How Vitamins and Minerals Affect Your Teeth? Let's Know

Tooth cavities or decay is an alarming concern among millions of adults and children globally. Like tooth decay, gum disease infections have also risen greatly recently. Poor dental hygiene and diet are the key factors behind dental problems. In this article, let’s learn how various vitamins and minerals affect dental health.

Diet and Oral Health

A healthy diet is essential for healthy and strong teeth and gums. Eating the wrong food and beverages weakens your teeth and makes them susceptible to fractures, diseases, and stains.

For instance, a diet high in sugars encourage bacteria growth in the mouth, increasing your risk of teeth and gum infections. Similarly, acidic foods erode tooth enamel, making you susceptible to cavities and decay.

Chewing hard food can also cause a tooth to chip, crack, or break, greatly impacting your oral health, function, and appearance. Highly colored foods also cause your teeth to stain or discolor, impacting your smile and self-confidence.

Can vitamins affect your teeth?

Eating foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals strengthen your teeth and gums, making them more resistant to acids and bacterial attacks. They also improve your immune system, reducing your risk of oral diseases and preserving your oral and overall health.

Dental health can be significantly affected without proper essential nutrients and minerals. For instance, a lack of essential minerals like fluoride and calcium causes your teeth to lose minerals, making them susceptible to cavities and fractures.

Similarly, a lack of certain vitamins weakens your immune system, reducing your body’s efficiency in fighting infections and oral diseases like cavities, abscesses, and gum disease.

Which vitamins and minerals are important to teeth?

• Vitamin A

Vitamin A aids in the development and maintenance of the soft tissues of the mouth. The antioxidants of vitamin A also lower gum disease progression and improve the strength of tooth-supporting structures like the bone and periodontal ligaments.

It also promotes saliva production in the mouth, helping to wash away acids and bacteria from the mouth. Excellent sources of vitamin A include leafy greens, fish, egg yolks, liver, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, and cantaloupe.

• Vitamin D

Vitamin D improves the body’s ability to absorb calcium from the small intestines to the bloodstream. It improves your body’s bone mineral density. Vitamin D deficiency causes your body to resorb calcium from the bones, impacting your dental health. You should get D vitamins for jaw bone loss prevention.

Excellent sources of vitamin D include sunlight, leafy greens, fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, and salmon), Portobello mushrooms, cheese, cereals, dairy products, and vitamin D supplements.

• Vitamin K

Vitamin K produces a bone-strengthening protein called osteocalcin, which preserves bone mass by blocking substances that break down bone tissues. Excellent sources of vitamin K include leafy greens like kale, spinach, broccoli, collards, Brussels sprouts, and parsley.

• Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an excellent option if you’re wondering what vitamin is good for gums. Vitamin C improves your immune system and promotes healthy gums to keep your teeth firm and stable. It’s also important for repairing connective tissues in the mouth and can help prevent gingivitis. Citrus fruits like grapefruits and lemons are common sources of vitamin C. You can also obtain it from leafy greens and potatoes.

• Vitamin B2, B3, and B12

Good amounts of niacin or Vitamin B3 help prevent bad breath (halitosis) and canker sores. Sources include meat, fish, dairy, chicken, pork, liver, leafy greens, and poultry.

• Calcium

Calcium is one of the key components of your body’s bones. Eating more calcium helps maintain the strength and structure of your teeth. Calcium also helps rebuild and strengthen your jawbone, ensuring a solid base for your teeth. Dairy products like milk, cheeks, and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium. You can also obtain calcium from leafy greens like broccoli, kale, and cabbage and fish like salmon.

• Potassium

Like vitamin D and calcium, potassium helps to boost your bone mineral density and strength. Potassium also neutralizes the PH in your blood, preventing calcium loss and bone loss. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Other sources include tomatoes, Swiss chard, avocados, prunes, lima beans, and sweet potatoes.

• Phosphorus

Phosphorus is essential to improve your calcium absorption, which helps strengthen your bones and teeth. Seafood, lentils, pork, cheese, and soybeans are excellent sources of phosphorus.

Schedule an Appointment Today with Our Dentist in Randolph, MA

Are you interested in learning more about what minerals are good for teeth? Schedule a dentist appointment at Randolph Dental Group to speak with our dentist in Randolph, MA.