Sometimes what’s missing isn’t a better toothbrush. It’s a mineral.
I’ve seen too many patients who brush and floss and eat a “healthy” diet—and still get cavities. Still grind their teeth. Still clench their jaws so tightly at night that their facial muscles are sore in the morning. They wake up tired, wired, or both—despite doing everything right on paper.
That pattern shows up over and over again. And it almost always leads me to look deeper.
Cavities are multi-factorial—affected by nutrition, sleep, airway health, mineral balance, and more.
So much of what we treat on the surface—cavities, dry mouth, poor sleep, jaw tension—links back to one missing thing: magnesium (link to the one I take).
Not a better toothbrush. Not a stricter routine. A missing mineral.
Nearly half to three-quarters of Americans don’t meet the recommended daily intake of magnesium.⁽¹⁾ Standard blood tests often miss it, since only about 1% of the body’s magnesium is in blood serum.⁽²⁾
Even people who eat well can be low!
Magnesium is the co-pilot to calcium.
It’s essential for regulating the parasympathetic nervous system—the part that controls rest, digestion, and saliva production.⁽³⁾ When magnesium is low, saliva slows down, the mouth gets drier, and the pH shifts.
Magnesium acts as a cofactor for enzymes involved in calcium transport and utilization—especially in bone and enamel formation.⁽⁴⁾ Without it, calcium can end up in soft tissues. Remineralization doesn’t happen. Enamel stays vulnerable to demineralization.⁽⁵⁾ Your jaw muscles stay tight. Your nervous system never really settles down.
Ten signs of magnesium deficiency that show up in the mouth:
- Dry mouth
- Jaw clenching or tension
- Cravings for chocolate
- Tooth sensitivity (often multifactorial, but worth noting)
- Bad breath not explained by diet or hygiene
- A scalloped tongue
- Difficulty swallowing (when not linked to structural issues)
- Mouth ulcers (can also involve B vitamin or zinc status)
- Increased cavities despite good hygiene
- Tongue twitching or tingling
These signs don’t confirm magnesium deficiency on their own. But when several show up together, they’re a good reason to look closer.
I’ve seen magnesium shift these patterns—especially when nothing else seems to help. It’s basic, overlooked, and a critical part of the foundation.
Your mouth is part of your body—we forget that.
If you’re wondering where to begin, start with food. Pumpkin seeds, spinach, almonds, black beans, and dark chocolate are some of the richest natural sources of magnesium.
And if you’re not getting enough through diet alone—as many people aren’t—a well-absorbed supplement can help fill the gap (link to the one I take).
I hope this helps you connect the dots in your own health journey. What questions would you like me to address in an upcoming newsletter? I would love to hear from you.
Dr. B
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Sources:
(1) Fulgoni VL et al. “Foods, Fortificants, and Supplements: Where Do Americans Get Their Nutrients?” J Nutr. 2011.
(2) DiNicolantonio JJ, et al. “Subclinical magnesium deficiency: a principal driver of cardiovascular disease and a public health crisis.” Open Heart. 2018.
(3) Ghezzi EM et al. “Salivary secretion and its control by the autonomic nervous system.” Neuropharmacology. 2012.
(4) Rude RK. “Magnesium Deficiency: A Cause of Heterogeneous Disease in Humans.” J Bone Miner Res. 1998.
(5) Eisenburger M et al. “Effect of Fluoride and Magnesium on Enamel Demineralization.” J Dent. 2001.