Dr. Lewis Gross, director of the Tribeca Center for Integrative and Holistic Dentistry, is a pioneer in fluoride-free dentistry. He has long argued that the present concentration of fluoride in tap water is higher than necessary, and that it may cause fluorosis—white spots on the teeth—and may be harmful to the health. “There is no reliable estimate of the net benefit of fluoridated water,” he says.

Fluoride, a topical agent used to replace the calcium leeched out by bacterial acids, is useful for children but does little for adults, he says. “There is no benefit in swallowing fluoridated water, other than it passes the teeth. The only natural way to prevent tooth decay is through good hygiene, healthier dietary habits and the creation of an alkaline salivary environment. Healthy saliva has a pH of 7.2, but in a more alkaline environment, teeth and bone re-mineralize.”

Gross’s practice offers free saliva pH tests, and he has developed a natural mouthwash that increases the saliva’s pH. Alka-White, made from essential oils and spices including coconut oil and turmeric, cures early decay and whitens teeth without fluoride, he says.

Alka-White is available online and in stores. For more information, visit Holistic-Dentists.com.