway.
thanks for the chance!!
Great interview! Some interesting info there! Thanks!
headed over to your blog now to get more info- so happy to have come across this!
I’ve not heard of this website. I can’t wait to check it out. Isaac’s first visit at the dentist at 18 months resulted in 4 hours under i.v. sedation to “fix” everything.
we’d love to try ~ my son has teeth problems at an early age..
One of my three kiddos had decay issues. (It turned out to be celiac disease) And we are proof that teeth CAN remineralize. It couldn’t hurt to give these formulas a try. Thanks for the chance.
Thanks for the info on these products. Worth a look see.
Awesome! Heading to their website to check it out!
Such amazing research! What a relief to find a solution that makes sense! I had been told that the lack of mineralization on my son’s teeth “just happens”… Thanks for the chance for such a grat giveaway.
Oh man, I really really really hope I win this one, I’ve had problems with my teeth my whole life and have just recently been told I have a number of deficiencies so I have a LONG way to go to build my teeth back up. Plus I just lost my job so now I don’t have the money to buy the stuff I need to do it. Thank-you for the opportunity to win such an amazing product!!
Thank you for the links to research info, and the chance to win!
Thank you for the research information! When I have a little time I will def be looking into it. I’m still bfing so knowing how much vitamin d to take (I take about 4000mg a day now) and if I should increase it to help my daughter will be great! Having had the very first cavity of my own last year, I’m sooo looking forward to looking into these products! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Thanks for the chance to win! I never had cavities until I became pregnant, and now I get them all the time. I even had to have a root canal a week before my youngest was born.
wow! just what I need!!! thanks for sharing
I would love to try this. Seems I have a new cavity every time I go in for a cleaning and my behavior doesn’t seem to affect it much at all.
Thanks so much for the info and the chance to win. I have been making my own bone broth for a year now due to your blog. With 5 kids at home, dental bills are a big issue (not to mention the chemicals)Thanks!
i’ve been wanting to try their products. if i don’t win, i’m definitely going to use the discount code & check them out.
thanks for always introducing great products!
These sound amazing!
Oh wow! What a neat giveaway. 🙂
It would be great to try DENTAL ESSENTIALS.
Oh, I”d love to try this. Our 4 year old is struggling with tooth decay and ECCs. Her molars are crumbling!!
This would be a great supplement to add to our routine.
Fascinating stuff. Would love to give it a try.
Timely information for us. Thanks for all you do!
My daughter is just cutting her first teeth and I am already worries about protecting her from cavities!
I night nurse while co-sleeping & was concerned with tooth decay when I read “What to Expect the First Year.” After just a little research online, I am now convinced that I don’t need to night-wean. I will definitely take a look at your site & products. Thanks!
I’m in the midst of dealing with possible tooth decay in my one year old. It’s very frustrating on so many levels. He has a very heathy diet, we started brushing his teeth at four months, and night nursing is being blamed by his doctor. We have not been to dentist yet, but I saw this sponsor earlier this month and was planning on buying before even reading this. The coupon is great and I’d love to win some, too! Thank you! I forwarded this information on to my chiropractor a few weeks ago, too, since I was asking her for advice about local dentists.
That’s really interesting that you can eat well and organic and still have dental problems. Sometimes I feel like dentists are just toothpaste salesmen who don’t really know a lot. I’d love to win this – I’ve noticed some problems with my teeth since pregnancy.
Wow. What an amazing product. I love Weston Price and his research. Thank you for telling us about this company!
These products sound wonderful. I switched to a holistic after the birth of my twins. During that pregnancy I developed 11 cavities and was told I needed 4root canals also had 5 after my eldest son’s pregnancy Needless to say I did not. I am worried about my childrens teeth given what dental health because of this. Would love to try these out.
Ths sounds great! Thanks for the information on some great products.
Thanks so much for the wonderful offer! My littlest one has had some tooth trouble – would love to try these!
Oh this sounds amazing! My youngest struggles with cavities and we have been trying to use nutrition and other natural remedies to help her. Thanks for the chance.
I love learning more about a good business and good product – thank you for sharing!
What a generous giveaway! Sounds like products I should learn more about for our little guy.
I wish my parents knew about this when I was a kid. I will be trying this on myself and my daughter. Would it be safe for pets too? my tiny poodle needs dental help too!
I would love to try this even though I am an adult. I have always battled my teeth even with the flossing,brushing and everything the dentist tells me to do. I am now in the middle of a $2,000. bridgework. My pocketbook can’t keep up at this rate.
I’d love to try your product!
Would love to try this! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
sounds interesting, I am going to look into their site some more.
Melanie
Wow, this is timely. My two year old has decay on her front teeth and the dentist wants to put her under general anesthetic to repair them, which seems extreme to me. We are researching our alternatives and I’m definitely going to look further into this!
Hmm, I am interested in learning more about adult teeth and th epossibilities of re-mineralization. My dentist has recommended several mouthwashes to me for this purpose but thus far no supplements.
Interesting, thanks.
thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for offering this giveaway. I actually learned of The Dental Essentials after spotting them in your sponsor list recently at a time when I happened to be researching dental health for myself.
I would love to try these products. Thank you for the information and usefull links. Thank you for offering this giveaway!
My husband and I have both recently read about using supplements to prevent and repair our teeth and are anxious to give it a try, so the timing of this post is perfect!
Melinda,
Thanks so much for the chance at this give a way, for your products and research. Here are a few questions (i havent had a chance to read any of your info yet but i plan to the first chance i get) – you mentioned that night time nursing doesnt promote tooth decay (my two year old still nurses a bit at night 🙂 – why is it that it posses no risk (since most people are of the opposite opinion)? What is your feeling of using xylotol? I have a 7 year old who has had 3 cavities and a 2 year old – both have excellent oral hygiene since Im a dental hygienist.
Very excited to read all your information and about your products. Thanks so much. Lori
I have just started looking into this! After a scary reaction at the dentist office and being told it was “anxiety”, I have decided to try and heal them myself! Thanks 🙂
We found Dental Essentials after our own problems with cavities and wanted to go the nutritional route! I’d love to win some! Thank you for bringing this information to others! Thank you for the code too!
This looks awesome, I just started reading Ramiel Nigels book and I’m figuring out what to incorporate for my daughters less than stellar tooth health. Barely three years old and two cavities and a couple more teeth looking discolored.
I am so happy to learn about this! We have a three year old and a one year old and we’ve just started learning more about traditional foods/nutrition. I would LOVE to win the family pack!
I’m very interested in this as we have two children under 10 years old with crowns already (and one with no cavities!). Our first son’s teeth were basically crumbling and he needed several crowns and fillings before his second birthday. The cause: “bottle mouth”. After I assured the dentist that my child had never had a bottle, never drank juice, soda, sugary anything etc. he revised his diagnosis to “nursing on demand”. Blah. It took a fair amount of research to talk myself down from that nonsense, but despite all the fermented cod liver oil, grass-fed butter oil, coconut oil, bone broths and vitamin D in our diets we are now struggling with caries in his little sister. So, as I said, I’m very interested, thanks for sharing!
I am looking forward to learning more about this approach! Thanks, Rachel!
We’ve been customers for awhile now. This would be great!
I would love to try the Dental Essentials, I have had a lot of trouble with my teeth since having kids. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
Our 5 year old is taking the tablets and we the 2 year old gets the drops. Hoping the next dentist appt. is better!
This could really help our grandchildren!
I’d like to try this.
I would definitely love to try this! Thanks for the giveaway!
I am most certainly passing on this info to my daughter and daughter in law for my grandbabies. Healthy teeth seem to be important for so many reason besides beauty.
So glad you sponsored a giveaway for this. I’m reading Cure Tooth Decay and this fits right in with what I’m learning.
I feel completely overwhelmed every time I try to read up on the diet I should be pursuing to help my kids’ teeth. I have three under four, so I find getting dinner on the table a challenge many days, much less a soaked/fermented/WAPF type meal. I would love to try this out and love the sound of this company.
So very timely! This is exactly what I have been looking for. Thanks for the giveaway and discount code. 🙂
This is one I’ve been meaning to try. We’ve been making our own toothpaste for about 6 months and it was helping my daughters teeth alot. You can always tell how well something is working when you stop using it for awhile. I had run out of toothpaste ingredients and had to fall back on some glycerin based toothpaste in the cabinet for a few weeks and my daughter actually said that we needed to make our own again because her teeth didn’t feel clean enough.
I suffered from cavities since a very early age and onward through my adulthood despite good hygiene habits. I’m whole heartedly into eating whole foods and I love the Nourishing Traditions way. I’d love to try these products. I’ve been nervous about passing along my dental history to my 2 yr. old. This could be a huge life changer for us. Fingers crossed to win. Thanks for the opportunity.
have been following Weston Price principles for a few years now and very excited to see a company dedicated to his work…thanks for these products! looking forward to NO cavities.
This is really fascinating information. I have one question, though. Can I expect to protect my teeth and heal cavities using your supplements if I still eat grains? There are so many healthful aspects of whole grains that I do not want to deprive myself of, is it possible to have strong, healthy teeth if I obtain all the necessary tooth and bone-building minerals and still include grains in my diet?
I’d love to try this – thanks for the chance!
18 month old Eero would really benefit from these. We’ve upped butter, started CLO, and really intensified the brushing. So far so good…no caps yet. Would love to use this product! Thanks for the interview and discount code!
Thanks, Alyssa. Sending tooth-healing thoughts your way!
Sending blessings Teri. I know too well how hard that is.
Good for you to research further and find your own truth. (We jokingly referred to the “What to Expect” books as the “What to Fear” books when I was pregnant with my first.) 😉
Aron, I would expect so, but I’d email Melinda to ask her for sure.
Good luck, Lindsay. We’ve been there and it’s so hard.
I understand. It’s hard to know what is most important. If you can make time, add bone broth daily. (I have a recipe on the blog, search “bone broth” in the sidebar search tool.
This is so fantastic. I would love to explore this method of prevention with my kids. Thank you!
What a wonderful opportunity! I have been looking for something like this