Even if you are careful to live an active lifestyle, eat a nutritious diet and generally take good care of your overall health, you must also remember not to neglect another very important component of a healthy body: your teeth. You may think that brushing them after meals and flossing occasionally is sufficient to maintain healthy teeth; actually, your body requires several different vitamins simply to build and maintain strong, healthy teeth.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an extremely important vitamin for your teeth; according to the National Institutes of Health, it is essential for your body to absorb calcium, the mineral your body uses to build both teeth and bones. Vitamin D balances the calcium levels in your blood and makes the calcium usable for your body. If the balance drops too low, your body will pull calcium out of your bones and teeth, weakening their structure and making them less dense.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is used primarily by your body to cause coagulation, or blood clotting, in your blood. However, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin K also affects your bone mineralization, which affects your teeth, as they are made out of the same minerals as bone. A vitamin K deficiency will lead to weakened teeth, and is usually caused by a disease, not from any lack in your diet. Vitamin K also impacts dental health because a deficiency can cause your gums to bleed easily after a tooth-cleaning.
B Vitamins
The vitamin B family includes thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, B-12 and folic acid. These vitamins typically help your body metabolize food into energy and form red blood cells. However, according to Simple Steps to Better Dental Health, vitamin B deficiencies commonly affect your mouth and teeth. While vitamin B deficiencies can weaken your teeth, it can also cause burning and swollen sensations on your tongue and difficulty swallowing. Thankfully, B vitamins can be found in a variety of foods, making it easy to get enough from a well-balanced diet.
Sources
Your body actually produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun's rays. To make up for a deficiency, you can take a supplement or spend 10 minutes a day in the sun. Your body also makes vitamin K in your intestines, but it can be found externally in food like green leafy vegetables and broccoli. The B vitamins are found in many food sources, from meats and animal food products, to fruits and green vegetables.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
- Linus Pauling Institute; Macronutrient Information Center: Vitamin D; Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D.; January 2008
- Linus Pauling Institute; Macronutrient Information Center: Vitamin K; Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D.; May 2008
- SimpleStepsDental.com; Vitamin Deficiencies and Your Mouth; December 2010
- MedlinePlus: B Vitamins
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