Vitamin D is important for dental health, even in old age

Most studies of vitamin D, dental health, and caries have focused on children and teenagers. According to a population study published in Nutrients, however, older people also depend on having sufficient amounts of vitamin D to maintain healthy teeth and prevent caries. The authors mention that it is important to have optimal vitamin D status in the blood, but the official guidelines for vitamin D are no guarantee of reaching that level.

Caries is the clinical term for tooth decay, a process that occurs when bacteria in the mouth metabolize sugars to produce acid that demineralizes the hard tissues of the teeth. Caries is often the result of a combination of poor oral hygiene and an unhealthy diet with too much starch and sugar. Dry mouth and lack of spit, which contains antimicrobial compounds, may also cause caries. Older people often suffer from having a dry mouth, which can be a result of drinking too little liquid, snoring, diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and Sjögren’s syndrome. In addition, drugs for treating hypertension, anxiety, depression, allergy, and asthma plus pain-reliving opioids are known to cause dry mouth.
As we grow older, the oral cavity undergoes change, and the gums often start to recede and become damaged. This increases the risk of caries and periodontal disease. It is commonly known that calcium is important for the maintenance of healthy teeth and bones, but calcium only helps if you get enough vitamin D, as this vitamin supports the body’s calcium uptake. Another nutrient that one must get in sufficient amounts is magnesium, which makes sure that calcium is properly embedded in the teeth and bones.
Studies of dental health have mostly focused on the importance of children and teenagers getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Therefore, the researchers in their new study wanted to look at the relation between blood levels of vitamin D and caries among older people. They used data from the large population study called National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
A total of 2,723 participants aged 65 years and older had their teeth examined, and levels of vitamin D in the blood were also measured. As part of the dental examination, the researchers looked at tooth decay, fillings, untreated caries, and missing teeth. They used the so-called DMFT score (Decayed, Missing due to caries, and Filled Teeth), where a higher score means poorer dental health.
Blood levels of vitamin D were defined as follows:

• Severe deficiency (below 25 nmol/L)
• Deficiency (25-29.9 nmol/L)
• Insufficiency (50-74.9 nmol/L)
• Normal levels (above 75 nmol/L)

They also looked at demographic factors. The study showed an inverse relation between vitamin D levels and DMFT score, with higher vitamin D-deficiency being linked to poorer dental health.
The researchers concluded that it is important for older people and their dental health to maintain normal levels of vitamin D in the blood. They also suggest that the health authorities include vitamin D measurements among older people and recommend supplementation.

Supplements and tips for health teeth and bones

The Danish health authorities recommend for everyone to take a daily vitamin D supplement (5-10 micrograms) during the winter period. Those who don’t get enough sun exposure should take 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily all year round. People aged 70 years and older should take 20 micrograms all year in combination with calcium for their bone health.
Many people don’t follow these guidelines, and the recommended vitamin D intake is no guarantee of reaching optimal blood levels of the nutrient, which should ideally be above 75 nmol/L.
Also, there is no guarantee that a calcium supplement effectively strengthens the teeth, if a person has too little magnesium in the blood. On the contrary, it actually increases the risk of weak teeth, osteoporosis, and atherosclerosis, because calcium doesn’t get into the hard tissues but accumulates in the soft tissues, where it doesn’t belong. One should therefore never take a calcium supplement without combining it with a bioavailable magnesium supplement.
If you want to maintain healthy teeth, it is advisable to avoid eating too much sugar and to remember good oral hygiene, which means brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing or using toothpicks.

Referencer:

Man Hung et al. The Association of Vitamin D Levels and Dental Caries in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients 2024

Andrius Bleizgys. Zinc, magnesium and Vitamin K Supplementation in Vitamin D Deficiency: Pathophysiological Background and Implications for Clinical Practice. Nutrients 2024