Our top recommended vitamins for gums & tooth health

10 Feb Our top recommended vitamins for gums & tooth health

Written by Emily Smith — Oral Health Therapist.

We all know a varied diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, lean protein and whole grains are essential for a healthy body. However, many people forget that the mouth is connected to the rest of the body and can often be a marker for dietary deficiencies.

In the same way, what we put into our bodies can impact the health of our teeth and gums. So what are the vitamins and minerals needed to improve and maintain healthy teeth and gums?

Below we have listed some of the most important vitamins for gum health, designed to keep you smile healthy and bright!

Vitamins for teeth & gums: Calcium

Calcium is found in dairy foods and canned fish with bones such as salmon and sardines. Leafy greens, nuts and seeds are also recommended, including almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and brazil nuts.

Calcium is one of the building blocks of tooth enamel and essential for keeping them strong and resistant to tooth decay.

It is also an important part of bone health and, therefore, helps support the teeth in the jawbone.

Vitamins for teeth & gums: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for ensuring the production and maintenance of collagen in the body, including gum tissues.

It also acts as an antioxidant and can boost the immune system, improving wound healing and, in turn, can help reduce the severity of gum disease.

Historically, sailors were affected by scurvy (presenting as bleeding gums and tooth mobility) caused by a vitamin C deficiency. It is far less common now to see scurvy, as the essential vitamins can be found in many fresh fruits and vegetables, including citrus, strawberries, cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts), white potatoes, capsicums and tomatoes.

It is also essential in aiding the uptake of iron within the body.

Vitamins for teeth & gums: Phosphorus

Phosphorus is needed to aid calcium uptake and helps rebuild tooth enamel. It works in conjunction with calcium in tooth formation before birth and continues to maintain bone and tooth health throughout life. It can be found in meat, milk, eggs, fish, and foods.

Vitamins for teeth & gums: Vitamin D

Vitamin D works as a catalyst for calcium and phosphorous uptake into the bones. It is also needed for tooth development, and a deficiency has been associated with enamel defects in children, gum inflammation and gum disease.

Our bodies can make Vitamin D through exposure to sunlight (be careful to follow sun-safe practices) and foods such as oily fish, salmon and herring, mushrooms and egg yolks. Some foods are vitamin D fortified (such as some cereals, juices and milks).

Vitamins for teeth & gums: Vitamin A

Vitamin A has antioxidant properties that improve the health of the tooth-supporting structures (gums, periodontal ligament and bone),which helps in the development and maintenance of the lining of the oral cavity, enamel and dentin.

It can help reduce the severity and progression of gum disease. Vitamin A can be found in orange foods, such as carrots, sweet potato, beef and lamb liver, oily fish (salmon, mackerel), and leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach).

How do you get all the vitamins for gums and teeth?

You might be wondering if you need to take a supplement to get all these nutrients. In short, the answer is: if you are eating a healthy and varied diet in accordance with the healthy eating guidelines, then it is unlikely you will need to use supplements and vitamins for gum health .

If you think you might need some extra help to get these nutrients, talk to your GP before starting any supplements or vitamins for teeth and gums .

If you would like more information about these vitamins or minerals for your dental health, feel free to have a chat with your our dentists, oral health therapists or dental hygienists. We’re here to help.

Book an appointment for recommendations and advice about vitamins for gums and teeth!

About Author

Emily Smith

Emily joined Boulton Dental in 2016.
She has been an oral health therapist for 8 years and has worked in the dental industry for 15 years.
Emily graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Oral Health in 2013 and a graduate Diploma in Dental Therapy in 2014. From there she went on to a graduate position at Westmead Centre for Oral Health.
She loves every minute of working at Boulton Dental. Emily is a firm believer in “prevention is better than a cure”, and that is what she aims to provide for all her patients. She very much values this shared practice philosophy.
Emily enjoys working together with patients of all ages & their families, tailoring their treatment to individual needs & what will work for them.
Professionally, Emily hopes to undertake further study to broaden her scope, allowing her to provide more comprehensive treatment to adult patients, in addition to being able to provide restorative care to children under 18years of age. She considers her qualifications a ‘license to learn’, and endeavors to always keep up to date with current research to improve patient care.
When Emily is not seeing patients, she can be found at the University of Newcastle Dental Clinic supervising students. But most of her time is spent with her 2 young kids & family. She loves reading and trying to find time daily to fit it in (easier said than done!).

See author's posts