It is very important your body gets enough vitamins each day. Lack of certain vitamins can cause severe diseases and chronic conditions. It may affect your overall health and decrease your quality of life. Ideally your need to get all vitamins from the food you eat. It is easier for your body to absorb nutrients from natural sources. However, taking supplements will also benefit your health.
Vitamin deficiency may also affect your oral health. Lack of certain nutrients can make you more vulnerable to dental cavities and gum diseases. Here are 6 effective nutrients that may help prevent dental conditions and boost your oral health.
1. Vitamin AMost people think vitamin A is an eye vitamin that may improve vision. However, it is important for dental health as well. It helps promote saliva production in the mouth by keeping salivary glands active. Saliva works as a natural mouthwash that eliminates bacterias and plaque from the mouth. Lack of saliva may contribute to an issue called dry mouth. This condition, in turn, increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease significantly.
Foods rich in vitamin A include beef and lamb liver, salmon, tuna, carrot, and sweet potatoes. These foods are very delicious and are easy to incorporate into your diet.
2. CalciumCalcium is an essential vitamin for dental health. Lack of calcium in the diet causes your body to compensate for its deficiency by removing calcium from the teeth and bones. This makes your teeth and teeth enamel weaker and fragile. As a result, your teeth become more vulnerable to the negative effect of bacterias living in your mouth. Thus, the risk of teeth decay increases significantly.
Include more dairy foods, leafy greens, soya beans, tofu, and sardines in your diet. These products may provide your body with enough calcium. You may also talk to your family dentist about vitamin C supplements.
3. Vitamin CVitamin C is important for maintaining the health of connective tissues in the mouth. Lack of vitamin C can make your teeth lose and weak. You also become more vulnerable to developing gingivitis and gum disease. Severe vitamin C deficiency may even cause teeth loss.
Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits like lemons and limes, pepper, kale, berries, and sweet potatoes. If you have a severe deficiency of vitamin C you may consider taking food supplements with vitamin C.
4. Vitamin DVitamin D is important for our overall and oral health. It promotes the proper absorption of calcium. Even if your diet filled with calcium-rich foods your body may not be able to absorb it because of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common problems in the modern world. A lot of people suffer from this deficiency in one or another way.
The best sources of vitamin D is natural sunlight and dairy products. You need to spend at least 15 minutes a day in the sun to get an adequate dose of vitamin D.
5. B VitaminsB vitamins are important for proper oral health. Vitamins B3 and B2 are especially necessary. Both these vitamins help prevent inflammation, sores, and gum injuries in the mouth. Healthy gums are an important part of maintaining good oral health.
The most common food sources of vitamins B3 and B2 include almonds, spinach, legumes, red meat, and dairy products. You need to add at least one of these products to each meal to get a healthy dose of B vitamins.
6. IronIron is a nutrient that is responsible for maintaining proper levels of red blood cells in the body. Iron deficiency may cause dizziness, extreme fatigue, pale skin, and weakness. Lack of iron may also cause dental issues. Without proper levels of iron, your body will not be able to cope with inflammation and infections. Thus, you become more vulnerable to inflammation, gingivitis, and gum disease. Even practicing good oral hygiene will not ensure good oral health in this case.
The best natural sources of iron include red meats, bread, cereals, and eggs.