Have you ever wondered what effects Vitamin D can do to help your body, and more importantly, your oral health?
Importance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins. It helps prevent periodontal disease, gingivitis, and cavities. It also functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, helps build bones, and aids in absorption of calcium.
Vitamin D is critical for building strong bones, allowing your digestive system to absorb the calcium from your diet, which is vital to bone health.
Vitamin D can also be attributed to the healthiness of your teeth, including tooth decay. Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in the world, and is an infection caused by bacteria that leads to a loss of the hard tissues of your teeth. Research has shown that Vitamin D may help reduce the risk of tooth decay in infants and younger children. Studies have shown that children with tooth decay have lower levels of vitamin D.
If you have a calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency, it is likely that your bones and teeth will be affected. Increasing and maintaining your calcium and vitamin D intake can help reduce the effects of premature bone loss.
One good source of Vitamin D and calcium that we can have every day is milk. Milk that is fortified with Vitamin D is beneficial to our oral health because it packs a double punch Calcium and Vitamin D.
Maintaining Good Levels of Vitamin D and Calcium
Having strong teeth is important, especially as we age. Generally teeth are very hard and can withstand the chewing and crunching of all the food we eat. However, tooth enamel is a complex calcium phosphate mineral called apatite. Because, calcium is continuously gained and lost by this mineral, the addition of milk to our diets is a great way to replenish calcium. When deficiencies in calcium and Vitamin D are present, our teeth aren’t as strong, and we can acquire bone loss and even inflammation of our gums. Oral inflammation is a sign of periodontal disease. This disease occurs when plaque and other oral bacteria’s reach dangerous levels and are not removed by daily brushing or treated by your dentist, which can result in bone loss if left untreated. If infections that cause bone loss are left untreated, tooth loss is the final result.
There are many beneficial reasons to adding Vitamin D to your diet, including your oral health! Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D and maintaining your oral health by scheduling regular check-ups and cleanings. Call us today for an appointment!
