As a dentist committed to addressing the fundamental causes of oral disease, I’m always looking at the latest science. Exciting research reveals that vitamin D supplementation, a nutrient supplement we often link to bones, also plays a key role in making your teeth stronger.

This article will explore how vitamin D supplementation affects your teeth, offering insights into its benefits and proper intake for optimal dental health.

Vitamin D Deficiency’s Detrimental Effects on Teeth

Adequate vitamin D levels are essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphate, the building blocks of strong teeth. Insufficient vitamin D can therefore compromise oral health in several ways, as detailed in a comprehensive review published in Nutrients:

• Increased Susceptibility to Dental Caries: Vitamin D helps your mouth fight off bad germs that cause cavities. A lack of vitamin D weakens this defense, increasing the risk of tooth decay. This research highlights the importance of vitamin D for healthy teeth.
• Elevated Risk of Periodontal Disease: Vitamin D helps reduce inflammation in your gums. Low levels can lead to gum problems, potentially weakening the support structures of your teeth.
• Compromised Tooth Development: Kids need enough vitamin D to build strong enamel and dentin, the hard tissues of their teeth. A deficiency can lead to weak teeth that are more prone to problems later in life.
• Potential for Tooth Loss: In the long run, untreated decay and gum disease, worsened by low vitamin D, can lead to teeth becoming loose and falling out.

So, getting enough vitamin D is crucial for maintaining the strength and health of your teeth throughout your life.

Scientific Evidence: Vitamin D Supplementation for Strong Teeth

In 2022 researchers designed a clever study to build the evidence for how vitamin D can help strengthen teeth. This research directly examined how vitamin D 3 influences the strength of tooth enamel through saliva.

Saliva is both the carrier of minerals and other factors that help keep teeth strong and prevent cavities.

Here’s what the researchers did:

• They collected saliva from people taking 1000 IU of vitamin D 3 daily and from people not taking it.
• They then soaked extracted teeth in each type of saliva.
• Finally, they used tools to measure the quality (strength and hardness) of the enamel on the teeth.

What the Study Found:

• The researchers found that the enamel of the teeth soaked in saliva from people taking 1000 IU of vitamin D 3 was significantly stronger and harder than the enamel of the teeth soaked in saliva from people not taking vitamin D 3.

This key finding supports that taking a common dose of vitamin D 3 can change your saliva in a way that truly helps make your tooth enamel stronger, contributing to the overall health and resilience of your teeth.

Other research, like a meta-analysis (PMC9233525), also suggests that vitamin D 3 supplements can help prevent cavities in children and teenagers.

Optimal Vitamin D Intake for Healthy and Strong Teeth

While the study mentioned above focused on 1000 IU, other research indicates that a daily intake of vitamin D in the range of 5000 to 10000 IU may be appropriate for many adults to achieve sufficient levels and maintain healthy teeth. However, it’s essential to talk to your doctor to determine the ideal dosage for your specific needs.

Vitamin D Supplementation for Teeth

Vitamin D doesn’t work alone. It teams up with other nutrients to keep your teeth healthy:

• Vitamin K2: This helps direct calcium to your teeth where it’s needed.
• Vitamin A: This keeps the lining of your mouth healthy.
• Magnesium: This helps your body use vitamin D properly.

Getting these nutrients through a balanced diet, as I explain in my book, The Dental Diet, works alongside vitamin D to give you strong, healthy teeth.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Vitamin D and Teeth

The evidence clearly shows that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the health and strength of your teeth. As a dentist focused on finding the root causes of dental problems, I emphasize the importance of adequate vitamin D, along with other key nutrients, for overall oral health. To ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D and supporting your teeth, talk to your doctor and consider dietary changes as outlined in The Dental Diet.

References and Further Reading

1. Effect of Oral Vitamin D3 on Dental Caries: An In-Vitro Study Involving Saliva and Extracted Teeth, by Sawsan Hameed Al-Jubori, Maha A AL-Murad, Faehaa Azher Al-Mashhadane. Cureus. 2022 Dec 15;14(12):e32560. doi: 10.7759/cureus.25360. https://www.cureus.com/articles/110996-effect-of-oral-vitamin-d3-on-dental-caries-an-in-vitro-study-involving-saliva-and-extracted-teeth
2. Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Caries Prevention in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 22;19(13):7643. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19137643. PMID: 9233525. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/13/7643
3. Aboushaqra, K. N. (2020). Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients, 12(5), 1321. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051321
4. Botelho, J., Machado, V., Proença, L., Delgado, A. S., & Mendes, J. J. (2020). Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients, 12(5), 1471. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051471
5. Amano, Y., Komiyama, K., & Makishima, M. (2009). Vitamin D and periodontal disease. Journal of Oral Science, 51(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.2334/josnusd.51.11
6. Zhang, X., Beck, P., Rahemtulla, F., & Limeback, H. (2009). Regulation of enamel and dentin mineralization by vitamin D receptor. Frontiers of Oral Biology, 13, 102-109. https://doi.org/10.1159/000197480
7. Zhan, Y., Samietz, S., Holtfreter, B., Schwahn, C., Hannich, M., Plümer, L., & Kocher, T. (2014). Prospective study of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and tooth loss. Journal of Dental Research, 93(7), 639-644. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034514534898
8. Foster, B. L., & Hujoel, P. P. (Eds.). (2018). Vitamin D in Dentoalveolar and Oral Health. Academic Press.
9. Lin, S. (2018). The Dental Diet: The surprising link between your teeth, gut, brain, and overall health—and what to eat to fix it. Hay House, Inc.