The Best Vitamins and Minerals for Your Teeth

Ensuring your diet includes plenty of vitamins and minerals is essential for good oral health, helping your body to fight oral infection and building strong teeth and bones. We’ve listed some of the most important vitamins and minerals below.

Calcium

Your teeth and jawbones consist mainly of calcium so if your diet is deficient in this mineral, you run the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese, sugar-free yoghurt, beans and oysters.

Iron

When you don’t get enough iron in your diet, your tongue can become sore and inflamed, and you may develop sores inside your mouth. Iron-rich foods include red meat and liver, as well as some nuts and bran cereals.

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 is also called niacin and without it, you are more at risk of having bad breath and canker sores. Good sources of niacin include chicken and fish.

Vitamin C

An inadequate amount of vitamin C can cause bleeding gums and loose teeth as your gums need this vitamin to repair tissues and to heal. Good sources of vitamin C include oranges, sweet potatoes and red peppers.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, and without it, you are more at risk of developing burning mouth syndrome or dry mouth. Good sources of vitamin D include milk, fish and egg yolks.