What Are The Benefits Of Cod Liver Oil For The Teeth?

A number of Americans suffer from poor oral health: Up to 12 percent of American adults have severe gum disease, and approximately 25 percent of adults over age 65 suffer total tooth loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Maintaining healthy teeth relies on a number of factors, including your nutrient intake. Cod liver oil contains a number of tooth-healthy nutrients that can benefit your teeth and overall oral health.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A -- a nutrient abundant within cod liver oil -- might have a beneficial effect on your teeth. Healthy teeth rely on healthy gums: the gum tissue covers the sensitive tooth root, while connective tissues within the gums help to anchor each tooth within your jaw. Consuming vitamin A can benefit your teeth by helping prevent gum disease -- a disorder that can cause tooth loss and decay. Moderate cod liver oil consumption helps fight a vitamin A deficiency to support healthy gums and teeth.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, another nutrient in cod liver oil, can also benefit your teeth. Each tooth sits within a bone socket within your jaw bone, and the health of your jaw can affect the stability of your teeth. Bone disorders that damage your jaw can cause tooth loosening and eventually lead to tooth loss. A study published in the "American Journal of Medicine" in 2001 found that taking vitamin D, along with calcium, helped elderly patients maintain bone tissue and helped prevent tooth loss. Consuming cod liver oil as a source of vitamin D might therefore support a healthy jaw bone, helping maintain healthy teeth.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Another nutrient in cod liver oil that might benefit your teeth is omega-3 fatty acids. Many individuals suffer from a mild to severe misalignment of the teeth. In moderate to severe cases, dentists must apply braces or orthodontic head gear to realign the teeth into their proper position. A study published in "The Angle Orthodontist" in 1999 found that consuming omega-3 fatty acids played a beneficial role in tooth movement in rats by helping regulate bone regrowth around the newly placed tooth. This finding indicates that consuming sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as cod liver oil, might aid in healing from some orthodontic procedures, such as tooth movement.

Other Supplements and Tooth Health

In addition to the beneficial nutrients in cod liver oil, other compounds from your diet are required to support healthy teeth. For example, consuming enough vitamin C is essential to prevent scurvy, a disease that affects your gums and causes tooth loss, while minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus make up part of your tooth tissue. Consume a healthy diet and adhere to a regimen of proper oral hygiene to help maintain strong teeth.