Everyone knows to take their vitamins and minerals via a healthy diet and natural supplements. That’s because they play a very important role in our health, helping our bodies survive, thrive and stay healthy. There are 13 essential vitamins and each one of them has a specific job in the body. Some give your immune system a boost while others help with your energy levels.
Vitamins are also essential for maintaining optimal oral health. While, on the contrary, vitamin deficiencies are linked to adverse oral health conditions, including tooth decay, cavities, gum inflammation and gum disease. Vitamin deficiencies during childhood can also affect a child’s tooth and oral development.
From A-Z, the top 9 vitamins and minerals to support your oral health include:
- Calcium is a major component in tooth enamel and dentine for strong teeth. Deficiencies can lead to the development of weaker, more porous teeth and bones
- Magnesium is an essential mineral component of tooth structure and enamel. It works with Vitamin D to form hard tooth enamel. Deficiencies can result in bone loss (resorption), loose teeth and premature tooth loss.
- Phosphorus is important for the absorption of calcium. Deficiencies can lead to weakened teeth and more susceptibility to tooth chips and fractures.
- Selenium is a natural component of tooth enamel, dentine and collagen bonding. Organoselenium sealant treatment is used to help prevent the formation of tooth decay, cavities and plaque.
- Vitamin A is especially important during tooth and enamel development. Without it, epithelial cells that form healthy tooth structure won’t function normally. Deficiencies are linked to poor tooth development, enamel hypoplasia, defective & porous tooth enamel, and gum disease.
- Vitamin C helps cells that protect and produce dentine in your inner tooth structure. It also helps keep connective gum tissue strong and healthy which holds your teeth in place. Deficiencies are linked to scurvy, loose teeth, bleeding gums and gingivitis.
- Vitamin D is the ‘sunshine’ vitamin and is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphates from the intestines. Vitamin D is also necessary for the repair of damaged dentin; formation & maintenance of tooth enamel; and the release of immune response factors. Deficiencies are linked to sleep bruxism (teeth grinding), weakened teeth and cavity development
- Vitamin K2 is a type of protein that works with Vitamin D to help direct calcium to the teeth and bones. It also helps prevent calculus forming near saliva glands which occurs when saliva calcium levels get too high.
- Zinc contributes to healthy tooth formation and development; heals oral wounds; helps prevent the formation of plaque and calculus; fights bacteria via saliva; helps de-mineralise & re-mineralise teeth; and helps reduce bad breath (halitosis). Deficiencies are linked to tooth decay, cavities and periodontal (gum) disease.