5 Most Important Vitamins for Teeth and Gums

Good dental hygiene is vital to maintaining healthy teeth and gums and teeth. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, vitamins can play an important role in keeping your teeth in good shape. Listed below are a few vitamins that can keep your teeth healthy.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a role in bone growth, tooth formation, and cell reproduction. Proper amounts of vitamin A in the body are necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, too much vitamin A can lead to bone problems because the body cannot process it. 

Vitamin B

There are eight B vitamins, and they all help your body convert food into energy. They can also help you manage stress and improve your mood. You can take vitamin B supplements when they aren’t found in your food or aren’t naturally occurring. One B vitamin that can help your teeth and gums is biotin. You can find this in foods like eggs, peanuts, mushrooms, salmon, avocados, and more. Biotin helps your mouth cells grow normally, which can prevent gum issues in the future. It can even help reverse the damage that’s already been done to your gums. Some studies have noted that people with gum disease have low levels of biotin in their blood. This can help indicate if your low amount of biotin is causing you to experience problems with your teeth and gums. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important for your overall oral health. It not only helps your body produce collagen, which is the main structural protein in the gums but also acts as an antioxidant to help fight free radicals that could be harmful to your gums.

Without vitamin C, you could experience bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth. You may also notice your gums starting to recede. These symptoms can be signs of gum disease. Vitamin C also strengthens your immune system. This means that it can help protect you from certain oral infections like gingivitis.

You can get vitamin C from foods like citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and more. It can also be found in some multivitamins. 

Vitamin D

There are two forms of vitamin D, D2, and D3, which are also called cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol, respectively. Both of these forms are found in supplements and fortified foods. The active forms of vitamins are D2 and D3, but the body also converts some D2 to D3. Vitamin D3 is the form that is found naturally in food. This vitamin is important for bone growth and mineralization of teeth in children. Adults also benefit from the intake of vitamin D since it helps to maintain healthy bones and muscles, including gums.

A lack of vitamin D may cause a person to have gum disease. Studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to an increased risk of developing periodontal disease. People with low blood levels of vitamin D had more bone loss around their teeth than those with normal levels. Those with severe vitamin D deficiency had the most bone loss. Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble nutrients that our bodies need so that they can absorb dietary calcium and phosphorous. These substances are needed to keep our teeth and bones healthy. The body absorbs vitamin D from the intestines and then into the bloodstream. From there, they bind to receptors in the body’s cells, where they help the cells absorb calcium and phosphorous.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the body against free radical damage by neutralizing them and reducing oxidative stress. This vitamin also helps with cell renewal and health. Inflammation is a normal part of the healing process, but too much can cause damage to oral tissues and delay healing. Taking vitamin E supplements can reduce this inflammation and speed recovery. However, be sure to speak with a dentist before taking any supplement, as it will not treat infections or diseases.

G. Larry Leonakis, DDS, provides regular checkups and treatments and provides patients with the information to make their best decisions. Visit us at 371 S Roop St, Carson City, NV 89701, contact us at (775) 882-0635, or visit our website https://www.drlarrydds.com for further information.