Vitamin D is well-known for its many health benefits; doctors are constantly urging their patients to get more of it! However, it is sometimes overlooked in conversations about dental implants, even though it can play an important role in the treatment’s success. How can vitamin D support dental implants, and how can you increase your intake of this vital nutrient? This blog post provides some practical advice.
Vitamin D and Bone Health
Vitamin D is incredibly important for bone health. It allows your body to absorb and properly utilize other nutrients, including calcium and phosphorous, both of which are key parts of your bone. Inadequate vitamin D levels are consistently associated with a heightened risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Strong bones are necessary for dental implants to succeed. Specifically, your jawbone needs to be large enough and sturdy enough to support them. Once the implants are placed in your jaw, your bone should remodel, growing around the implants and forming a bond with them. This biological process, which is known as osseointegration, is more likely to succeed if your vitamin D levels are within the desired range.
Vitamin D and Immune Function
In addition to supporting bone health, vitamin D also facilitates the functioning of your immune system. In other words, it can help your body battle infections! It can even help you to fight against harmful oral bacteria, which might otherwise attack the tissue around your dental implants and cause them to fail.
Tips for Getting More Vitamin D
Sadly, a lack of vitamin D is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies among adults in the U.S. What can you do to get more of it? Here are a few tips:
- Get outside. Did you know that your body can make its own vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight? For most people 10 – 30, minutes of midday sun exposure several days each week is enough for adequate vitamin D production. (Individuals with dark skin need to spend more time in the sun than people with fair skin.)
- Sit by a UV lamp. Sometimes, bad weather can make it difficult to spend enough time outdoors. As an alternative, you can buy a special lamp that emits UVB rays.
- Make dietary adjustments. Egg yolks, fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and mushrooms are some good sources of dietary vitamin D.
- Take a supplement. There are lots of vitamin D supplements on the market. Choose one that features vitamin D3 (as opposed to D2). You should also research the specific brand you are thinking about using to make sure they have a good reputation.
Vitamin D can help your dental implants to thrive! Make any necessary adjustments to your habits so you can get enough of this crucial nutrient.
Meet the Practice
The team at Westgate Dental Care is proud to have on-staff experts who can perform every part of the dental implant treatment process. If you are thinking about replacing your missing teeth, we would be happy to answer your questions and provide advice that will support the long-term success of your restored smile. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact our Arlington Heights, IL, office at 847-577-7171.