How Vitamins and Minerals Affect Your Teeth

Keeping your teeth healthy on a regular basis requires knowing what can help. This guide explains how vitamins and minerals affect your teeth.

Shockingly, 1 in 4 adults in the US lives with untreated tooth decay. Some of the common oral health problems in adults include oral cancer, tooth loss, and gum disease. Poor dental hygiene is attributed to most of these oral health issues.

Eating a balanced diet remains the best way to feed your body the right amounts of nutrients. A diet enriched with vitamins and minerals is essential for strong gums and teeth. Many people forget that consuming the wrong foods can weaken the teeth.



Minerals and vitamins are considered essential nutrients since they play several roles in the body. They boost the immune system, heal wounds and shore up bones. Here are six ways they affect your teeth:

Prevent Mouth Sores

Mouth sores are small, painful lesions that develop on any soft tissues of the mouth. They can appear on the floor/roof of the mouth, tongue, gums, cheeks, and lips. You are at risk of developing these sores if your diet lacks iron.

Recurring mouth sores may suggest an underlying issue. You can treat them by including dark, green leafy vegetables in your daily diet. Other healthy sources of iron include prunes, apricots, and meat.



Taking nutritional supplements rich in vitamin B12, zinc, and folic acid can help manage these sores. The supplements will reduce inflammation around your mouth tissues and promote healing.

Prevent Inflammation and Swelling in Gums

Lack of vitamin C in your meals can cause swelling and inflammation in your gums. When left untreated, the inflammation may develop into tooth loss and cause bleeding gums.

Vitamin C is an important nutrient for improving dental health. It helps the body develop resistance against different gum diseases. Including it in your meals can help you heal faster and grow new tissues.

You are at risk of developing scurvy if you have low vitamin C levels. Scurvy is a condition characterized by swollen gums and gum bleeding. You may develop inflammation and pain in the gums, or lose teeth with this condition.

Dairy products like milk and yogurt can prevent cavities in your teeth. These foods are rich in calcium which encourages healthy bacteria in the gums.

Drink adequate water to wash away food particles and prevent plaque buildup. You may also take tea rich in polyphenols to prevent cavities and reduce inflammation in your mouth tissues.

Improve Bone Mineral Density

Dietary potassium can reduce calcium loss and neutralize acid loss from the bone. It thus boosts bone mineral density in both children and adults.

Studies suggest that nutrition is among the factors that promote bone health. Including potassium in your diet can help prevent your blood from getting too acidic. With acidic blood in your body, your teeth may start shedding calcium and weaken.

Foods rich in potassium include avocados, potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas. Add them in moderation to improve your bone mass. You wouldn't want to lose teeth or experience sudden changes in your tooth structure.



Using toothpaste with potassium nitrate as an active ingredient can also help. When potassium nitrate penetrates the tooth enamel, it slows pain signals. Together with sodium fluoride, this potassium compound can help you recover from tooth sensitivity.

Strengthen Layers of the Teeth

Taking collagen-rich foods can strengthen and remineralize all of your teeth's layers. Collagen-rich foods include garlic, egg whites, chicken, and fish.

Proper amounts of vitamin D in your body can boost calcium absorption. Vitamin D can also prevent oral diseases and strengthen your teeth. Good sources of this nutrient include fortified foods, egg yolks, red meat, and oily fish.

Calcium is among the healthy types of minerals known to stabilize the jaw bone. It also keeps the enamel healthy and strong. Great sources of this mineral include salmon, broccoli, and dairy products.

Include phosphorus-rich foods like cheese, pork, beef, and lentils in your diet to build strong teeth. Phosphorus makes it easier for the body to absorb calcium.



Vitamin K is also among the essential nutrients a dentist Laurel, MD can prescribe to boost bone strength. It protects the teeth by blocking bone degrading substances. You can find this nutrient in foods like green leafy vegetables, cereals, eggs, meat, and fish.

Prevent Oral Cancer

A diet rich in probiotics can reduce inflammation in your mouth and prevent oral cancer. Probiotics help fight mouth sores, gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities. They enable the body to absorb zinc, selenium, calcium, and iron.

You can consume probiotics in supplement or food form. Best probiotic foods include fermented or enriched foods like yogurt, enhanced milk, sour pickles, and soft cheeses.



Vitamin E also boosts immunity and limits cancer cell growth. It helps cancer patients cope with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Great vitamin E sources include peanuts, red bell pepper, and almonds.

Kick Out Bad Breath

Including healthy amounts of niacin or vitamin B3 in your diet can help you fight bad breath. You can find this essential nutrient in fish, meat, and poultry. Vitamin B3 helps in the metabolism of fats and cholesterol and promotes antioxidant reactions in your body.

You may also take zinc supplements to prevent bad breath. Zinc fights bacteria in the mouth that causes a foul smell. Foods rich in this mineral include chickpeas, dark chocolate, and pumpkin seeds.

Probiotics improve your stomach health and prevent foul odors from the stomach from reaching your mouth. They also improve digestion and reduce gas buildup in the belly.

You can find these nutrients in fermented foods like sourdough bread, yogurt, and pickles.

Start Taking Vitamins and Minerals Today

A diet rich in vitamins and minerals discussed in this guide can strengthen your gums and teeth. You may consume these nutrients in food or supplement form as guided by your dentist in Laurel MD. Adopt a healthy lifestyle with these nutrients in your diet to prevent frequent dental checkups.



Count on Garland K. Davis for a comprehensive dental care plan for your whole family. Our full range of dental treatments and flexible financing options will help you achieve the best oral health. Fill out an online dental appointment request form, and we'll get back to you promptly.