Diet and Oral Health
It's not a big leap that everything you eat has an effect on your teeth. Everyone knows that sticky, sugary foods can cause tooth decay, especially if they're not eaten in moderation. Everyone knows that if you don't brush and floss properly, food particles can get stuck in between teeth and cause dental problems. But did you also know that, just as what you eat affects your stomach and other organs, it also has a direct link to your dental health? Not only that. Your dental health is also linked to the health of the rest of your body. In other words, what you eat has an affect on every part of your body, as the entire creation works in concert, whether for good health or poor health. Following are answers to questions about dental health and how it is affected by vitamins and minerals.
What nutrients are important to teeth?
Just as certain vitamins and minerals are beneficial to other parts of the human body, so too are some nutrients most important to the growth, development, and healthy maintenance of your teeth. Some of the most valuable and vital nutrients to your teeth and their surrounding structures include calcium, vitamin C, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, and protein.
How do these nutrients affect teeth?
Following is how the breakdown goes when answering the question of how certain vitamins and minerals affect health of teeth.
Calcium
Calcium is perhaps the most important nutrient when it comes to your teeth. If you're not getting enough calcium, you might just be looking at your teeth in a jar next to your bed someday. Calcium promotes growth and health of teeth as well as bone structures surrounding teeth. Calcium is also directly linked with healthy enamel.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has myriad benefits to many parts of the body including the teeth. Vitamin C aids in maintenance of healthy function of the immune system, and it's vital for the health of mucosal/connective tissue involving the teeth and gums.
Phosphorous
Phosphorous is also quite important when it comes to teeth and their surrounding structures. In fact, it's just about as important as calcium. Phosphorous is beneficial for tooth structures and all the surrounding structures of your mouth.
Iron
Iron is vital for proper function of the immune system. It's also very important to the health of connective tissue.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is vital for immune system function when it comes to teeth and many of the structures of the mouth. Vitamin A is also vital for the health of mucosal tissue function. Be careful, though, for when it comes to vitamin A, it's important not to get too much of it as it can cause gum tissue problems.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important to enamel remineralization. Vitamin D is also vital to health of the immune function as well as mucosal tissue.
Protein
You've heard a lot about protein over the years, but did you know it's not only vital to the health of your body, but also to your teeth? Teeth and surrounding structures need protein to keep them functioning properly. They also need it for optimal immune function as well as development of connective tissue.
What foods are rich in these nutrients?
If you need to increase your intake of any of the nutrients important to teeth, try adding some of the following foods into your diet:
Calcium
Yogurt, milk, kale, collard greens, frozen yogurt, cheese.
Vitamin C
Oranges, pineapple, orange juice, pineapple juice, snow peas, white potatoes, cauliflower.
Phosphorous
Corn, broccoli, cottage cheese, peanut butter, chicken, turkey.
Iron
Liver, clams, oysters, beef, turkey, eggs, pumpkin seeds.
Vitamin A
Sweet potatoes, carrots, romaine lettuce, green leafy vegetables, butternut squash.
Vitamin D
Salmon, mackerel, tuna, beef, egg yolks, yogurt, milk, cheese.
Protein
Fish, chicken, cheese, pork, beef, beans, eggs.
You've always known that eating a healthy diet is essential to the health of your body. And you've always known that the food you eat has a direct effect on your teeth. But now you know why. Proper nutrition is vital for a vibrant smile. If your diet lacks any of the vitamins or minerals that are important to teeth, every part of your mouth will suffer. Enamel, tooth and bone structure, gum tissue... these are just a few components of your beautiful smile. When one is in poor health, the entire structure suffers. If you have further oral health questions, be sure to make a list and take it with you on your next dental checkup.
What nutrients are important to teeth?
Just as certain vitamins and minerals are beneficial to other parts of the human body, so too are some nutrients most important to the growth, development, and healthy maintenance of your teeth. Some of the most valuable and vital nutrients to your teeth and their surrounding structures include calcium, vitamin C, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, and protein.
How do these nutrients affect teeth?
Following is how the breakdown goes when answering the question of how certain vitamins and minerals affect health of teeth.
Calcium
Calcium is perhaps the most important nutrient when it comes to your teeth. If you're not getting enough calcium, you might just be looking at your teeth in a jar next to your bed someday. Calcium promotes growth and health of teeth as well as bone structures surrounding teeth. Calcium is also directly linked with healthy enamel.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has myriad benefits to many parts of the body including the teeth. Vitamin C aids in maintenance of healthy function of the immune system, and it's vital for the health of mucosal/connective tissue involving the teeth and gums.
Phosphorous
Phosphorous is also quite important when it comes to teeth and their surrounding structures. In fact, it's just about as important as calcium. Phosphorous is beneficial for tooth structures and all the surrounding structures of your mouth.
Iron
Iron is vital for proper function of the immune system. It's also very important to the health of connective tissue.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is vital for immune system function when it comes to teeth and many of the structures of the mouth. Vitamin A is also vital for the health of mucosal tissue function. Be careful, though, for when it comes to vitamin A, it's important not to get too much of it as it can cause gum tissue problems.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important to enamel remineralization. Vitamin D is also vital to health of the immune function as well as mucosal tissue.
Protein
You've heard a lot about protein over the years, but did you know it's not only vital to the health of your body, but also to your teeth? Teeth and surrounding structures need protein to keep them functioning properly. They also need it for optimal immune function as well as development of connective tissue.
What foods are rich in these nutrients?
If you need to increase your intake of any of the nutrients important to teeth, try adding some of the following foods into your diet:
Calcium
Yogurt, milk, kale, collard greens, frozen yogurt, cheese.
Vitamin C
Oranges, pineapple, orange juice, pineapple juice, snow peas, white potatoes, cauliflower.
Phosphorous
Corn, broccoli, cottage cheese, peanut butter, chicken, turkey.
Iron
Liver, clams, oysters, beef, turkey, eggs, pumpkin seeds.
Vitamin A
Sweet potatoes, carrots, romaine lettuce, green leafy vegetables, butternut squash.
Vitamin D
Salmon, mackerel, tuna, beef, egg yolks, yogurt, milk, cheese.
Protein
Fish, chicken, cheese, pork, beef, beans, eggs.
You've always known that eating a healthy diet is essential to the health of your body. And you've always known that the food you eat has a direct effect on your teeth. But now you know why. Proper nutrition is vital for a vibrant smile. If your diet lacks any of the vitamins or minerals that are important to teeth, every part of your mouth will suffer. Enamel, tooth and bone structure, gum tissue... these are just a few components of your beautiful smile. When one is in poor health, the entire structure suffers. If you have further oral health questions, be sure to make a list and take it with you on your next dental checkup.