Sunshine and Your Oral Health

The daylight hours in the winter months are few are far between. Those rare times when the sun is shining, we’re usually stuck inside at work or it’s just too cold to enjoy it. This is particularly troubling for all of us at my dental office in Saint Louis.

What’s So Great About The Sun?

It’s warm, soaking up the rays feels good, and it helps keep our planet from turning into a giant sheet of ice. It also provides us with several awesome health benefits. It can make our immune systems stronger, give our moods a boost, and supply us with a lot of vitamin D.

Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial to both your overall health and a healthy smile. This powerful nutrient is our first line of defense against germs since it regulates our immune systems. It also assists the pancreas and making insulin, can lower blood pressure, and helps absorb calcium. Calcium is key to building strong bones and teeth, so we’re big supporters of getting an adequate supply of vitamin D every day.

Other Ways to Get Vitamin D

During the winter months, daylight is shorter and it’s difficult to get outside to soak up the sun when it is out. This when turning to an alternative supply of vitamin D can help. Besides supplements, some vitamin D rich foods include:

• Fatty Fish (Salmon is a good choice!)
• Eggs
• Milk

Getting enough vitamin D is obviously crucial to your oral health. But if you’re not consuming enough of it, it’s not only your mouth that will suffer. Recent research has linked vitamin D deficiencies to osteoporosis, serious cancers like breast, colon, or prostate, and increased risk for type 1 diabetes.

At my Saint Loius dental office, we want to keep your mouth and your whole body as healthy as possible. Vitamin D can certainly help. So go catch some rays or enjoy some vitamin-D-rich foods, not just for your smile, but for your whole being.

Welcoming patients from Saint Louis, Affton, Webster Grove, and surrounding communities.