Teeth Pain & B6

Teeth Pain & B6
Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images

Teeth pain can be a debilitating condition that affects your eating habits. Although the pain often is caused by cavities, tooth abscesses and gum disease, it also can be due to sores and ulcers in your gums and mouth caused by vitamin B deficiency. Contact your dentist or doctor if you experience teeth pain. If you suspect you suffer from a vitamin deficiency, keep a food diary for a period of a few weeks to let your doctor evaluate your dietary intake.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is one of the eight group B vitamins. Also called pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine, vitamin B6 is water-soluble and essential for your health. It plays an essential role in nervous system and hormone function, red blood cell formation and function, and nucleic acid synthesis. Vitamin B6 also may play a role in preventing cardiovascular disease and improving your immune and cognitive function.

Deficiency

Due to vitamin B6's water-solubility, it is not stored in your body, and, thus, you need to consume foods rich in the vitamin on a daily basis. If you are not getting enough vitamin B6 from your diet, you can develop a deficiency. Symptoms include sores and ulcers in your mouth and tongue and on the skin surrounding your mouth. In addition, a vitamin B6 deficiency can cause neurological symptoms, including depression and seizures.

Teeth Pain

Vitamin B deficiency is one of the most common dietary deficiencies that can affect your mouth and teeth, according to the Simple Steps to Better Dental Health website. A vitamin B6 deficiency that causes sores and ulcers in your mouth can lead to teeth pain, especially if the ulcer forms around the gums and near the teeth. Deficiencies in other B vitamins, such as b12, thiamine, folic acid and niacin, can cause similar symptoms.

Intake

Prevent vitamin B6 deficiency by ensuring you are getting the recommended dietary allowance on a daily basis. The RDA differs with age and is 0.5 to 1 milligrams for children ages 1 to 13, 1.2 milligrams for girls 14 to 18 years and 1.3 milligrams for boys 14 to 18. Adult men and women 50 and under should get 1.3 milligrams every day, while women over 50 should get 1.5 milligrams and men over 50 should get 1.7 milligrams. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should consume 1.9 and 2 milligrams per day, respectively.

References

Article reviewed by Kile McKenna Last updated on: Nov 15, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments