Are Vitamins Important To Your Oral Health?

Vitamins play an important role in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.  When we are lacking specific vitamins, we may experience a variety of oral health problems including dry mouth, tooth decay and bad breath.  To help avoid these issues, try to include the following vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Vitamin C can be found in broccoli, bell peppers, citrus fruits, strawberries, and tomatoes.  Eating foods containing vitamin C helps your body produce more collagen.  Collagen helps repair and strengthen your gums and other connective tissues in the mouth.  Lack of vitamin C can lead to bleeding gums, loose teeth, and other oral health problems. 

Vitamin D can be found in fortified milk, egg yolks, tuna, salmon, orange juice and cod liver oil.  Foods containing vitamin D help your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which is critical for strengthening teeth and bone.

Vitamin A can be found in leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, cantaloupe, mango, beef liver and tomatoes.  Vitamin A helps keep our mucous membranes healthy, which helps prevent dry mouth, gum disease and tooth decay.  Vitamin A helps boost your saliva production, which can help wash away bacteria and food particles. 

Calcium can be found in dairy fortified plant-based milks, yogurt, cheese, winter squash, almonds, Edamame, and salmon.  Your body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones.  Vitamin C also helps your heart, muscles, and nerves function properly.

Potassium can be found in bananas, spinach, beans, lentils, potatoes, avocados, raisins, and apricots.  Potassium helps boost your bone mineral density, which helps keep your teeth and gums healthy.