Good nutrition is an important aspect of your oral health. A healthy diet fuels your body with nutrients, which strengthens your immune system and can help you fight the oral bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth decay.
Vitamin B
As an antioxidant, vitamin B aids the body in fighting off free radicals that can contribute to gum infections and disease.
While B vitamins are important to overall health, they can also be helpful to your oral health. Vitamin B3 supports healthy circulation and blood flow to the gums, while B12 helps to strengthen tooth enamel and protect it from sensitivity. Vitamin deficiencies are common in today’s society, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough B complex in your diet to maintain good nutrition. Foods high in B vitamins include eggs, meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, seeds, avocados, bananas, milk, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables like sweet potatoes and spinach.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can be found in green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, mustard greens, and dandelions. It is also found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. All of these foods contain antioxidants that can help fight inflammation and disease in the mouth. Vitamin C is important for healthy gums because it aids in the production of collagen, which is essential for building strong teeth as well as gum tissue. Without vitamin C, your body cannot make collagen, and without collagen, your gums will be weak and not able to handle infections or bacteria very well. Vitamin C also acts as a natural antioxidant in the body that fights free radicals in the body that can cause damage to the body’s cells. Free radicals can also damage the teeth and the gum line causing decay, cavities, and periodontal disease. So make sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet to get a healthy dose of this essential vitamin.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D promotes healthy bones and teeth. It regulates the body’s absorption of calcium, which is responsible for building strong bones. Without vitamin D, your body cannot absorb enough calcium to maintain your teeth’s strength and health. People who do not get enough sunlight exposure are at higher risk of having insufficient levels of vitamin D in their body. This leads to weak bones and gums that are susceptible to tooth decay. This can be corrected by getting regular sun exposure and eating vitamin-D-rich foods. Some foods that contain vitamin D include tuna, orange juice, salmon, mushrooms, chicken breast, milk, and yogurt.
Insufficient levels of vitamin D in the body can also lead to gum disease, such as gingivitis, due to the reduced production of saliva. This can lead to dry mouth, which can then lead to plaque buildup. Plaque that’s allowed to sit on the teeth and gums can cause cavities and infections in your gums. If left untreated, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause heart disease and other serious health issues.
Please reach out to our dental practice at 70 Pennington Dr, Ste 7, Bluffton, SC 29910, to have a consultation with our dentists. Call Dentist in Bluffton, SC, or schedule an online consultation, and we’ll guide you further.