Are you familiar with the fact that vitamin D is great for your oral health? If not, we’ll explain why! It begins with understanding some of the fundamentals.
Calcium is important for strong bones – most people know this. You may drink milk specifically for this reason, too. Calcium also happens to be good for strong teeth. Calcium and vitamin D go hand in hand.
Where does vitamin D come into the equation?
Well, vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium by our bodies. Without vitamin D present our body will have a hard time breaking down the calcium we consume. Vitamin D helps make the process easier, smoother, and more efficient. Our bodies will naturally absorb calcium as it is, but if vitamin D is around, it will exhaust that resource as a way to help your body out.
The good news is that research and studies over the years have consistently shown that both calcium and vitamin D help contribute to decreased bone loss throughout the body. In turn, this has also translated to lower rates of tooth loss!
Fun fact: Teeth are part of our skeletal system, but are not counted as bones. They are made up of enamel and dentin, where enamel happens to be the strongest substance in our body!
Are you obtaining enough vitamin D throughout the day?
Chances are, most likely not. Many people actually struggle to meet the American Dietetic Associations’ daily value for both calcium and vitamin D.
Recommended daily values:
- 2,500 mg/day of calcium
- 1,000 units/day of vitamin D
What are the best ways to receive vitamin D?
There are plenty of natural ways to meet the daily values:
- Dairy products (milk is excellent – cheese in moderation)
- Soy and rice drinks
- Salmon and other fatty fish
- Almonds
- Dark green leafy vegetables
We hope you see the benefits of vitamin D and make an effort to incorporate it more into your daily routine. As always, never forget to brush and floss your teeth!
