When you restore your smile with the help of durable, lifelike dental implants, you can look forward to enjoying your results for a lifetime. But to ensure that your new prosthetics last as long as possible, you’ll need to take care of them. One essential vitamin that can help protect your newly improved smile is vitamin D. Here’s a closer look at how.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D can be found naturally in a variety of different foods such as milk and dairy products, fatty fish like tuna and salmon, and eggs. It can also be created by your own body’s exposure to sunlight, when the sun’s UVB rays convert the cholesterol in your skin into vitamin D3. In fact, you need just 15 minutes of midday sunlight exposure to the skin on your face, arms, and legs two or three times a week to get an adequate amount.
How Does Vitamin D Help Dental Implants?
As for how vitamin D can benefit your dental implants, it is extremely helpful in the osseointegration process, where the prosthetics permanently fuse with your jawbone. Failed osseointegration is the leading cause of dental implant failure, so boosting your odds of success can make a world of difference in the longevity of your smile. Vitamin D can also assist in the production of compounds that lower oral bacteria levels and protect the health of your gums, helping prevent peri-implantitis, the other leading cause of dental implant failure.
How Can I Get More Vitamin D?
The great news is that boosting your vitamin D levels is easier than you might think. In addition to maintaining a diet that’s full of things like leafy greens, fatty fish, and dairy, you can also go outside for the recommended amount of time or sit in front of a UV lamp indoors. Your doctor can even recommend a vitamin D supplement that you can take orally in addition to or instead of these other methods.
Remember, dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option available today, but to ensure they last a lifetime, you’ll need to care for your newly restored smile with a combination of proper use, excellent hygiene, regular dental visits, and the addition of important vitamins like vitamin D. To learn more about this treatment and see if it’s right for you, schedule a conversation with your dentist today.
About Dr. Waite
Dr. John Jared Waite earned his dental doctorate from the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University and his Associate of General Studies from Weber State University. If you would like to learn more about dental implants, schedule a consultation with Aspen Ridge Dental Care today by visiting our website or calling 719-282-3400.