Vitamin D Deficiency and Dental Health: What you need to know
When it comes to dental health, most of us tend to focus on simply maintaining good oral hygiene. Some of us go the extra mile and try to reduce sugar intake in an attempt to prevent the incidence of dental caries. You would think that a strict oral hygiene regime and reducing the intake of sugar would be the key to attaining excellent dental health. Good dental health requires more than just superficial maintenance. Your teeth are a living and functioning part of your body that require essential nutrients to thrive. One such nutrient is vitamin D.
Vitamin D and Dental Health
Two of the most commonly encountered issues we encounter in our dental practice are dental caries and bleeding gums: both of which are chronic conditions. Dental caries, or tooth decay, is the most common chronic condition noted in children. Bleeding gums is one of the first few signs of chronic gum disease. Since gum disease is inflammatory in nature, it not only paints a picture of your gum health but your gut health as well. According to a recent study, vitamin D plays a critical role in promoting dental health by helping prevent tooth decay as well as gum disease. Do you want to know how? Let us dig a little deeper into detail.
Vitamin D and Dental Caries
Dental caries result owing to a multitude of factors. Poor oral hygiene, however, is not the primary reason behind them. A significant population around the globe harbours minimal knowledge about basic oral hygiene tips, and yet many amongst them exhibit little to no tooth decay. One of the primary reasons behind this is vitamin D. Perhaps one of the most stressed aspects of bone health is calcium intake. We all know that calcium is excellent for bone and dental health. However, we often tend to overlook vitamin D in this regard and its role in calcium absorption. Vitamin D is necessary for healthy bones as it enables your digestive system to absorb calcium from your diet. Calcium makes up the enamel of your tooth, i.e., the outermost layer of your tooth. Underneath the enamel lies the dentin, which contains living guardian cells. These guardian cells can repair damaged dentin by releasing immune factors. However, if your body lacks vitamin D, your defense system will be incapable of protecting or repairing your infected teeth. Therefore, people with vitamin D deficiency are more prone to tooth decay.
Vitamin D and Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums, or gingivitis, translates to inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is a sign of poor oral health as well as an inflamed immune system. Vitamin D helps manage the immune system by controlling the formation of immune cells. A vitamin D deficiency hinders this process and thereby disrupts the balance.
Vitamin D Deficiency and its Management
Overcoming vitamin D deficiency is not rocket science. You can introduce simple changes in your lifestyle and your diet to boost and maintain your vitamin D levels. Try to get at least 30 minutes of natural sunlight every day. Make sure that your face and arms are exposed; otherwise, the body will not process the vitamin. Incorporate vitamin D rich foods in your daily diet. If you aim to strengthen your teeth, consume foods that are a rich source of dietary vitamin D3 such as eggs, fatty fish, yogurt, butter, cheese, etc. Dietary supplements are a long-term solution for managing a deficiency in vitamin D.
Final Thoughts
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for a reason. Dentists are amongst the first to diagnose a vitamin D deficiency owing to its impact on dental health. At the Dental Clinic, our experts advise our patients to get a test done to ensure that the root cause of the problem is identified. Furthermore, we refer our patients to a physician to help them manage the issue better. If you are interested in a dental procedure to address your problem, we suggest getting a fluoride treatment done as it helps strengthen the teeth by introducing another layer of defense against tooth decay. If you would like to know more about the services we offer, you can book a consultation with our experts who promise to provide you with the best possible care at all times.
