Vitamins are essential nutrients for our overall wellbeing. They play a significant role in keeping our bodies functioning at optimum levels. Basically, every vitamin, be it vitamin A, B, C, D, E, or K, is crucial for our physical and mental health. However, vitamin D is exceptionally important for oral health.
At Gwinnett Dental Implant & Periodontal Center, we do our best to educate our patients on how different vitamins help ensure a healthy and attractive smile. Here, we explain the function of vitamin D in relation to your dental wellbeing.
Why Do You Need Vitamin D?
Your body needs vitamin D in order to ‘extract’ and ‘absorb’ calcium from the foods you eat.
Calcium is perhaps the most important mineral your body needs to work properly day and night. Calcium helps in bone development and muscle growth during childhood. In adults, calcium fortifies bones and teeth and facilitates the movement of different muscle groups.
You may consume a lot of calcium-rich foods like milk and yogurt. But if you don’t get a sufficient amount of vitamin D, your otherwise calcium-dense diet is of little to no benefit. People with vitamin D deficiency are at high risk of suffering from bone diseases like osteomalacia and dental problems like tooth loss.
Vitamin D for Dental Health
While your teeth are not particularly a type of bone, they do indeed store calcium. Therefore, a lack of calcium, or vitamin D by extension, can increase your likelihood of developing tooth problems.
A lack of vitamin D can result in dental caries. Dental caries is a type of tooth decay in which your teeth become prone to bacterial attacks. This, in turn, can lead to cavities, tooth infection, and even tooth nerve damage. Vitamin D deficiency also makes your teeth weak and brittle. Thus, they are more susceptible to chipping or breaking easily. In extreme cases, the lack of this type of vitamin can also result in teeth becoming loose and falling out.
At Gwinnett Dental Implant & Periodontal Center, Dr. Schiffer and Dr. Butler can assist you in understanding the best way to protect your teeth. To schedule your initial consultation, call now at (470) 222-8983.
