If you have missing teeth that you’d like to replace, you might be considering dental implants. You’ve heard that they’re one of the best ways of restoring lost teeth – and you’re determined to set your smile up for a healthy and bright future. With that in mind, you may be wondering if there are any lifestyle changes or dietary adjustments you can make to ensure the success of your future implants. Believe it or not, increasing your vitamin D intake can be incredibly impactful! Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement, due to their ability to fully restore teeth in terms of look, feel, and functionality. The implants themselves are small, titanium posts that are surgically placed beneath a patient’s gum line, directly into their jawbone.
Once they’ve been placed, they’ll begin fusing with the surrounding jaw tissue to form a permanent, sturdy foundation for a custom-made dental restoration. Since the posts act as replacement tooth roots, patients gain increased biting power; plus, the implants prevent the jawbone resorption that’s commonly associated with tooth loss!
How Does Vitamin D Help Dental Implants?
You may already be aware that vitamins and supplements play an important role in maintaining our health as we grow older. Vitamin D has one particularly important benefit: it helps our bodies absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, both of which are critical for building and maintaining healthy bone tissue.
Needless to say, this is massively important for dental implant patients. If you have enough vitamin D, your jawbone will have the strength it needs to successfully integrate your dental implants. Vitamin D can also promote gum health, helping to produce compounds that reduce bacteria levels in the mouth. Since dental implants also rely on adequate gum health, giving this tissue the nutrients it needs to remain healthy will greatly benefit your implants.
What Are Some Good Sources of Vitamin D?
Luckily, there are all kinds of ways to add more vitamin D to your life. Perhaps the best source of vitamin D is sunlight – spending around 20 or so minutes outside each day is often sufficient. You might also consider the use of a UV lamp, which will enable your body to absorb more vitamin D on days when you’d rather avoid particularly harsh, sunny weather.
You can also get vitamin D by eating several different types of nutritious foods: oily fish like salmon and tuna, eggs, mushrooms, cheese, and fortified foods like milk, orange juice, and cereal are all excellent options. Vitamin D supplements can also be purchased and taken daily.
There are online tests you can order to have your vitamin D levels checked – and if you have dental implants, there’s no better peace of mind than knowing your body is getting all of the nutrition it needs to healthily accommodate your new smile!
About the Author
Dr. Suzanne Land received her DMD from the Temple University School of Dentistry and has proudly served the dental needs of patients and families in Moorestown for several years. Her office offers a wide variety of services, including restorative solutions like full-service dental implants for patients with missing teeth. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with her team to schedule an appointment, please reach out online or over the phone for more information or assistance. Telephone: (856) 235-0449.