Just like your bones and your heart, your mouth needs specific vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. While you may be familiar with calcium’s role in keeping your teeth strong, there is another vitamin that is equally important. Vitamin D goes hand in hand with calcium and is considered an essential and fundamental nutrient for a healthy smile. Vitamin D fosters a smoother process and more efficient absorption of calcium so that your mouth can use it in the way it needs.
Why Our Bodies Need Vitamin D
Without Vitamin D, our bodies would be unable properly absorb and break down the needed calcium that we consume through milk, cheese and other foods. Countless research has shown that both calcium and vitamin D help lower bone loss throughout the body. While your teeth are not considered bones, the jaw that supports them is. Therefore, it is safe to say that both calcium and Vitamin D help to prevent tooth loss!
Are You Getting Enough?
You may assume that Vitamin D comes from the sun. While this is true, you can also get adequate Vitamin D intake from foods and supplements. Since calcium and vitamin D work together, here is what the American Dietetic Association recommends on a daily basis for both:
- 2,500 mg/day of calcium
- 1,000 units/day of vitamin D
How Can You Get More Vitamin D?
Beyond taking a supplement, there are natural ways to get your daily vitamin D. Consider adding these foods to your plate:
- Dairy products (milk is excellent – cheese in moderation)
- Soy and rice drinks
- Salmon and other fatty fish
- Almonds
- Dark green leafy vegetables
At Park South Dentistry, we value the importance of nutrition as it pertains to your oral health. There is no substitute for regular brushing and flossing, but you can also boost your smile health by eating smart too. Call today to schedule your next dental visit.
