Are vitamins and minerals important for our oral health?
There are many minerals and nutrients that are good for the entire body. The lack of these nutrients can have harmful effects on your mouth and teeth, and may contribute to some oral issues. They can affect your general health too. There is no doubt regarding this.
Let’s see together which are the vitamins and minerals that are essential for our good oral health.
- Vitamin A. This vitamin plays an important role in the development of your teeth and healthy teeth enamel. Another major benefit of vitamin A is maintenance of healthy flow of saliva in your mouth, as well as maintenance of healthy mucous membranes. It also helps keep your gums healthy and ensures proper healing. You can easily find vitamin A in beef, liver, cheese, fish, milk and eggs. Orange and yellow foods like carrots, mangoes and sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens such as spinach, are rich in beta-carotene which transforms into vitamin A in our body.
- Vitamin B3. The lack of vitamin B3 can lead to bad breath and canker sores in your mouth. In order to avoid this, eat chicken and fish.
- Vitamin B12 and B2. A little amount of these vitamins in your body can cause mouth sores. It can also make gingivitis more severe. Sources of vitamin B2 are spinach, almonds, whole-wheat pasta, mushrooms. You can find vitamin B 12 in red meat, chicken, liver, pork, fish. Dairy products, like milk, yogurt and cheese are also good sources of vitamin B12.
- Vitamin C helps build and repair connective tissue, which aid in preventing gum inflammation. Deficiency of vitamin C can cause bleeding, swollen gums and loose teeth. Sources of vitamin C are strawberries, citrus fruits, broccoli, sweet potatoes.
- Vitamin D. Without vitamin D, your body can’t absorb the calcium it needs to keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy. Deficiency of vitamin D will cause burning mouth syndrome (this include a burning mouth sensation, a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth). This vitamin is extremely important in the process of keeping the teeth anchored in the gums, causing periodontal disease. Research shows that vitamin D may help reduce the risk of tooth decay. The cells in the teeth that form dentin and enamel contain vitamin D receptors, which means that this vitamin plays a role in their functionality. Drink milk and eat eggs and fish in order to avoid vitamin D deficiency.
- Vitamin E reduces the soreness of gums in teething children and it helps in the recovery of mouth tissues. You can find vitamin E in dark leafy greens, nuts, sunflower seeds, avocados.
- Calcium is highly important because it helps maintaining your teeth in a good shape. Our jaws and teeth are made mostly of calcium which means its regular intake can protect our teeth’s enamel. It prevents osteoporosis, a condition which can cause bone tissues around your teeth. Without enough calcium in your diet, you risk developing gum disease or tooth decay. Eat calcium-rich foods, such as sardines, green leafy vegetables, salmon, cabbage, oysters, beans. And consume dairy products.
- Iron deficiency can cause inflammations on your tongue and appearance of sores inside your mouth. You can find iron in red meat, liver, some cereals, some nuts and spices.
- Zinc and magnesium. These two minerals help a lot our body. Zinc reduces build-up plaque on your gums and prevents the growth of bacteria in our mouth. You can find zinc in cereals, wheat, beef and cheese. Magnesium protects your teeth from cavities. In order to have strong teeth, eat dark chocolate, bananas and spinach.
As a conclusion, vitamins and minerals are an essential part of our life and they contribute to our good oral health. By having a balanced diet, you will have stronger teeth and healthy gums. If you think you may have dental issues because of the lack of some nutrients, call us today to make an appointment. 610.647.7611 is our phone number. Dr. Arhiri will be more than glad to help you with everything you may need.
References:
http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=w&iid=315&aid=3805
https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/dental-caries/
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/Vitamin-D-and-Teeth.html
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/oral-health/6-vitamins-and-minerals-your-mouth-needs/
https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/dental-health/vitamin-and-mineral-for-good-oral-health.html
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