Brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist bi-yearly are three components of a solid dental care routine. However, to ensure your teeth and gums are in tip-top shape, it is important to keep them strong from the inside-out. Initially, avoiding poor dental habits (like smoking) and drinking plenty of water may come to mind, but eating a vitamin-rich diet and incorporating supplements as needed can play an equally important role! Read on for how vitamins can improve your oral health and which ones to take!
How Do Vitamins Improve Your Oral Health?
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, most Americans don’t get enough nutrients. While this finding raises concerns regarding our overall wellbeing, it is important to also consider the effect it has on our oral health. In fact, if your body doesn’t get the vitamins and minerals it needs, you can become vulnerable to a number of dental issues, including cavities and gum disease. Not only can this negatively impact your smile, but it can also lead to issues with your bite force and speech. To prevent this from happening, consume a vitamin-rich diet and incorporate supplements as needed!
6 Important Vitamins and Minerals
At this time, there isn’t one specific remedy that can improve your oral health. Instead, it is important to use a combination of essential vitamins and minerals:
- Calcium – Since your teeth and jaw largely consist of calcium, consuming this mineral can help keep your enamel and jaw strong. So, eating foods like yogurt, cheese, and beans can benefit your oral health.
- Iron – Not only does this essential mineral help transport oxygen throughout your body, but it can also prevent tongue inflammation and mouth sores! Foods like liver and red meat are great sources of iron, but there are pill forms available as well.
- Vitamin A – Sweet potatoes, melon, and spinach are a few foods that are high in Vitamin A. By incorporating these into your diet, your oral health can benefit from a healthy saliva production, which effectively washes away bacteria and helps keep the tissue in your mouth healthy.
- Vitamin C – This plays a crucial role in preventing gum disease and preserving healthy teeth. Great sources of this essential vitamin include sweet potatoes, raw red peppers, and oranges.
- Zinc – Zinc is a common mineral that is found in foods like cereal, wild rice, cheese, and beef. Not only does it inhibit plaque from building up along your gum line, but it also prevents bacteria from growing in your mouth.
- Magnesium – Both your overall and oral health rely heavily on Magnesium. Specifically, it helps build strong enamel and protects your teeth from the formation of cavities. So, make sure to incorporate foods like spinach, kale, and dark chocolate into your diet!
A consistent, thorough oral hygiene routine is crucial, but consuming an adequate amount of vitamins is equally as important. Therefore, make sure to incorporate a healthy balance of the above nutrients and minerals into your daily diet!
About the Practice
At Brown & Nawrocki Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry, each member of the team is united by their mission to build a dental experience around your needs. That is why they offer convenient hours, accept emergency appointments, and have an in-house prosthodontist! So, whether you need a routine cleaning or a complex smile makeover, you can have peace of mind knowing you are in the best of hands. If you would like to improve your oral health by scheduling your bi-yearly visit, don’t hesitate to visit their website or give them a call at 386-677-1046.