Vitamins play a vital role in maintaining your overall health. But most people aren’t aware that certain vitamins can also help maintain the health of your teeth and gums and gums. Listed below are some of the most important vitamins that help maintain your oral health.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 helps your body make several different types of neurotransmitters that are responsible for communicating with different parts of your brain to relay information. Some of these signals are related to memory, focus, and sleep cycles. Some studies suggest that this vitamin may also play an important role in the progression of periodontal disease. How? Well, vitamin B6 is an important component of your immune system, as it’s responsible for helping increase the production of white blood cells in your gums and other parts of your mouth. White blood cells are important when it comes to fighting infections like gum disease.

Good sources of B vitamins include foods like fish, turkey breast, red meat, tuna, banana, sunflower seeds, peas, brown rice, lentils, beans, and chickpeas.

Vitamin B12

The benefits provided by vitamin B12 go beyond just the integrity of your teeth. This vitamin is responsible for producing red blood cells, regulating the nervous system, and maintaining the proper function of the digestive system. However, it is also essential to the health of your mouth, as it keeps the gums healthy and promotes new cell production in the mouth. Without sufficient B12 levels, you are more prone to periodontal disease, tooth decay, and more. Additionally, your body cannot absorb the vitamin without intrinsic factor, which is produced in the stomach and intestines. Therefore, individuals who suffer from pernicious anemia do not have the ability to absorb this essential vitamin. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important for healthy gums, and it can be found in many commonly consumed foods, such as oranges, strawberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and more. Unfortunately, vitamin C is water-soluble, so your body cannot store it long-term. This means you have to keep consuming vitamin C-rich foods and beverages regularly to maintain a healthy level of this vitamin.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another essential vitamin for oral health because it promotes gum health and prevents inflammation. You can consume vitamin E in foods such as spinach, sweet potato, almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, and more. While vitamin E is found in a variety of foods, it’s important to note that it is fat-soluble, which means your body can hold on to it long-term. Therefore, you only need to consume a small amount of vitamin E each day to maintain healthy levels of the nutrient in your body.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth. Your body makes vitamin D from sunlight exposure, but you can also get it from foods like fish and eggs. Dairy products may also be fortified with vitamin D.

If you spend most of your time indoors, your skin doesn’t experience much sun exposure, and you may not be getting enough vitamin D. Some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include weak or soft bones, muscle pain or weakness, fatigue, depression, and low immune function. Talk to your dentist to find out if you should be taking any supplements to increase your intake of vitamin D.

If you’d like to learn more, then contact our dental office at (503) 581-2446 today. We’d be happy to help answer any questions that you may have.