When you look at your teeth you don't really think about them. You rarely wonder of what they are made of, why should you?

Well, one reason is that the more you know about them the better able you are to take care of them.

So what are teeth made of? Teeth are made up mostly of phosphorous and calcium.

But did you know that for both of these minerals to work they need Vitamin D? Vitamin D helps you to absorb the calcium and phosphorous from the foods you eat.

When you don't have enough Vitamin D your body can't absorb as much calcium and phosphorous and that, in turn, weakens your teeth.

So How Much Vitamin D Do I Need?

Vitamin D is actually found in very few foods. It is found in ultraviolet light, so if you are a sun worshipper you are in fairly good shape, but only if you live north of Atlanta, Georgia. North of Atlanta, the sun rays are too weak to provide sufficient amounts of the vitamin so without a regular, strong source in your diet, you should probably take a vitamin supplement.

The recommended daily allowance for Vitamin D is 600 IUs. You can take up to 10,000 IUs but should not take more than that. Many physicians advise taking 2,000 IUs daily if you are deficient, but you shouldn't take any more than the recommended allowance without talking to your physician.

If you increase your intake of Vitamin D or are sure you are at the recommended levels, you should have a better chance of fighting cavities. Vitamin D strengthens your teeth. It helps them to be more resistant to bacteria and it increases the beneficial anti-microbial proteins that help destroy cavity-causing bacteria.

Please contact our office today if you have any questions about your oral health.