The Link Between Tooth Decay And Vitamin Deficiency

Tooth decay and cavities are associated with the erosion of tooth enamel and dentine. A number of experiments demonstrate how deficiencies in your dietary intake, especially during the development of your teeth can impair the structure of the tooth. Those dietary deficiencies may also increase your risk of experiencing tooth decay.

The following three vitamins are essential to protect your teeth against decay:

Vitamin A – When you have a deficiency of vitamin A1, the epithelial cells, which secrete phosphate, fluoride, magnesium, calcium and carbonate ions are impaired. When you are deficient in vitamin A, you likely have tooth enamel with pits, enamel that is less dense and overall poor enamel. The entire tooth may be rough in severe cases.

Vitamin D – This vitamin is essential for phosphate and calcium to work properly in the body2. Both of those minerals are important for the formation of tooth enamel. In children with high levels of vitamin D, dental cavities were less likely to occur.

Vitamin C – Studies found that a deficiency of vitamin C increased the possibility of dentine damage3. This may be because the cells that are responsible for building dentine are influenced by the supply of ascorbic acid. As a result, low vitamin C levels can reduce the production of dentine.

What Can Be Done?

By far, the best way to prevent cavities and all disease in the human body is eating food that has a naturally high level of vitamins.

This would include eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and a high-quality protein. Doing so will ensure that you get enough vitamins and minerals. For vitamin A, eat more sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and spinach. You can cook them in butter and even add some beef liver to your diet.

Eating oranges, kiwi, strawberry and vegetables, such as cable, Brussels sprouts and capsicum can help boost your levels of vitamin C. To increase your vitamin D, you can eat oily fish, such as mackerel and sardines. You might also want to get some balanced exposure to the sun's rays.

References: 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3223104/, Vitamin A Deficiency Leads to Increased Cell Proliferation in Olfactory Epithelium of Mature Rats, March, 2003 2. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/134/11/3137/4688435, Vitamin D and the Dual Processes of Intestinal Calcium Absorption, November 1, 2004 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179190/; Does vitamin C deficiency affect cognitive development and function? September, 2014