Most people have heard of vitamin D, as it’s also called the sunshine vitamin, which is often in short supply at this time of year. This is because you need to be exposed to the direct sun for about 10 or 15 minutes two or three times a week, and the sun needs to be sufficiently strong and not covered by clouds. Your body can then make vitamin D when exposed to the sunlight, producing a substance called cholecalciferol, which is converted by the kidneys into a substance called calcitriol, a hormone that controls blood calcium levels. Therefore, vitamin D is a hormone that helps the body absorb calcium in the diet, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth.
Vitamin D isn’t found naturally in many foods, so some foods are fortified with this vitamin. Dietary forms of vitamin D include vitamin D2 and D3, and good sources include fortified milk and cereals and red meat, liver, egg yolks, and oily fish like sardines, salmon and mackerel. It is important to get enough vitamin D, and if you are deficient in this vitamin, you may find you get sick more frequently, have depression or bone pain, and muscle cramps, tremors and aches. In addition, wounds can be slower to heal because vitamin D helps fight inflammation and infection. Vitamin D can also help boost the immune system and regulate blood sugar levels.
How Does Vitamin D Affect Dental Health?
Your teeth are covered with a hard layer of enamel, helping to protect them against damage and decay. Tooth enamel contains minerals including calcium and phosphate, which help harden the enamel, increasing its resistance to tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused when you have something sugary or starchy, feeding harmful oral bacteria in dental plaque, a sticky biofilm that forms over your teeth between regular brushing and flossing in Whitby. These oral bacteria produce acids that erode tooth enamel, removing some essential minerals, so the enamel becomes softer and more easily decayed.
Your mouth remains more acidic for at least half an hour after eating. However, this process called demineralization is partially reversed as acidity levels decline and your mouth returns to a more neutral pH level. As this takes place, some minerals remaining in your saliva are redeposited back into your tooth enamel, helping to re-harden it during a process called remineralization. Remineralization is also why it is best to wait a while after eating and before brushing your teeth in Ajax. Brushing them while the enamel is still softened can increase the damage to tooth enamel.
When you do not have enough vitamin D, your body is less able to absorb calcium, so the enamel may not be as strong and resistant to harmful oral bacteria. Directly underneath tooth enamel is another layer of the tooth called dentin, and unlike enamel, it is alive. Dentin contains cells that release immune factors, helping to fight tooth decay. Because vitamin D helps boost the immune system, it also helps these cells fight cavities more effectively. Also, vitamin D may help reduce the severity of gum disease in Oshawa, an infection caused by bacteria in the mouth because it has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Vitamin D is crucial for dental health, and most people can make sure they receive enough of this vitamin by following a healthy diet and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. However, if you suspect you may not be getting enough vitamin D, ask your GP for advice during your next visit. If needed, they can test your Vitamin D levels or recommend a suitable supplement.
