Vitamin D supplies teeth with minerals

Vitamin D supplies teeth with minerals
Berks County, PA -
Dr. John Reitz
Dear Dr. Reitz: I have been taking daily supplements of vitamin D since being diagnosed deficient by my physician. I am 45 years old and healthy overall. Is there a connection between vitamin D deficiency, tooth decay and the bone loss from gum disease that I have experienced over the years? - Susan

Dear Susan: Before I discuss the dental benefits of vitamin D, I want to be clear that gum disease and tooth decay are caused by a combination of bacteria, dietary habits and your body's genetic makeup.

Vitamin D functions both by helping your body absorb calcium from food and by maintaining adequate blood calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal bone formation. Having sufficient calcium provided by vitamin D helps maintain the bone that supports the teeth.

You body has two sources of vitamin D, from food and sunlight. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in dairy products, fish and fortified cereals. Sunlight is your most important source of vitamin D, because most food cannot provide your daily requirement. It's known as the sunshine vitamin because it's believed that as little as 15 minutes in the sun allows the skin to produce enough to prevent deficiencies............