One of the most celebrated roles Calcium plays in the human body is that of building and maintaining healthy bones. In addition to strengthening your skeleton, this vital mineral helps to sustain strong teeth and protect your enamel (the structure that covers the entire clinical crown of a tooth).
As one of the body’s most abundant minerals, Calcium makes up 99% of the teeth and bones. Keep in mind, though, that the body does not naturally produce Calcium. This means that you must provide this all-star mineral through your diet and supplements.
We can all relate to the pleasure of enjoying nutritious foods. Without a set of healthy teeth, we wouldn’t be able to chew our food or give the body all the minerals it needs to live a healthy life. Again, this is where Calcium comes in.
CALCIUM & ORAL HEALTH
Calcium is key to a healthy smile, making it important to understand what goes on inside the mouth if you don’t get enough each day. Everyone’s mouth contains naturally-occurring bacteria that, when exposed to food and beverages, create a harmful substance that eats away at your enamel. Like with everything in life, if you ignore this and the substance continues to accumulate, it will eventually lead to tooth decay and erosion. Once your teeth begin to decay, cracks will appear in your enamel, allowing this harmful bacteria to enter and destroy your teeth from the inside out.
You may think you are getting enough calcium from your diet, as Calcium deficiencies often take years to show up. However, it’s important to take action now. This is because without Calcium, your teeth will become softer and more porous. If this process has already begun, and you haven’t cared for your teeth by getting your recommended daily amount (RDA) of Calcium, you could experience tooth loss in the near future.
Signs of Calcium deficiency to look out for include fatigue, muscle cramping, brittle nails, and toothaches. If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, consider looking at your Calcium consumption to ensure you’re giving your body all the Calcium it needs.
CALCIUM & TOOTH DECAY
Calcium is key for repairing any damage caused by food and beverages that produce oral bacteria inside the mouth. This damage can lead to acid erosion, which shows up in the form of tooth decay, cavities, and even gum disease. In these cases, Calcium acts as a remineralization agent, restoring balance inside the mouth and making you more resistant to these acid attacks. Calcium, along with Phosphorus, produces saliva in the mouth to neutralize acids.
HOW MUCH CALCIUM DO WE NEED?
The RDA of Calcium varies depending on your age and gender. As a guide, the Food & Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has established RDAs for Calcium based on age. These include:
CALCIUM & CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH
Whether you’re a parent or a child, you probably understand the importance of Calcium in building and maintaining healthy teeth and bones. This message has been drilled in us since we were young and remains a prime health concern over the course of our lives. You’ve heard it before: “Take care of those teeth, you only have one set!”
As an infant, Calcium consumption is key to building and maintaining healthy teeth as enamel forms. Those who experience Calcium deficiency will suffer from oral issues down the line due to weakened enamel and tooth decay. It’s worth keeping an eye on your infant’s calcium intake to ensure they are getting enough of this vital mineral. There are apps you can download that help you track your and your children's food intake to make sure you’re both reaching your RDA for Calcium.
CALCIUM & DENTAL HEALTH AS WE AGE
Calcium doesn’t just play a role in children's dental health. As we age, it’s important that we continue taking care of our oral health as our body extracts Calcium from the teeth and bones. Your Calcium consumption as a child actually influences your teeth and bones when you’re older.
Think of it this way: If you had a diet rich in Calcium when you were younger, chances are that you will have developed strong and healthy adult teeth now. However, Calcium deficiencies can creep up as a result of hormonal changes and food intolerances that may impact your diet to the point where you are no longer getting enough Calcium each day.
And as we mentioned previously, the human body does not create Calcium by itself—so it’s up to us to constantly replenish this mineral. Studies show that Calcium and Vitamin D supplements can help reduce tooth loss in the elderly.
So make sure you are getting your daily dose of the iconic duo, and consider combining your Calcium RDA with 10 mcg of a Vitamin D supplement to take care of your teeth and bones and prevent osteoporosis, all while reaping the benefits of better tooth retention.
WHAT FOODS SHOULD YOU EAT FOR GOOD ORAL HEALTH?
Foods abundant in Calcium include:
MARAH NATURAL & ORAL HEALTH
Marah Natural’s Oral Health Bundle was created so that you can drink your way into wellness with ease. Your mouth is the gateway to good health, and without a healthy jaw and teeth, your risk of contracting disease will increase. Protect your body with our DenTosso and Neo-Cel—a bone-restoring duo that fights teeth sensitivity, restores and maintains oral health, and boosts your immune system. If you have a dental procedure or surgery on the books, this Oral Health Bundle is for you!
What this bundle does:
Choose health, Choose Marah Natural.