You need many essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in your diet to ensure your body functions as it should. Calcium is one of them. You might recognize calcium as a mineral that supports strong bones, but it is crucial to your dental health too.
Humans need approximately 1000 mg of calcium every day on average in order to maintain strong and healthy teeth. Without enough of this mineral, you could face grave consequences in the look and feel of your smile.
When you understand the importance of calcium for your teeth, you can feel more motivated to prioritize it in your diet. Read on to learn more about the role of calcium in your oral health.
How Does Calcium Help Your Teeth?
Calcium is the primary component of your enamel, the outer layer of your tooth. The enamel serves as a protective shield so that the more vulnerable interior of your teeth stays safe from wear and tear, bacteria, and other dental concerns.
Usually, the enamel withstands structural issues from biting and chewing without issue. But if the enamel thins or weakens, which may happen if you do not consume enough calcium, then the enamel cannot maintain its structural integrity and health.
Consuming plenty of calcium will mean this mineral can add protection to your enamel, fortifying your teeth. Then they can better resist tooth decay, surface stains, and many other dental issues.
Calcium also strengthens your bones because it increases their mass in a similar way that it fortifies the tooth enamel. This way, you can keep your jawbone healthy, reducing your risk of injuries like fractures. The jaw can function at its best and keep your teeth securely in place in the mouth.
How Will Calcium Deficiency Affect My Oral Health?
If you do not consume enough calcium in your diet, you will miss out on oral health benefits. But lacking calcium will also mean that your body will supplement the deficiency by drawing the minerals from other places, like your teeth. This can result in a severe weakening in the tooth enamel, making your smile vulnerable to serious oral health concerns.
You can notice a higher risk of cavities because natural oral bacteria can more easily penetrate weakened enamel. Calcium deficiency can also cause aesthetic problems in your smile. You could see white spots or a translucent appearance in the spots of the teeth where the enamel has thinned.
A dentist can treat cavities, but ideally, you should preserve your natural dental structure for as long as you can. This means ensuring you consume plenty of calcium each day.
Dairy products like milk and cheese contain plenty of calcium. But if you cannot tolerate these items, leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli also make for great sources of calcium.
Make sure you stick to a balanced, nutritious diet to promote good oral health. Ask your dentist for more advice about preventative dental care in relation to nutrition.