With summer in full swing, we hope you are enjoying the yard, beach, pool, park, or wherever you love to go to get some fresh air!
Did you know that by spending some time in the sun, you are getting vitamin D, and you are actually strengthening your teeth!?
Vitamin D is known for helping build strong bones as well as improving your immune system. This vitamin primarily helps your body absorb calcium, which promotes growth and mineralization of your bones. It’s also involved in several functions of your immune, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems.
How Does Sunlight Relate to Vitamin D?
The natural way that our bodies get vitamin D is through exposure to the sun. The sun rays penetrate the skin, which then stimulates the body to produce vitamin D. If we do not get enough sunshine, then our bodies will not produce enough vitamin D.
On the other hand, too much sunshine can cause other problems such as skin cancer.
Vitamin D does come in the form of a pill, however the natural way (healthy sun exposure) seems to maximize your health benefits! Vitamin D is also found in common foods such as eggs and fish and fortified drinks and foods such as milk and cereal.
Vitamin D Improves Your Teeth's Strength
Vitamin D health helps teeth in many ways, including:
-For children who are growing, vitamin D is essential in building strong bones and teeth.
-It boosts your immune system so your body can fight gum disease, which is caused by bacteria that attack the gums and tooth enamel.
-Adults with normal levels of vitamin D have a much lower risk of cavities. This risk of tooth decay may be lowered significantly according to one 2020 study. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32304260/) More research needs to be done, however.
How Long To Spend in the Sun?
Typically, you will need to spend about 15 to 20 minutes at least three times a week to get enough vitamin D. Of course, there are exceptions, such as if you are using certain medications (such as anti-inflammatory drugs) that make you more susceptible to burning. We recommend you talk to your primary care physician about how much sun you should be getting.
Did you know?
Signs of vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, muscle weakness, bone pain, and mood changes. You might also notice your gums bleeding more if lack of vitamin D is aggravating a case of gum disease like gingivitis.
During the summer, the sun’s rays are more powerful due to the tilt of the earth. This means that your body will generate more vitamin D when you are out in the sun. In fact, during the winter in the United States, it is almost impossible to get enough vitamin D just from the sun, in many areas, due to the distance the sun is from the earth.
While the sun can help improve the health of your smile, we'd be happy to maximize your smile at your regular cleaning, where our skilled hygienists knock out plaque and tough-to-clean tartar! Check out all we're doing at the office and for the local community! www.facebook.com/hartedental www.instagram.com/hartedental See why Harte Dental has been voted Best Dentist in Milton, Favorite Dentist in Milton, Neighborhood Favorite, and Top Dentist in Boston Magazine.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-increase-vitamin-d#1.-Spend-time-in-sunlight
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/threats-to-dental-health/vitamin-d-and-the-effects-it-has-on-your-oral-health#