How Your Oral Health Impacts Overall Health
July 15, 2015Keeping Your Mouth Healthy This Halloween
October 19, 2015
As Minnesotans, nothing brings smiles to our faces like sunshine and days at the lake. It turns out there is yet another reason to love the sunny Minnesota days: the “sunshine vitamin,” or Vitamin D. There are a number of ways to get a dose of this vitamin: through food, supplements, or sunlight. But why is Vitamin D so important, and why should it make you smile?
Most people know that Vitamin D is important for general health, but studies show that it’s beneficial to your oral health, too.
Vitamin D has numerous known benefits, including promoting bone metabolism, and protecting against inflammation1. These two benefits are big blessings to your mouth, reducing your risk of periodontal disease and attachment loss. Getting enough Calcium in your diet further reduces your risk.2
What are some foods that are high in Vitamin D3?
- Cod Liver Oil
- Oily Fish (like salmon, swordfish, or mackerel)
- Mushrooms
- Fortified Cereals
- Tofu
- Dairy Products
Knowing that the sunshine vitamin is helpful to your mouth can give you another reason to smile, and you can find even more fun in enjoying the beautiful Minnesota sun. Just don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!
1Vitamins and Supplements Lifestyle Guide: Vitamins that Fight Inflammation. WebMD. Updated 2015. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/inflammation
2Periodontal Disease. Vitamin D Council. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/periodontal-disease/
3Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin D. HealthAliciousNess.net. 2015. http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/high-vitamin-D-foods.php