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WE ALL KNOW<\/b> how important daily brushing and flossing are to a growing child\u2019s smile. We know about scheduling regular dental appointments, and hopefully we know that cutting back on sugar and keeping it to mealtimes instead of snacks throughout the day is also important. But what about the vitamins and minerals that help build those healthy smiles in the first place? Let\u2019s take a look at some of those.<\/p>\nVitamins A, C, and D<\/h3>\n
Our first line of defense against gum disease and tooth decay is saliva. What keeps saliva flowing? Vitamin A!<\/strong> Good sources of it include melon, sweet potatoes, spinach, and beef liver.<\/p>\n Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps our bodies heal<\/strong> and fight inflammation. When kids don\u2019t get enough, their gums could become more prone to bleeding and their teeth can become looser. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits. However, these are also acidic, so make sure to rinse with water after enjoying a delicious orange!<\/p>\n As important as so many vitamins and minerals are, we wouldn\u2019t be able to get much out of them without vitamin D, which signals our intestines to absorb them into the bloodstream. Enough vitamin D also means having denser, stronger bones.<\/strong> We can get vitamin D by spending time in the sun as well as by eating eggs, fish, and dairy products.<\/p>\n Each of these B vitamins is important for reducing the risk of developing canker sores in the mouth, and B3 also helps us convert food into energy<\/strong>. Good sources of vitamin B3 are chicken and fish, we can get vitamin B12 from pasta, bagels, spinach, and almonds, and we can get vitamin B2 from red meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, or liver.<\/p>\nVitamins B2, 3, and 12<\/h3>\n