Good nutrition is essential for a healthy body and a healthy mouth. Eating a well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is essential. Vitamins are an essential part of any healthy diet. Listed below are a few vitamins that are essential for oral health.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps your body produce healthy collagen, which helps keep your gums strong. It also keeps the surface of your teeth hard, which prevents decay from forming.

Vitamin A promotes healing after oral surgery or injury because it helps wounds heal faster. This vitamin can be found in dairy products, eggs, fish, liver, spinach, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and oranges.

We recommend consuming foods high in vitamin A at least two to three times a week, if possible. If this isn’t possible for you, we recommend taking supplements. 

Vitamin B

Many B vitamins are water-soluble, which means that the body does not store them. Therefore, they need to be replenished regularly through diet or supplementation. B vitamins are important for maintaining a healthy immune system, reducing the risk of certain chronic conditions, reducing symptoms of anxiety, and promoting healthy aging.

One B vitamin that is important for oral health is vitamin B-12. While many people get enough vitamin B-12 through the foods they eat, others may not. This can result in a condition called pernicious anemia. In addition to being good for your teeth, vitamin B-12 aids in the growth of new blood cells. The production of red blood cells is especially important as these cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Without sufficient amounts of oxygen, cells cannot properly function. This can lead to a number of serious health problems.

The body needs an adequate amount of protein in order to manufacture red blood cells. By consuming the recommended dietary allowance of protein and by supplementing with vitamin B-12, you can help ensure proper red blood cell production. Vitamin B-12 can be found in fish, meat, eggs, dairy, and soy products. It can also be found in fortified foods such as cereals and energy bars.

Vitamin C

Just as vitamin C is important for our body’s immune system, it also helps our teeth and gums. Specifically, the vitamin helps make collagen, which is necessary for healthy gum tissues. Vitamin C also helps keep blood vessels healthy and decreases inflammation or swelling in the gums and teeth. While your body does produce some vitamin C on its own, you can take in more by consuming foods that contain this vitamin. Some excellent sources of vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, and strawberries.

For more tips and comprehensive dental care, visit Stonewater Dentistry at 4450 N Tenaya Way, Suite 225, Las Vegas, NV 89129. Call us at (702) 734-5000 for appointments.