Vitamin C And Your Dental Health

Vitamin C is known as the vitamin that protects against colds, but it does a whole lot more than that. It's also a very essential nutrient for maintaining good oral health. Eat enough vitamin C, and you'll suffer from fewer dental health issues in the future. Here's a closer look at how vitamin C keeps your teeth and gums healthy, and how to get enough.

How does a lack of vitamin C affect the teeth and gums?

You've probably heard of scurvy, the condition that sailors developed after months at sea with no vitamin C in sight. A hallmark symptom of scurvy is severe gum disease and tooth loss. This is because vitamin C is essential for the body to rebuild and maintain tissues, including gum tissues. Without any vitamin C, it does not take long for the gums and ligaments that anchor the teeth in place to deteriorate. Scurvy is not so common anymore, but less-pronounced deficiencies of vitamin C cause symptoms like sore gums and bleeding after brushing. Over time, bacteria can invade these weakened gums, leading to periodontal disease and tooth decay.

How much vitamin C should you be getting?

In order to protect your teeth and gums, aim to consume about 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day as a normal, healthy adult. If you are pregnant, the Vitamin C Foundation recommends increasing your intake to 6,000 milligrams per day. If you are under a lot of stress or fighting off an infectious illness, a dose of 20,000 to 300,000 mg per day is advised. There are no known side effects of consuming too much vitamin C; any excess is just excreted in the urine.

What are some other signs that you're not getting enough vitamin C?

In addition to weak and bleeding gums, a vitamin C deficiency may also lead to a weakened immune system, dry hair, and nosebleeds. You may also be deficient in vitamin C if you're noticed that your wounds are taking longer than normal to heal.

How can you consume more vitamin C?

If you think you may not be consuming enough vitamin C, either because your gums are not in good health or because you're suffering from other deficiency symptoms, you could always take a supplement. However, another option is to start consuming more foods that are high in this nutrient. Good choices include:

• Bell Peppers (341 milligrams in one pepper)
• Dark Leafy Greens (80 milligrams per cup)
• Kiwi (64 milligrams per fruit)
• Broccoli (84 milligrams per cup)
• Oranges (69 milligrams per fruit)
• Tomatoes (56 milligrams per 2 tomatoes)

If you're not sure whether you're getting enough vitamin C, ask a local dentist like those at Suncoast Dental Center. He or she can take a close look at your gums and tell you whether you need to consume more of this nutrient.

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