Vitamins C and D Work to Improve Your Oral Health

Wondering how you can improve your oral health?  First, practicing great oral hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is one step in promoting a healthy mouth.  Secondly, it might surprise you that your diet has a big impact on the health of your teeth and gums.  Studies show that proper nutrition, including a diet rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin D, affects the health of the tissues in the mouth.  A healthy mouth, in turn, helps your body absorb more of those crucial vitamins.

Two essential vitamins

Vitamins C and D are two of the essential nutrients that keep the body healthy.  They work together to not only support the health of your mouth, but they are also vital for the health of many other systems that keep the body functioning properly.

• Vitamin C: There are so many benefits to Vitamin C, from promoting healthy cells to strengthening the body’s immune system. It’s water-soluble so the body absorbs what it needs and flushes the rest away.  Besides boosting your immune system, it also helps regulate blood sugar levels and prevents cell degeneration.

• Vitamin D: This vitamin is particularly important because it helps your body absorb and regulate calcium and phosphorus, which in turn work to keep your bones and teeth strong. Vitamin D also helps the body regulate insulin levels and supports brain and nervous system health. It’s stored in fat and is fat-soluble, meaning it will build up in the body over time.

How they improve oral health

Vitamins C and D work together to promote good oral health. Vitamin C helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. In particular, Vitamin C helps fight off gingivitis, the gum disease that if left untreated can lead to a more advanced disease which can cause teeth to become loose.  If you notice your gums bleeding, it’s a good idea to seek help from your dental professional and to boost your Vitamin C consumption.

Since your teeth are essentially bones, it only makes sense that the amount of Vitamin D you consume directly correlates to your oral health.  It helps to keep your teeth strong and can prevent breaking, chipping and cracking. Like Vitamin C, it also decreases gum inflammation that can lead to gingivitis and other major oral health concerns.

Are you getting enough Vitamin C and D?

You need to take stock of your diet, as well as the amount of time you spend in the sun, to get a general feel for your daily intake of Vitamins C and D.  The best sources of Vitamin C are whole foods, including citrus fruits, potatoes and leafy greens.  You should aim to get around 500 -1000 mgs of Vitamin C every day.  You may want to take a supplement if you’re not getting enough.

Vitamin D is a different story, you can actually get too much Vit D, but most people don’t seem to get enough especially in the winter months.  Your body will produce Vit D when you’re exposed to sunlight.  So, when you aren’t getting enough sun, you can get Vit D through dietary sources, including fatty fish, portobello mushrooms and Vitamin-D fortified milk. Try to get 2000 IUs daily, if possible.  It may be helpful to take a supplement like fish oil to make sure you hit this number.

Make Vitamin C and D priorities in your diet and give your oral (and overall) health the boost it needs from these essential vitamins!