Although you may have a perfect oral routine, you should know that if you want to keep your mouth healthy, nutrition is just as important. It is very important to have a diet that includes vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
In this blog post, we will emphasize the importance of Vitamins for the health of your gums and teeth, what vitamins will work best, and how you can add them throughout the food. Let’s try to find the right way to maintain oral hygiene and make the process fun and easy for you.
How Vitamins Contribute To Dental And Gum Health
Our foods and the nutrients they provide play a crucial role in the health of our teeth and gums. If you want your mouth to be healthy you need to include them in your diet.
Vitamins and mineral’s main purpose is to support gum tissue integrity especially those who are responsible for the production of collagen. If collagen levels in your body are at a normal level the gums will be more resistant to infections and inflammation. This implies that gum disease may be prevented and your body will be stronger.
Furthermore, some nutrients have antioxidant properties that protect gum tissues from oxidative damage brought on by dangerous substances like free radicals. This defense is essential for delaying the development of periodontitis and gingivitis, two gum disorders.
These minerals also play an important role in improving the absorption of calcium, which is essential for healthy teeth. The strong structure of teeth is built and maintained by the mineral calcium, which is essential but only absorbs well in the presence of certain nutrients.
Insufficient quantities of these minerals can make it difficult for the body to absorb calcium, which weakens teeth and makes them more prone to fractures and decay. Moreover, these nutrients support the body’s appropriate use of calcium, which supports bone strength overall as well as oral health.
- Vitamin C
As you might know, vitamin C is very important for our well-being, including our oral health. The main purpose of it will be to protect the gums and to improve the ability of the body to fight illnesses by fortifying the immunity system.
It is common knowledge that doctors will offer vitamin C every that they notice anything wrong with the body since it works great in promoting the healing process and producing new tissues. If you have Vitamin C deficiency you are more prone to experience issues with your gums like swelling and inflammation.
Moreover, you run the risk of developing dental decay and potentially losing a tooth if you ignore this issue. Another condition that can arise from low vitamin C levels is scurvy. The patient may have bleeding gums, extreme gum and tooth pain, loose teeth, and gum inflammation, among other symptoms associated with these disorders.
Due to these reasons, it is very important to take the right amount of Vitamin C every day. You can either take it by foods that are rich in it or by supplements. However, if the gum disease has progressed you should contact your dentist and find the right treatment.
Vitamin C For Repairing Gums
Every good dentist will recommend their patients include the right amount of vitamins and minerals in their diet in order to have healthy gums and teeth. Vitamin C and its supplement will work great for protecting the gums even if the diseases have already started. This is due to the amazing properties that Vitamin C has to heal and repair our gums damaged tissues.
Several studies have shown that people who have suffered from gum issues have seen huge improvement once they have included vitamin C in their diet. If you dont consume it regularly we highly recommend you to start doing so. This vitamin will work great in repairing and maintaining the health of your gums.
- Vitamin K2
When we hear about vitamins and oral health our mind goes to calcium, however, Vitamin K2 also plays an important role in the health of our mouth. The main benefits that this vitamin provides for the body are keeping a balance in the oral microbiome, preventing the formation of cavities, and supporting the minimization of tooth enamel. The primary source of this vitamin is through animal products.
According to many dental studies, calcium is the most essential vitamin for good bones and teeth, which is why milk is served in every school cafeteria all over the world. However, calcium isn’t sufficient on its own to maintain tooth health.
A lot of vitamins and minerals should work together including vitamin K2, in order to prevent cavities and reverse the damage that some of them have done to your teeth. Furthermore, we will explain in more detail how sufficient amounts of vitamin K2 will benefit your body.
Eliminates Bacteria Causing Cavities
One of the main reasons why cavities start to grow is the disturbance of the oral microbiome. The environment of our mouth is filled with bacteria which are separated into good and bad. Good bacteria will prevent cavities from developing and reduce bad breath. On the other hand, bad bacteria will fight the good ones and cause cavities, gum disease, and other oral issues.
Since vitamin K2 works great in keeping the oral microbiome healthy it is very important to find ways to incorporate it into your everyday life. Several studies have shown that this vitamin will decrease the cavity-promoting bacteria by 95 percent, proving its effects.
Build New Dentin
As a K2-dependent protein, osteocalcin functions more effectively when vitamin K2 consumption is increased. Fresh dentin, the calcified tissue underneath the tooth’s enamel layer, develops when osteocalcin is triggered by K2. This process reduces the likelihood of cavities developing.
Slows Tooth Degradation
Just like any other part of the body, our mouth will also be affected by age. As we grow older we are more prone to lose our teeth. Vitamin K2 will work great on wallowing down this normal process and it will increase our bone mass.
- Vitamin D
Although we think of our teeth as fragile and lifeless objects that just need to be cleaned, it is not as simple as that. Besides making our appearance look better, this is not their only purpose and they do not only need superficial maintenance.
Our teeth are a living part of our body and they require a lot of keeping up. Besides brushing and flossing we should also pay attention to our diet. As you might know, calcium is essential for the health of our teeth and our immunity system will also be important for their maintenance. However, what you might not know, both of these important aspects are regulated by vitamin D.
If you dont properly take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing them daily, you can develop periodontal disease and tooth decay. This can also happen in children and last for a long time.
Diet will also play an important role in maintaining good oral health and several researches have shown a relationship between the health of our intestines and gums. This being said your oral health will be impacted by other issues happening in different areas of your body.
- Vitamin A
Fat-soluble vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, eyesight, the immune system, and cell development. There are two main types of vitamin A: provitamin A carotenoids, which are found in fruits and vegetables, and preformed vitamin A (retinol), which is found in animal products.
This vitamin is necessary for preserving the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes, acting as a barrier against infections, and promoting the growth of teeth and bones.
Regarding dental health, vitamin A plays a role in the growth and upkeep of the mouth’s mucous membranes and salivary glands, which keep the oral cavity wet and resistant to germs and other infections. It is also involved in the development of dentin, the layer of tooth underlying enamel that is essential to dental health.
Sufficient consumption of Vitamin A is essential in avoiding dry mouth, a state that may result in dental caries and gingivitis. Additionally, it promotes healthy mucous membranes and gums, which lowers the incidence of oral infections and mouth ulcers. Furthermore, Vitamin A’s function in bone formation is critical for the development of solid teeth and jawbones, which helps to maintain overall dental structure and integrity.
When taken in combination with a balanced diet rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, the advantages of vitamin A for dental health are optimized. This mixture makes sure that the bones and teeth get all they need to be as strong and healthy as possible. For example, vitamin D improves calcium absorption, which works with vitamin A to assist in the preservation of healthy teeth and gums.
- Vitamin B Complex
The development and upkeep of your teeth and gums are significantly influenced by vitamin B-12, an important nutrient. This vitamin facilitates the body’s absorption of calcium, which is necessary to maintain the strength of your bones and teeth.
If your diet is deficient in vitamin B-12, you may have osteoporosis or lose teeth as a result of weaker gums and bones. Fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, mouth sores, and painful tongue are also signs of insufficient vitamin B-12.
It is a good idea to consult with your dentist on the best foods that can improve the levels of vitamin B12 in your body. This vitamin is usually found in eggs, meat, dairy, fish, etc.
These meals have protein and phosphorus, two essential nutrients that maintain healthy teeth, in addition to their high vitamin B-12 content. To get more of this vitamin, you can also take a supplement. Just remember to consult your physician before beginning any regimen.
Why Should You Include Vitamins In Your Diet?
Vitamins are crucial for oral health and maintaining a beautiful smile. Food has a big influence on our dental health; healthy teeth and gums depend on eating a well-balanced diet full of vitamins like phosphorous, D, calcium, vitamin K2, vitamin C, etc. Inadequate vitamin intake can cause enamel erosion, gum disease, and tooth decay.
If you are careful with your food choices, you will be able to avoid issues with your mouth and keep it healthy for a long time. Eating a lot of nutritious meals is necessary to ensure that our teeth and gums get the important minerals and nutrients.
Water is essential for dental health because it promotes salivation and balances the pH in the mouth. Malnutrition, which includes eating snacks and drinking sugary drinks, can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental and gum issues.
Avoiding this kind of meal will be the first and most important step if you want to maintain good oral health, along with the necessary vitamins, good hydration, and a proper cleaning routine. Not only will this keep them looking good from the outside but they will also be stronger, promoting good overall health.
Other Dietary Supplements For Good Oral Health
The best thing to do is to eat nutritious meals that include vitamins, proteins, and healthy carbohydrates. However, if you are not able to get all this nutrition there are certain other supplements that can help you keep good oral hygiene. Some of these supplements include:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
One kind of polyunsaturated fat with many health advantages is omega-3 fatty acids. There is evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may have some beneficial benefits on oral health, even if their direct effects on teeth and gums have not been well studied.
For example, by lowering inflammation and supporting healthy gum tissue, some evidence indicates that omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent or lessen the severity of gum disease.
Green Tea
Green tea extract supplements come in pill or capsule form and are concentrated versions of the extract. The active ingredients in green tea, such as polyphenols and catechins, are present in high concentrations in these supplements.