How Does Vitamin D Influence Your Dental Health?

A good dental routine combined with regular dental checkups is only part of the equation needed to maintain good oral health. Unfortunately, even people who follow this routine can still develop dental problems if they are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is critical for building strong and healthy bones, and it helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The vitamin allows your digestive system to absorb calcium from food, and calcium is important for strengthening tooth enamel and protecting dentine, the tooth structure underneath your enamel. Your dentine has special cells that release immune factors, and these can repair damaged dentine. However, if you are deficient in vitamin D, your immune system is less able to protect and repair infected dentine. Bleeding gums are the first sign of gum disease, a bacterial infection, and as Vitamin D is essential for managing your immune system, an adequate supply helps fight this infection.

Sunlight is a prime source of vitamin D, and you need to get up to 30 minutes of natural sunlight every day, exposing your face and arms. Otherwise, you can eat vitamin D rich foods such as organ meats, yoghurt, butter and cheese, and fatty fish and eggs.