Supplements for Dental Health
For some, it happens all too frequently. For others, it is rare. But sooner or later, most of us find ourselves getting an uncomfortable procedure in our mouths at the behest of a (hopefully) skilled dental professional.
I fall into the “all too frequent” category, despite vigilant brushing and flossing 2-3 times a day. My husband brushes his teeth once a day, never flosses, and rarely, if ever, gets a cavity. It is completely unfair, but can be blamed on genes and the oral microbiome, the second-largest and diverse microbiota after the gut. Like the gut microbiome, the oral microbiome carries an array of bacteria that either promote good oral health or set the stage for tooth decay.
Other health-related factors for dental issues include high sugar intake, which is one of the leading causes of tooth decay; and low bone density, which may be caused by vitamin deficiencies. In some cases, oral procedures may be the result of simple bad luck, such as braces from overcrowding of the teeth or wisdom teeth removal.
The gods of dentistry are not smiling on my family this month, as I just had a tooth extracted (in an ugly way I might add) and two of my children are getting their wisdom teeth out. In honor of our month of dental hell, here are some suggestions for preparing and recovering from dental procedures:
Take Vitamin C. It facilitates collagen and protein synthesis of bones, skin and capillary walls, and may reduce wound-healing time by up to 50%. It is also an immune-system booster that can help protect against infection.
Zinc also supports the immune system and can help expedite formation of new skin at the wound site by up to 40%.
Vitamin D helps maintain bone density, while helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Vitamin K helps with blood clotting (important post-surgery) and increases bone density.
Collagen helps support the connective tissues in the mouth. A lack of collagen has been tied to a loss of teeth, so it is important to maintain adequate levels for dental health.
SPM’s (Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators) are produced by the body to help clean up damaged tissue and expedite healing. SPM activity can be increased with supplemental SPMs, such as those found in SPM Active (Metagenics, $89.25).
Natural anti-inflammatories can help calm down swollen, irritated gum tissue. These may include ginger, turmeric, boswellia and bromelain. Taken either alone or in combinations, these supplements may help post-surgery.
Oral probiotics may help restore a microbiome that has been disrupted by dental work. One option is Pro-Dental Tabs (Hyper-Biotics, $20.96), which contains several strains of probiotics.
I will be stocking up on all of these supplements, as well as ice packs and soft foods as me and my family recover from all of our dental procedures this month. If you would like to find any of the supplements listed above, they are on my Wellevate site for up to 25% off.
