Have you struggled with tooth loss? Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. Thanks to their unique ability to replace the roots of the missing teeth, they allow for a wide range of additional benefits that you can’t experience with dentures or dental bridges. One of the exciting benefits of dental implants is their incredible success rate of over 95%. To achieve this success, it is important that you maintain healthy levels of vitamin D. Here’s why this is so important.
Why Is Vitamin D Necessary for Dental Implants?
Vitamin D is needed to maintain healthy bones and teeth. This vitamin helps your body to regulate the amount of phosphate and calcium that it has. These two minerals are required for excellent oral health. Without vitamin D, you would develop a severe calcium deficiency, leading you to experience various problems, including tooth decay and gum disease. When you have these problems, it is much less likely that you will support healthy dental implants. Calium deficiency doesn’t just affect your smile either. It has been associated with other serious conditions throughout the body, including depression, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, and cancer.
How to You Get Vitamin D?
The most effective way to get vitamin D is by absorbing it from the sun. By spending enough time outside, you can see huge changes in the amount of vitamin D and calcium that your body has. The amount of time required for a sufficient amount of vitamin D absorption varies from person to person. This is due to the wide range of skin tones that absorb the sun’s rays at different rates. People who have darker skin tones have more melanin, which protects the body from overexposure. Because of this, people with dark complexions need anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours more than Caucasians, who only need about 10 to 30 minutes a few times a week.
How Else Can You Get Vitamin D?
Sunlight is the best way for your body to absorb vitamin D. However, there are also some foods that provide it.
- Fatty fish and seafood
- Fortified cow’s milk
- Egg yolks
- Portabella mushrooms
If you have concerns regarding your levels of vitamin D, you can always get them checked through your primary care provider. If they are low, they may recommend over-the-counter supplements or provide you with a prescription.
Getting the nutrients that you need is essential for the health of your dental implants and the rest of your body. By spending some time out in the sun and enjoying foods that are rich in vitamin D, you can set your dental implants up for success!
About the Author
Dr. David Thomas earned his dental doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh before completing an AEGD Residency at the Maricopa Institute of Health Services Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation at his office in Burien, visit his website or call (206) 244-4622.
