Proper oral health maintenance doesn’t stop when you finish brushing and flossing—it matters in the kitchen too. A healthy diet consisting of the right vitamins and minerals is necessary to keeping your smile strong and clean.
Whether it’s through nutritional supplements or just plain healthy eating, getting the following vitamins and mineral supplements for oral health is positively vital. Getting them doesn’t have to be hard work and they bring some culinary variety to your life, too.
Calcium
Getting enough calcium is imperative if you want strong, healthy teeth. The majority of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones; here it provides both strength and structure. For the mouth, it builds tooth enamel and a strong jaw. It’s also a vital component of the body’s blood stream, and if there’s too little of it there, it saps calcium from the bones.
A deficiency in calcium causes osteoporosis, bone fractures, and weakened bone tissues. Those looking to increase their intake of calcium should consume more dairy, fish, and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin A
Though one of the least talked about nutrients, vitamin A is no less important than its counterparts to proper oral health. This edible underdog keeps the mouth clean. It’s responsible for the maintenance of the mouth’s mucous membranes and salivary flow: the parts of the mouth that wash away unsavory junk. This, in turn, keeps mouth tissues clean.
Vitamin A is primarily found fish, eggs, liver, and fruits and vegetables with a predilection towards orange: mangoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamins B2, B12, and Iron
No one likes canker sores. They’re painful, unsightly, and they refuse to go away with any speed. Fortunately, vitamins b2, b12, and iron are the nutrients the bust canker sores and other similar oral annoyances.
These vitamins and mineral each regulate mouth tissue health in some way. Iron, for instance, carries oxygen throughout the body. A lack of oxygen (spawned from a lack of iron) makes it easier for bacteria to build up in your mouth cavities. These cavity crime fighters also reduce general swelling, tongue inflammation, and bad breath.
Vitamins B2 and B12 can be found in:
- Poultry
- Beans
- Red meat
- Most green vegetables
Iron is most prominent in red meat, liver, and shellfish.
Vitamin C
Most commonly known is the go-to vitamin for those with a cold, vitamin C is also great for oral health thanks to its restorative properties. First and foremost, vitamin C strengthens an individual’s immune system. This helps to ward off all forms of infection and gum disease. Vitamin C also builds and repairs connective tissue within the mouth.
Popular sources of vitamin C include:
- Citrus fruit
- Broccoli
- Berries
- Kale
Vitamin D
As discussed earlier, calcium is an integral part of oral hygiene. Vitamin D is the nutrient that regulates calcium levels throughout the body, and makes it easier to absorb. Not meeting an appropriate quota of vitamin D may lead to dryness and a metallic taste in the mouth. The mouth is remarkably talented at communicating to its owner when something’s wrong.
Those looking to up their vitamin D intake should drink more milk and allow their skin to soak in more sunlight.
Here at Arkansas Family Dental, we want to make sure your mouth, teeth, and gums are 100% healthy so please contact us to set up an appointment or call us at 501-683-8886.
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