Conversations involving dentistry and oral health tend to focus on what not to eat. Avoid sugars and carbohydrates, go easy on acidic food and drink, brush often. None of these conversations focus on another, quite significant, part of dental health. Our teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and other oral structures need vitamins too. Knowing what to eat to support oral health is just as important as knowing what to avoid. Below we’ll discuss three vitamins and the critical role they play in maintaining good oral health.
Three Key Vitamins For Your Oral Health
Our oral cavity contains a number of very complex structures that serve important functions. Our teeth are used in speaking, eating, and maintaining the strength of our jaw. Our gums nurture and nourish our teeth and jawbone. Our tongue helps us speak, enjoy food, and even works to clean debris from within the mouth. These are just the three primary structures, and there are many more, including our palette, cheeks, jawbone, and temporomandibular joint. These all need vitamins and minerals to remain healthy and functional.
- Calcium – Getting enough calcium is essential at every stage of our oral development. To begin with, it aids in the development of our jawbones and teeth. Later it helps to maintain their health and durability. Without an ongoing supply of calcium, the health, strength, and durability of our teeth can suffer.
- Vitamin D – Vitamin D plays many vital roles in our oral health. It is necessary for allowing our body to properly process calcium to form bones and teeth. It also helps to protect us from attacks from periodontal disease. Vitamin D has been identified as very effective at battling the bacteria that cause gum disease and decay. It battles them both in the mouth and in the bloodstream. It can also help our bodies recover when periodontal disease sets in.
- Vitamin B 12 – Without B12, our bodies become much more susceptible to periodontal disease. Those who have low levels have been shown that they weren’t just more likely to develop this condition but to experience its worst effects. The pockets that form in their gums are deeper, the teeth degrade faster, and the condition just advances more effectively overall.
Eating a well-balanced diet helps with every aspect of our health. Our gums and teeth thrive when they have enough of the proper nutrients. While avoiding sugar and carbohydrates and limiting our intake of acidic food and drink is important, it’s not everything. These vitamins and minerals go a long way to helping protect us even when these others are present. By avoiding foods that are bad for us and indulging in those that strengthen our oral health, we can live a life with beautiful teeth.
Speak To Your Dentist For More Guidance
There is no better ally in learning about your oral health than your dentist. They’ll be able to help you understand the fine details of a dental health diet. They’ll also inform you about which specific areas you need to focus on to develop exceptional oral health. Schedule your next visit to their offices today.
