Important Minerals In Your Diet To Support Healthy Teeth

There’s a lot of talk about what our teeth need to be healthy. Most of the time, this talk focuses on foods to avoid, like sugary snacks. Our oral structures are more complicated than we often give them credit for being. This fact is one reason why they require a full range of vitamins and minerals. Without them, they won’t be able to function at their best. Below, we will discuss all of the minerals and vitamins your mouth needs to stay looking great.

Our Oral Health Requires A Full Range Of Vitamins and Minerals

The tissues and organs in our mouths are pretty complex. Without the right vitamins and nutrients, they can struggle to perform. Everything from our tongue to our salivary ducts performs essential duties. Saliva, for instance, is one of the primary protectors of our teeth. It helps to wash away bacteria and prevent tooth decay. Below are an assortment of vitamins and minerals our oral health relies on:

• Calcium – If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that calcium is essential for our teeth. It’s used in strengthening the enamel and our jawbone. It also helps rebuild these structures when they become damaged. Broccoli, yogurt, cheese, and salmon are good sources.
• Vitamin D – This substance helps our bodies utilize calcium in our food. It also helps to enhance density in our bones and teeth. You can get it from sunlight, but also tuna, mushrooms, canned tuna, and orange juice. Look for more sources!
• Potassium – Working with Vitamin D, potassium also helps to improve the density of our bones. You can get it from eating tomatoes, Swiss chard, prunes, and of course, bananas.
• Phosphorus – This mineral is another crucial component of our bones and teeth. It’s relatively easy to get into our diets. You can get it by eating salmon, tuna, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, cheese, beef, and pork.
• Vitamin K – This is our body’s shield against substances that want to attack our bones. It also helps in the production of osteocalcin, which supports the strength of our bones. It also plays a role in blood clotting, and a lack of it can slow healing.
• Vitamin C – Our gums and other soft tissues all rely on Vitamin C to stay healthy. It’s also known to prevent teeth from coming loose. While citrus fruits are primary sources, you can also get this vitamin by eating leafy greens and potatoes.

These are just some of the core vitamins that our oral cavity needs to perform well. You can speak to your dentist to learn more.

Reach Out To Your Dentist For Tooth Healthy Diet Advice

Your dentist is an endless font of information about dental health. One of the things they can help you understand is nutrition. While their focus will be on dental health, they can provide good food sources for essential vitamins. They can also tell you about foods that are harmful to your teeth. There’s more than just sugary foods to be careful of eating. Even lemons and oranges can harm your teeth in sufficient quantities.