Are Your Children’s Teeth and Gums Getting Enough Vitamins & Minerals?
Everybody knows that brushing and flossing are vital for our children’s overall oral health, but the type of food and liquids they consume daily is just as important! Consuming a diet full of unhealthy foods can have long term effects on your child’s oral health. Making sure your kids have a balanced diet, rich in vitamins and minerals is what will ensure they will have healthy teeth and gums.
What Vitamins and Minerals Promote Healthy Teeth and Gums?
Below are a list of the essential vitamins and minerals you want to include in your child’s diet, so their teeth and gums are strong and healthy.
Calcium
Did you know that calcium is the main mineral that makes up our teeth and jawbones? That is why making sure your child gets enough calcium while their teeth are growing is important. When we don’t consume enough calcium, our bodies then take the calcium they need from our bones. The more calcium your kid consumes, the stronger their teeth will be.
The main sources of calcium are milk, yogurt, and cheese. Soft boned fish, most grains, fruit juices, broccoli, and kale are also good sources of calcium for your growing child!
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is something our bodies naturally make when we’re exposed to sunlight, but we can also get it by consuming it from fatty fish, tuna, orange juice, milk, fortified cereals, egg yolk, and other foods and drinks.
By consuming vitamin D, it helps the body absorb calcium and strengthen your teeth. It even reduces your risk for bone fractures! Vitamin D also keeps your child’s immune system normal and functioning how it should so their bodies can resist some forms of disease.
Phosphorus
You have large amounts of phosphorus in your body, with most of it being found in your teeth. The purpose of it being in your teeth is to work with calcium to protect and rebuild tooth enamel. Consuming foods with phosphorus is important in maintaining and repairing body tissue and teeth! Phosphorus is found in many protein-rich foods such as eggs, nuts, meat, dairy, and legumes.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps keep the connective tissues of your gums strong. Without getting enough of it, the tissues that hold your teeth in place can weaken, teeth can become loose, gums can bleed, and the risk of getting gum disease increases. Make sure your kids are eating enough citrus fruits, berries, kiwifruit, spinach, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is beneficial for both your eyes and mouth. It helps form and maintain tissues such as your gums and mucous membranes. Saliva naturally cleans teeth of damaging acids, and the Vitamin A is what keeps the saliva flowing and prevents dry mouth.
Get some Vitamin A in your children by giving them orange fruits, fish, spinach, collard greens, egg yolks, dairy, chicken, sweet potatoes, or meat.
Iron
Iron helps the body maintain a healthy level of red blood cells, which helps your immune system function normally and fight off infection. Having low iron puts your immune system at risk and increases your chances of developing an oral infection or gum disease.
Keep your child’s immune system healthy and running how it should with foods like seafood, eggs, red meat, cereals, bread, and leafy green vegetables.
While a healthy diet can give your children’s body the vitamins and minerals it needs, we understand that some children can’t eat certain things or are picky eaters. We recommend getting them to take vitamin supplements. If your child has low levels of one or more than one vitamin or mineral, talk to their pediatrician to find out what multi vitamin would be best for them.
Here at Downingtown Family Dentistry, our team is always here to answer any questions or concerns your might have to ensure your child has a happy and healthy smile. Schedule an appointment today by calling us at 610-269-1414.
