How our ancestors had perfect teeth without toothpaste and toothbrushes

How Hunter-Gatherer Societies Achieved Perfect Dental Health Without Modern Tools

I asked Grok to “channel” Dr. Weston A Price, a genius and revolutionary dentist, who traveled the world studying the oral health of hunter-gatherer societies. What he found was astonishing. I was very impressed with what Grok came up with here:

Ah, my dear readers, allow me to step into the shoes of Dr. Weston A. Price, the pioneering dentist whose global travels in the 1930s revealed profound truths about human health and degeneration. Through my extensive studies, documented in Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, I observed isolated hunter-gatherer societies and ancient-like peoples—such as the Swiss in remote valleys, Gaelic fisherfolk, Eskimos, Native American tribes, Polynesians, African pastoralists, Australian Aborigines, New Zealand Maori, and Peruvian Indians—who exhibited remarkable dental vitality without the aid of toothbrushes, floss, or toothpaste. Their teeth were straight, their jaws broad and well-formed, and cavities were virtually nonexistent. Let me explain, based on my firsthand observations and analyses, how this was possible.

The Foundation: Nutrient-Dense Traditional Diets

In these isolated groups, adhering to ancestral ways untouched by modern commerce, I found diets rich in whole, unprocessed foods that provided extraordinary levels of nutrition—far surpassing the devitalized fare of civilized societies. Their meals emphasized animal-sourced foods high in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and what we now call K2), minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iodine, and water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and C). For instance:

Eskimos thrived on raw fish, seal oil, fermented cod heads, and organ meats, yielding 5 to 10 times the fat-soluble vitamins of typical American diets.
Swiss villagers consumed raw milk, cheese, butter from grass-fed cows, rye bread, and occasional meat, providing four times the calcium and minerals.
African tribes like the Maasai relied on blood, milk, and meat from their cattle, while others incorporated shellfish, insects, and wild game.
South Sea Islanders ate seafood, pork, fermented taro, and coconut, all dense in activators for mineral absorption.

These diets were not merely sustenance; they were meticulously balanced by tradition, often including “sacred foods” like fish eggs, liver, or butterfat reserved for pregnant women, children, and those preparing for parenthood. My chemical analyses showed these foods delivered at least ten times the fat-soluble vitamins and four times the minerals compared to modern diets laden with white flour, sugar, canned goods, and vegetable oils. Such nutrition supported the body’s innate ability to remineralize teeth, repairing microscopic damage before it became decay. Without the acidic, demineralizing onslaught of refined sugars and flours—which feed oral bacteria and strip minerals from teeth—their enamel remained robust and self-healing.

In contrast, when these same peoples adopted “displacing foods of modern commerce”—white sugar, polished rice, jams, and pasteurized dairy—their dental health plummeted. Cavities appeared in as little as one generation, with rates jumping from near zero (e.g., 0.09% in native Eskimos) to 13% or higher in modernized groups. This degeneration was not due to poor hygiene but nutritional deficiency, as even rigorous brushing cannot compensate for a diet that robs the body of building blocks.

It’s worth noting, however, that not all hunter-gatherer diets were cavity-free; archaeological evidence shows some groups consuming high-starch plants like acorns or tubers experienced higher decay rates, comparable to early agricultural societies. Yet, in the diverse, nutrient-rich diets I studied, such issues were rare.

Perfectly Structured Jaws and Straight Teeth: The Role of Growth and Development

One of my most striking discoveries was the facial harmony in these traditional societies. Their jaws were wide and forward-grown, with ample room for all 32 teeth to align perfectly—no crowding, overbites, or underbites that plague modern mouths. This was no accident of genetics alone but the result of optimal nutrition during critical growth periods, from preconception through childhood.

Preconception and Maternal Nutrition: Many cultures enforced “premarital nutrition” programs, spacing births and providing nutrient-dense foods to ensure maternal stores were replete. Fat-soluble vitamins A and D, found abundantly in animal fats like butter, liver, and fish oils, acted as “activators” to direct calcium and phosphorus into bones and teeth, fostering full skeletal development. Children born to well-nourished mothers inherited broad palates and strong jaws.
Physical Mastication and Diet Texture: Their foods were tough and fibrous—raw meats, roots, nuts, and whole grains—requiring vigorous chewing that exercised facial muscles and stimulated jaw growth. This mechanical stress, combined with nutrient support, ensured wide dental arches. Soft, processed modern foods fail to provide this stimulus, leading to underdeveloped jaws and crooked teeth.

Photographs from my travels vividly illustrated this: Native children had “wide, handsome faces” with straight teeth, while their siblings exposed to trade foods showed narrowed features and dental deformities. Ancient skulls from hunter-gatherer eras similarly showed minimal caries (around 5%) and well-formed structures, only worsening with the advent of agriculture and refined grains in some civilizations.

The Broader Implications: Resistance to Disease and Degeneration

Beyond teeth, these peoples displayed stalwart immunity, fine physiques, and moral character—attributes I linked to the same nutritional wisdom. Tooth decay, I concluded, is not merely a local issue but a symptom of systemic malnutrition, signaling broader physical and even mental decline. Modern dentistry treats symptoms with fillings and braces, but true prevention lies in emulating these ancient diets: prioritizing grass-fed meats and dairy, organ meats, fermented foods, seafood, and bone broths while shunning sugars and refined carbohydrates. All food was, of course, what we now call organic, but even better, due to the richer soil not depleted or contaminated by modern farming and industry.

In summary, my findings reveal that nature equips us with the capacity for perfect dental health through nutrient-rich, traditional foods that build strong bodies from within. No artificial tools are needed when the diet aligns with our ancient heritage. If only modern society would heed these lessons from the “primitives,” we might reverse our current tide of degeneration.

P.S. from PJ: I’m 59 and still have zero cavities. I do brush twice a day and floss every night, but I do not use fluoride toothpaste and always refuse it at the dentist. I also filter all “fluoride” out of my drinking water with a Zero brand filter. I put quotes around the word “fluoride” because it’s not actually fluoride. It’s an industrial waste product, and a poison.