Tooth decay can damage anybody’s teeth. Whether it be a 5-year old who loves eating ice-cream or a 35-year old with a sweet tooth. It is a problem most people experience at one time of their life, any part of the world and in any culture. Tooth decay is a regular problem that happens when germs react to the acids in the mouth softening the outer layer of the teeth. This can result in a hole in a tooth cavity. Tooth decay is often called dental caries or dental decay. There are things that cause dental decay. Most often then not, people are only aware of the most common reason and that would be eating sweet foods and not brushing teeth. However, there are other reasons for having tooth decay and here are some.
- Of course not brushing three times a day (once you wake up, after eating lunch and right before you go to sleep) and not flossing regularly is the number one reason.
- Not getting enough fluoride that will make the teeth tougher to acids.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco can cause tooth decay too.
- Eating sweets or foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar.
- Having dry mouth or not having enough saliva that wash-downs acid in the mouth.
- Not drinking water often.
- Not visiting or seeing a dentist for cleanings and check-ups.
Even if tooth decay is a very common problem, it is totally preventable. Keeping a healthy and clean mouth and gums are the best way to prevent it. But of course, there are other ways to prevent having dental caries.
- Lessen eating and drinking foods that are rich in sugar and starch.
- Regularly flossing teeth at least once a day right after brushing.
- Use toothpaste with fluoride to brush your teeth 3 times a day.
- Drink water often. Most water providers already added fluoride to their water.
- Visit your dentist regularly for a checkup and cleaning.
Before, there are some speculations that Vitamin D can also prevent tooth decay or dental caries. However, it is not a speculation anymore but a fact. It has already long been proven that Vitamin D can in fact help in preventing tooth decay. Before knowing the link or the relation between tooth decay and Vitamin D, first, we should know what vitamin D is.
Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin”. It can be produced or made in the body with slight or mild exposure to the sun. Though, the best time to be exposed and get sunshine would be from 6 AM to 9 AM. This is to prevent you from having yourself exposed to the UV rays after those times. Vitamin D is necessary for the body to regulate calcium and phosphorous.
Vitamin D comes hand in hand with Calcium. Vitamin D is essential for Calcium to work and be effective in maintaining and sustaining healthy teeth and bones. Having Vitamin D deficiency can lead to weak teeth and bones. It can also lead to a high risk of developing cavities and tooth decays.
So, Vitamin D can prevent teeth from having tooth decays or dental caries. Because a tooth is made up of enamel that is mostly made up of calcium and phosphate and Vitamin D is essential for the fast absorption of calcium and phosphate from the sunshine and from the foods we eat.
