Do you want strong, healthy teeth to last a lifetime? No doubt, you are serious about brushing, flossing and using mouthwash, and you see your dentist for routine checkups every six months. Did you know that the teeth, and our oral health in general, is "powered" by the nutrients we provide our bodies with, starting from the time before they even erupt?
One reason our oral hygiene depends on our diet to such a great extent is the extremely high turnover rate of our oral soft tissues. The cells from these tissues divide fast and are replaced every few days, so nutritional deficiencies tend to show up a lot quicker in these structures than in other parts of the body.
One caveat you should keep in mind is that while there is no doubt that nutritional deficiencies play a huge role in the development and progression of dental diseases, they are only one cog in the system; a number of possible factors come in play together. There is no guarantee that a person with ideal nutrition and dietary habits will not get any oral diseases whatsoever, in other words, but making healthy eating a priority will absolutely be very good for your teeth.
Here are some of the most important nutrients that everyone should include in their diet if they want to prevent and combat dental disease.
Calcium
Let's start with the most obvious and well known nutrient essential for dental health. Calcium makes up a large part of our teeth and bones. A deficiency in the intake of calcium can predispose people to developing enamel deficiencies, demineralization defects, gum diseases and dental caries (tooth decay). Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt are recommended foods to meet your daily calcium requirements.
Iron
Iron plays an integral role in maintaining the normal functioning of the immune system as well as supplying oxygen throughout the body. A deficiency in iron shows up quickly in the color of the mucosal tissues of the mouth. People with an iron deficiency are more prone to developing mouth ulcers, redness of the tongue, swelling of the mucosal tissues and periodontal disease.
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Vitamin C
One of the most important ingredients for the maintenance of gum and tooth health is vitamin C. It plays a role in the collagen turnover that makes up such a large part of the gums and the bones. This collagen helps maintain structural integrity and a deficiency in this vitamin can cause defects to creep in. Loose teeth, bleeding gums, and swelling of the gums are some of the symptoms that can be seen due to a deficiency of vitamin C.
Vitamin D
Without enough vitamin D, your body can't absorb calcium properly. There is no point in taking large amounts of calcium if there is not enough vitamin D present to help your body utilize it. Vitamin D is also thought to play a role in maintaining the proper functioning of the immune system and the remineralization of the teeth. Needless to say, both a strong immune system and the ability to remineralize your teeth are essential in the process of protecting your teeth and gums from diseases such as tooth decay, periodontal disease and mucosal diseases.
More Nutrients For Dental And Oral Health
Vitamin B3
If you suffer from chronic ulcer formation, canker sores and other mucosal symptoms like a burning sensation when eating spicy food or the inability to tolerate too many temperature changes without feeling discomfort, then a deficiency of vitamin B3 could be one of the causes.
The development of bad breath has also been associated with a deficiency of vitamin B3, however the exact role that B3 plays in this process is debated. Include chicken and fish in your diet to improve your vitamin B3 levels.
Vitamins B12 And B2
These vitamins also play an important role in the immune system's functioning and have a similar effect to vitamin B3 when it is absent from the diet. It is believed that the effectiveness of the cell junctions in the mucosal tissues is compromised due to the absence of these vitamins, leading to an increase in the number of pathogenic micro-organisms passing through into the tissues.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
A lot of investigation is being done into the potential role this particular class of nutrients has on dental diseases. The interest generated is due to the demonstrated anti-inflammatory abilities of Omega 3 fatty acids, which could play a major role in reducing the amount of destruction that takes place in the presence of periodontal disease.
Some researchers believe that periodontal disease signifies and unwarranted and strong immune response to a small amount of plaque, and that most of the damage is actually caused by the body's own inflammatory response. Omega 3 fatty acids could be used to help reduce this "bystander" destruction.
READ Zinc - It's Not Just for Treating Colds Anymore!
Zinc
Zinc is a micro nutrient that once again plays a small but vital role in the immune system function of the body. Including zinc in your diet will help protect the body against soft tissue inflammation, periodontal disease and mouth ulcers.
Probiotics
While probiotics are not vitamins or minerals, their role in protecting the body against the development and progression of disease and even in the treatment of certain conditions is being investigated.
Probiotics are all about tweaking the microflora in your body, ensuring it is health-promoting one rather than a disease-promoting one. The thought of using probiotics to combat rapidly developing strains of drug resistant micro-organisms has many researchers excited.
Probiotics are currently being investigated as a dental-health tool to prevent and reduce the incidence of tooth decay, periodontal disease and combat persistent bad breath. It is a good idea to include a regular dose of probiotic rich food in your diet.
Conclusion
We all know that vitamins and minerals play an essential role in maintaining good health, however the exact role that they play in the body is difficult to ascertain because of ethical issues. After all, it would not be advisable to restrict the amount of nutrients available to a person just so that we can study the harmful effects of deficiencies. More important than knowing these minute details is, however, making sure that your diet includes all the major and minor nutrients so that you can give your body the best chance of fighting microbial insults.
Sources & Links
- Photo courtesy of zeevveez: www.flickr.com/photos/zeevveez/8730314599/
- Infographic by SteadyHealth.com