Vitamins are important nutrients to many of the body's tissues, including your mouth, teeth and gums. As such, nutritional deficiencies of certain vitamins can cause swollen red gums, or gingivitis, that can bleed easily. These can become so fragile as to make it difficult for teeth to stay in place, leading to malformations, loosened teeth and potential infections.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins in the maintenance of gum health. The main dietary sources of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, are fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits and leafy greens. Vitamin C deficiency is rare in the United States, since many foods are fortified with it, but it can still happen among the elderly, especially if they are malnourished. Apart from swollen gums, vitamin C deficiency can also cause anemia and poor wound healing.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is part of the water-soluble B vitamin group. It is important in the body's mechanisms for utilizing sugars as an energy source. According to the Merck Manual, riboflavin deficiency can lead to maceration of the angles of the mouth, as well as swelling of the gums and tongue, which can then lead to fungal infection and the formation of whitish lesions. The most common causes of riboflavin deficiency include alcoholism, chronic diarrhea, and conditions that impair the absorption of nutrients from the intestines.
Niacin
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is integral for the conversion of sugars or carbohydrates into energy. Niacin is also important in the production of certain hormones, as well as in reducing cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Niacin deficiency affects your skin and your mouth. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, niacin deficiency can cause a red tongue, and soreness in the mouth with red and bleeding gums. Niacin deficiency causes a condition called pellagra, which can also lead to dementia, diarrhea and fatigue.
Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin important in the process of clotting blood. Although vitamin K deficiency is rare, it can occur in individuals who have problems absorbing fat from their intestines, and in infants who are exclusively breastfed, since human breast milk is low in vitamin K. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, symptoms of vitamin K deficiency include bleeding gums, easy bruising, nosebleeds, and blood in the urine and the stool.
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