Vitamins and minerals are essential for your health. But vitamins are not just good for keeping your energy up or gut health; they are also integral to good oral health. Your teeth are bones, just like those that make up your arms and legs, and therefore require the same support as the bones in the rest of your body.

Vitamins are essentially an all-around preventative measure for common oral health issues. Improving your mouth’s health every day with vitamins is a proactive way to ensure a pain-free, healthy dental experience. Dr. Gordon C. Honig and Dr. Lisa Honig at Honig Orthodontics recommend these vitamins to promote tooth health, strengthen your enamel, and support jaw health.

Here are the five vitamins and minerals you should have daily:

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin C
3. Calcium
4. Vitamin D
5. Vitamin K

Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps your body keep mucous membranes healthy. Inside your mouth, this means saliva production, fighting dryness, and maintaining the health of mouth tissues. This is especially helpful after a dental procedure or oral surgery since vitamin A helps your mouth heal as best as possible. You can get more vitamin A by incorporating sweet potatoes, melons, fish, or spinach into your diet.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is beneficial for the soft tissues inside your mouth. If you struggle with canker sores or other oral sores, adding some Vitamin C to your diet can help them heal more quickly. Vitamin C also speeds up the healing of any injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Another benefit of increasing vitamin C in your diet is preventing gingivitis. By adulthood, most people experience gum disease, and many have suffered mild gingivitis. Vitamin C is easy to get into your daily diet; it’s found in oranges, red peppers, and leafy greens!

Calcium

Teeth are bones too! As we all know, calcium is the mineral of strong bones. Getting enough calcium protects your teeth from root to crown and strengthens the jawbone. You can find calcium in dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential because it helps your body absorb vitamin C. Increasing vitamin D in your life helps increase your bone mineral density and leads to healthier bones all over, not just your teeth. Because of these qualities, vitamin D is ideal for those undergoing orthodontic treatment. Vitamin D is also great because you don’t have to buy anything to incorporate it into your life—just step out into the sun!

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is integral in the functions aided by osteocalcin. What is osteocalcin? What does vitamin K have to do with your bones? Osteocalcin is secreted by cells in your bones and plays an essential role in regulating muscle strength and physical capabilities. It has effects on your bone and tooth health, but it’s also crucial for cognition and regulating glucose metabolism. You can find vitamin K in cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli, and soybean oil.