News and Views

Key vitamins and minerals: A quick reference for dentists

Vitamin/mineral/nutrient

Oral problem because of deficiency

Oral problem because of excess

Food sources

Vitamin D

Incomplete calcification of teeth and alveolar bone, enamel hypoplasia

Pulp calcification, enamel hypoplasia

Egg yolks, cheddar cheese, salmon, trout, mushrooms, fortified products (milk, orange juice)

Vitamin K

Increased risk of bleeding and candidiasis

Green, leafy vegetables (collard greens, spinach, kale), broccoli, soybeans, pumpkin, pine nuts, blueberries

Vitamin A

Taste sensitivity, xerostomia, disturbed enamel, development leading to poor or absent calcification and hypoplasia in mature teeth, increased caries risk

Impaired cell differentiation and epithelialization resulting in delayed and impaired oral tissues

Sweet potatoes, spinach, pumpkins, carrots, dairy products,
Cantaloupes, mangos, red peppers

B2 Riboflavin

Angular cheilitis/cheilosis, shiny and red lips, sore tongue that changes color and shape

Yogurt, milk, chicken, beef, mushrooms, cheese, chicken, eggs, quinoa, fortified breakfast cereals

B3 Niacin

Angular cheilitis/cheilosis, mucositis, stomatitis, oral pain, swollen tongue, ulcerative gingivitis

Chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, beef, brown and white rice, peanuts, potatoes, fortified breakfast cereals

Folic acid

Angular cheilitis/cheilosis, mucositis, stomatitis, sore or burning mouth, inflamed gingiva, glossitis tongue

Spinach, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, white rice, avocados, fortified breakfast cereals

B12 Cyanocobalamin

Angular cheilitis/cheilosis, sore or burning mouth, mucositis, stomatitis, hemorrhagic gingiva, halitotsis, glossitis, delayed wound healing, xerostomia

Clams, tuna, salmon, beef, yogurt, milk, cheese, nutritional yeast, fortified breakfast cereals

Calcium

Incomplete calcification of teeth, increased risk for caries

Dairy products, tofu, salmon, beans, kale, broccoli, fortified breakfast cereals, orange juice

Phosphorus

Incomplete calcification of teeth, increased risk of caries if present during tooth development, increased susceptibility to periodontal disease via effects on alveolar bone

Dairy products, beef, salmon, chicken, lentils, potatoes, rice

Source:
Rehan, K., Whole-Body Dentistry: How Nutrition Affects Oral Health, Academy of General Densitry, 16 May, 2022.