Vitamins and Minerals That Are Good for Your Teeth

It’s no secret that a good diet is important for your overall health and it’s no different for your teeth. Getting proper nutrition, including vitamins and minerals in your diet can help your oral health as well. This blog post will cover the vitamins and minerals that can help keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

Calcium

Calcium is important to help strengthen your bones, which in this case is your jawbone in relation to your mouth. It is also helpful to harden your tooth enamel to protect your teeth from damage. 

What to Eat

Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese and yogurt. Leafy greens such as spinach and kale are also high in calcium. Almonds and salmon can help increase your calcium intake.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A aids in saliva production. Saliva is beneficial for a variety of reasons. It can help neutralize harmful acids in your mouth and protect your teeth and enamel while also reducing infections in your mouth and throat. It is also beneficial for chewing and swallowing. Lastly, it aids in digestion which can benefit your overall health. 

What to Eat

Dairy products and eggs are common ways to get vitamin A in your diet. Green vegetables including kale, broccoli, and spinach, and orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots are also good sources of vitamin A.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps protect your mouth against gingivitis, the initial stage of gum disease. It does this by strengthening your gums and your mouth’s soft tissues. Additionally, vitamin C helps prevent your teeth from loosening.

What to Eat

Citrus foods are an easy way to get vitamin C from foods. Vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are also beneficial foods for vitamin C intake and can help whiten your teeth as well. 

Vitamin D

Our bodies need vitamin D to absorb calcium. Due to this, vitamin D is just as important as calcium when it comes to a healthy mouth and overall health. Vitamin D is also important for tooth mineralization, which can help prevent cavities, gum disease and other oral health issues.

What to Eat

Sunlight helps our bodies produce vitamin D naturally. Unfortunately, sunlight is hard to come by during the winter months in Michigan. During the cloudy months, consider eating salmon, tuna fish or drinking vitamin D-fortified orange juice or milk.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is necessary for your body to produce osteocalcin, which is a protein that helps maintain bone strength. It is important in helping keep your jawbone strong. Vitamin K also helps your body heal if necessary.

What to Eat

Soybean and canola oil are great sources of vitamin K. Additionally, broccoli, kale, spinach and other leafy greens are high in vitamin K.   

Phosphorus

Similar to vitamin D, phosphorus helps your body absorb calcium. Phosphorus and calcium work together to produce hydroxyapatite, which is a main element of your bones and tooth enamel. So, phosphorus along with calcium can help strengthen teeth enamel and protect your teeth from decay.

What to Eat

Phosphorus can be found in high protein food such as meat, fish, and eggs. Nuts, beans, and milk can also be good sources of phosphorus.  

Through a healthy diet, you likely eat enough of each of these vitamins and minerals to help with your oral hygiene. If you are concerned you are not getting enough of these vitamins to help your teeth, consider adjusting your diet or speaking with your primary care doctor about vitamins or supplements you should take. 

If you aren’t sure about your oral health, the Fortson Dentistry team can help. Contact one of our offices today for a teeth cleaning to evaluate your teeth.