We all know that brushing and flossing are essential to maintaining good oral hygiene. But do you know that the nutrients you consume can also impact your oral health? We all know vitamin C benefits our overall health.
But vitamin C is also good for promoting eyesight to beating the common cold, and the vitamin is known as a cure-all vitamin. So, it should not come as a surprise that increasing vitamin C intake can also benefit one’s oral health.
In addition, this vitamin can do wonders. It helps reduce inflammation and strengthen your blood vessels, a vital ingredient in the recipe for healthy gums. Moreover, the vitamin can increase collagen production, which keeps your gums strong, and less susceptible to periodontal disease.
This article discusses the vitamin C benefits for your teeth and gums. Furthermore, we also discuss what foods you should eat to add more of these nutrients to your daily diet. Luckily, many of the foods rich in this vitamin are delicious and natural.
Vitamin C Benefits and Your Teeth
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps fight gum inflammation and heal gums. It is only possible as the process helps your body produce more collagen. More collagen will aid in cell repair and expedite the healing process.
Vit C is not only good for your gums, but it is an excellent nutrient for your gums too. It can help to keep the connective tissues in your gums healthy and strong. Strong connective tissues will hold your teeth in place tightly.
Without enough vit C, the tissues holding teeth securely in place will weaken. Because of which your teeth will become loose, your gums will start to bleed, and gum disease might become dangerous.
Note that vit C deficiencies could lead to gum disease and even bleeding gums. Furthermore, vitamin C supplements can reduce your chances of erosive tooth wear, especially in childhood.
Citrus fruits like oranges, kiwi, and grapefruit are a rich source of vit C. Though these fruits are very acidic, so be sure to rinse your mouth with water after enjoying these fruits thoroughly.
You can quickly get a lot of vit C in your daily diet, as it is present in citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, sweet potatoes, berries, and kale leaves. You can also choose readily available supplements.
You might have heard that a lack of vitamin C causes scurvy? So many sailors needlessly lost their teeth until it was only discovered that having a stockpile of limes and lemons could easily fix the problem. Therefore, be extra careful to eat foods high in vit C as they keep your gum tissues healthy.
A Mouth Healthy Diet is Critical to Oral Health
The list below is your favorite vitamins and minerals for healthier teeth and gums.
Calcium
Calcium is supposed to be one of the most abundant minerals found in your body and aids in a number of processes. The mineral can help build and maintain strong bones and teeth.
Calcium can be abundantly found in dairy products like milk and cheese. You should try getting calcium from cheese and other dairy products. That is probably because cheese has a protein called casein, which plays a crucial role in building strong tooth enamel.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a unique mineral, excellent for your overall health. The mineral plays a vital role in building strong bones and teeth. Magnesium also helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential to building strong tooth enamel. You can easily find magnesium in your daily food like beans, nuts, whole grains, seeds, and dark leafy vegetables.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is probably the best vitamin for your overall oral health. Vitamin A promotes saliva production, which cleans your teeth naturally from damaging acids and prevents dry mouth. The saliva also cleans away destructive bacteria and food particles between gums and teeth.
Vitamin A helps maintain healthy mucous membranes in the mouth that coats your gums and cheeks. This mucus makes your inner mouth less susceptible to infection and disease. Vitamin A-rich foods are eggs, carrots, sweet potatoes, and fish.
Vitamin D
Note that without adequate vitamin D, the healthy power of calcium is diminished. Meaning, vitamin D acts as a communicator and signals your intestines to absorb the calcium available into the bloodstream.
Adequate vitamin D and calcium will make your bones and teeth stronger and denser. Strong teeth mean you have fewer chances of cracks and fractures. You can find vitamin D abundantly in eggs, fish, and dairy products like fortified milk and cheese.
Vitamin C Benefits – Increased Intake Stops Bleeding Gums
A recent study confirmed that low vit C levels in your bloodstream may be an underlying cause of bleeding gums. Researchers believe that brushing and flossing might not be sufficient to reverse this oral health problem.
When your gums bleed, it is a sign of underlying oral health problems like gingivitis or periodontal disease. These are inflammatory conditions that may affect your oral health severely.
When gingivitis is in its early stages, your gums may swell and bleed. If left untreated, these symptoms can worsen, causing the gums to pull away from the teeth. As a result, you might experience tooth and bone loss.
Traditional treatments methods for bleeding gums often include adding more brushing and flossing to your daily oral hygiene regimen. Disorders linked to an increased risk of gingivitis may include diabetes and immune deficiencies. Lifestyle choices, like smoking, may also play a vital role.
The lack of adequate vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is the underlying cause of bleeding gums. This study was published in one of the journals.
The Role of Vitamin C in Oral Health
Many studies were conducted to examine the effect of vit C on your teeth and gums. The researchers examined that participants with lower levels of vit C in their bloodstream were more prone to bleeding gums. Furthermore, these participants also have a higher rate of bleeding in the eye. This condition is known as retinal hemorrhaging.
Interestingly, the study authors found that by raising vit C intake could help stop their gums from bleeding and also reverse eye-related bleeding problems.
Vitamin C Benefits – When to Take Them
Note that a balanced, healthy diet can provide you with a lot of these vitamins needed for your teeth and gums. In addition, taking supplements might be a better option in most cases.
If you are wondering if you should opt for a supplement, talk to your dentist as some dietary supplements might interfere with some prescription medications.
If you maintain a balanced and healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, you are already consuming most of these teeth-friendly nutrients. Moreover, if you are concerned about your vitamin levels, speak with your dentist about what food items or supplements to add to your diet.
Understanding how vit C benefits could impact your teeth can help your oral care in the long term. Now, as you know what vitamins are essential, why not try a delicious new recipe with a few of these nutrient-packed foods?
Vitamin C Rich Foods to Increase Your Dental Health
Which foods should you eat more of to gain the full benefits of vitamin C?
1 Bell peppers
If you are looking for the highest vit C content, then pick the red bell peppers over their green or yellow counterparts. Feel free to eat as many as you like without harm. Note that a full cup of bell peppers is only worth about 45 calories so that you can snack guilt-free for the rest of your day.
2 Kiwi
Surprisingly, being less acidic, kiwi has about twice the vit C content as that in lemons and oranges? Additionally, kiwi is high in fiber, and an enzyme called actinidin – super helpful in breaking down protein, easing digestion, and overall intestinal function.
3 Strawberries
A delicious summer treat, strawberries are a hot favorite and are loaded with vit C. Strawberries are also rich in flavonoids, which can easily counteract bad (or LDL) cholesterol in your blood. The fruit can help unclog plaque from the arteries, so start eating strawberries today.
4 Broccoli
Broccoli has a high concentration of vit C and could fend off cancer. So start eating this wonder fruit today due to its high sulfur content as found in most cruciferous vegetables.
5 Kale
Finally, this trendy superfood is high in vit A, C, and K, and iron and fiber. Do you not like the taste? Never mind, add it to your fruity smoothie and drink the benefits.
Balancing your diet with these vitamin-rich foods and especially vit C will not only help your teeth and gums but your overall health.
Conclusion
Do not forget that while having a balanced diet is equally important in maintaining your oral health. Regular dental checkups are vital in ensuring that your mouth is as healthy as it can be. And, you might also know how important it is to eat your leafy greens.
Do not forget to consult your dentist for advice on how much vitamin C you should be getting in a day; or more dietary tips for a healthy smile.
Read to find out how eucalyptus oil can help prevent gum infection.
Adequate vitamin D and calcium will make your bones and teeth stronger and denser. Strong teeth mean you have fewer chances of cracks and fractures. You can find vitamin D abundantly in eggs, fish, and dairy products like fortified milk and cheese.