Micronutrient deficiency as a cause of dental caries

No one doubts that every tooth in the mouth is important. The only exception is the “eight”. Their absence does not cause any functional disorders, does not affect the aesthetics of a smile or the ability to chew food. All other teeth are necessary so that the dentofacial apparatus can work as a single coherent mechanism.

With the help of incisors we bite off food, canines and premolars are used to grab food, molars are used to crush and grind food. The loss of any of these teeth inevitably leads initially to discomfort, various functional inconveniences, and later to deformation of the dentition.

Increased load on other teeth

In the absence of any teeth, their function is taken over by neighboring teeth, and accordingly, the load on tooth enamel, crowns and roots increases significantly. This leads to the fact that teeth begin to deteriorate many times faster. For example, when removing molars, the incisors have to take on a task not provided for by nature - grinding food. As a result, longitudinal and transverse cracks appear on the enamel, the edges of the teeth wear off and turn yellow.

Increased load over time turns out to be fatal for the roots, as it provokes their increased mobility. If you do not reduce the constant pressure, bone tissue will also begin to suffer from overload.

What vitamins and elements are needed for dental health?

Vitamin A

Many people have heard that in order to maintain good vision, a sufficient intake of vitamin A is necessary in the body. But it also plays a huge role in maintaining oral health. Vitamin A helps increase the resistance of mucous membranes to damage, strengthens gums, prevents loosening of teeth, and has a positive effect on the condition of tooth enamel. With a deficiency of this vitamin, the gums become inflamed, which is accompanied by the appearance of swelling. Wounds in the mouth heal very slowly, the enamel loses its smoothness, and the teeth become loose, which can lead to the development of deep caries and a number of other dental diseases.

The causes of caries are food debris and various types of bacteria. It is vitamin A that stimulates the production of saliva, which provides natural cleaning of the oral cavity. Vitamin A is found in foods of plant and animal origin. A sufficient amount of this element is present in the liver of mammals, marine fish and eggs. Don't forget about carotenes, the largest amount of which is found in carrots. Excellent sources include cabbage, green onions, pumpkin, red peppers, and spinach. Beta carotene is found in many fruits and legumes. Children under five years of age are more susceptible to vitamin A deficiency. To make up for the deficiency, give children enough fruits, vegetables and dairy products. This will avoid a number of problems with teeth and gums.

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 (or niacin) is an essential participant in most chemical processes and reactions in the human body. An insufficient amount of this substance over time leads to the appearance of ulcers in the mouth, stale breath and the development of dental caries. Among food products, good suppliers of B3 are fish and its derivatives, and chicken.

Vitamins B12 and B2

A lack of these vitamins leads to inflammation of the tissues, gums, and tongue, and the result of a more complex deficiency of vitamins B12 and B2 will be gingivitis and inflammatory processes in the gums. Foods that provide the body with vitamin B12: almonds, greens (spinach), whole grain pasta. The body receives vitamin B2 from foods such as meat, fish, and milk.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps maintain healthy gums. Its deficiency leads to serious consequences: the gums begin to bleed, the teeth become mobile, which, in turn, causes caries. A sufficient amount of vitamin C reduces the likelihood of plaque and increases the risk of developing caries. Vitamin C is found in all citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, bell peppers, and sweet potatoes.

Signs of vitamin C deficiency in the body:

sensitivity and bleeding gums;
the appearance of ulcers in the mouth;
tooth mobility;
tendency to frequent caries

Vitamin E

Vitamin E effectively removes harmful substances from the body and promotes tissue restoration in the mouth. This vitamin is useful for babies with toothache and during teething. By eating sunflower seeds, nuts, avocados, fish and green vegetables, you can ensure that you receive the optimal amount of vitamin E.

Vitamin D

The lack of which important microelement contributes to the development of dental caries? One of the leaders in the list of useful vitamins for preventing caries is vitamin D. It helps to absorb calcium, which is a key element of dental health. Often the main causes of caries are a deficiency of calcium and vitamin D. With a deficiency of vitamin D, a person experiences a burning sensation in the mouth. Dryness and a metallic taste also appear, taste sensations change, certain parts of the mouth become numb, and caries develops. Vitamin D deficiency can be compensated for by adding eggs, fish, cod liver and dairy products to your diet. It is also useful to spend more time in the sun - at least 15 minutes a day.

Calcium

Which element is the most important for teeth? Many dentists will agree that calcium. If a person has enough calcium in his body, his teeth will always be healthy. Regular consumption of calcium helps strengthen tooth enamel. With its deficiency, not only teeth, but also bones deteriorate, because the deficiency of this microelement is replenished from the bones. Calcium is quickly absorbed into the blood, so it should be consumed regularly. To avoid tooth decay, you should enrich your diet with foods that are rich in calcium. A lot of this element is found in dairy products, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, beans, soy milk, nuts, and fish.

Signs of calcium deficiency:

the mouth feels dry and painful lumps appear;
teeth react to cold and hot foods with increased sensitivity (which can lead to the development of caries).

Phosphorus

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of phosphorus in the formation, integrity and health of teeth. Scientists were able to prove the need to take phosphorus-containing foods for more efficient absorption of calcium in the body. Phosphorus is found in sufficient quantities in foods such as milk, kefir, yogurt, lentils, legumes, red meat, various nuts, cereals, and cheeses.

Iron

The lack of this element in the body provokes inflammatory processes in the tongue and causes ulcers in the oral cavity. This is explained by the ability of iron to control the balance of red blood cells, effectively resist infections and diseases, and strengthen the immune system. Chicken eggs, fish and seafood, beef and pork, wholemeal bran, beans, and buckwheat will help you get the missing nutrients.

Possible signs and consequences of iron deficiency:

anemia;
joint problems;
rupture of capillaries under the skin;
acute inflammation of the gums.

Potassium

Potassium is an essential element in the construction and restoration of bone tissue, and therefore jaw bones. Sufficient potassium content in the body prevents the formation of osteoporosis. This microelement ensures optimal blood clotting, which helps wounds in the oral cavity heal faster.

The leader in potassium content is wheat bran. There is also a lot of this element in legumes, various vegetables and fruits, some types of meat, seafood and fish, dairy products, green tea and mushrooms.

Fluoride

Fluoride is used in dentistry to combat the destruction of enamel. It is a common ingredient in many toothpastes. It effectively fights caries and also protects tooth enamel from negative influences. If there is a deficiency of fluoride, gums may bleed and dental caries may develop. Foods rich in fluoride: seafood, nuts, green and black tea.

Iodine

Iodine is a trace element that is involved in almost all biological processes actively occurring in the human body. This element helps calcium to be absorbed into the tissues, which contributes to the growth of teeth and maintaining them in a healthy condition. Iodine deficiency can be replenished by eating seaweed, garlic and sesame seeds.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a trace element that can prevent the thinning of enamel and its further destruction. With a lack of magnesium, caries develops very quickly. Magnesium is present in cabbage, spinach and chocolate.

Zinc

This trace element is responsible for controlling the growth of bacteria in the mouth. With a lack of zinc, there are too many bacteria, and this already leads to the development of serious caries. Zinc is found in sufficient quantities in pork, beef and lamb, as well as in cheese products, beans and peas, and in large quantities in morels and shiitake mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate.

Folic acid

Folic acid (folacin or vitamin B9) is involved in the body's redox reactions. If there is a deficiency in the oral cavity, ulcers may appear on the mucous membrane and tongue, as well as bad breath. In this case, focal inflammation of the oral cavity or aphthous stomatitis appears. This trace element is found in spinach and lettuce leaves, cabbage, onions, potatoes, and meat (liver and kidneys).

Bone loss

After a tooth is removed, the bone tissue begins to atrophy. Bone volume decreases by 25% per year, and the process is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. Bone atrophy can cause adjacent teeth to become loose and even fall out.

Bone loss also creates problems with subsequent prosthetics. If a tooth is missing for too long, doctors have to perform a bone grafting procedure before installing an implant. This significantly increases the overall treatment time and cost.

Causes of edentia

In general, the causes of this defect are not fully understood. Today, it is generally accepted that this occurs due to the resorption of the follicle (tooth germ). The reasons may be different: common diseases, various inflammatory processes, heredity.

Also, such deviations in the formation of teeth can occur as a result of disruptions in the endocrine system of the body. Therefore, parents should carefully monitor the condition of their children’s teeth, since with late diagnosis and poor treatment, this can lead to various, extremely negative consequences. The most unpleasant of which is the complete loss of permanent teeth. This is if we talk about early and teenage years. In adults, the defect can be caused by various diseases of the oral cavity, such as periodontal disease, caries, etc. Injuries and mechanical damage to teeth obtained under various circumstances, for example in a fight, lead to a similar effect.

Speaking in general about the nature of edentia, according to some scientists, it is not a defect at all; rather, on the contrary, it is an adaptation that is a consequence of natural evolutionary processes. This is explained by the fact that a person no longer needs some teeth, which were simply vital for our ancestors.

The most common forms:

Partial secondary . Occurs during the period of appearance of permanent teeth; due to missing teeth, the formation of underdeveloped jaws is possible;
Partial primary . It occurs and manifests itself during the formation of baby teeth. This form is characterized by the absence of some teeth in the rows. It is very difficult or simply impossible to determine the rudiments of baby teeth on an x-ray;
Full primary . It is quite rare. The severe form of the disease includes not only the complete absence of tooth germs, but also various destructive changes in the facial skeleton. At the same time, this form has such accompanying symptoms as weak, insufficient blood circulation of the gums, dry oral mucosa, underdeveloped alveolar processes of the jaws;
Complete secondary . Occurs as a result of mechanical injuries, various diseases of the oral cavity, as well as as a result of the aging process;

Classification of missing teeth according to the location of the disease

By localization	Description
Missing upper teeth	The absence of teeth in the upper jaw can be either partial or complete, as well as single.
Missing lower teeth	A general designation for a disease indicating the absence of teeth in the lower jaw.
Lack of chewing teeth	May be referred to as missing lateral teeth. Lack or complete edentulism in the chewing region. In particular, we are talking about the absence of small molars (premolars) and molars.
Missing front teeth	Edentia of incisors or canines in the frontal zone.

In addition to the classification described above, the type of teeth itself is also taken into account. Based on this, the absence of molars and edentulous primary teeth (not associated with the normal timing of their replacement) are distinguished.

Effect on soft tissues of the oral cavity

Incorrect position leads to microtrauma of the gums and inner surface of the cheeks. Chips leave scratches, closure at a different angle forms non-healing small ulcers at the points of contact, which become foci of inflammation and spread throughout the entire oral cavity. Stomatitis, swelling become more frequent, and complications in the form of ENT diseases are possible.

One of the problems with constant tissue trauma is gum recession, which causes exposed roots to become defenseless against bacterial attacks.

What happens if you don't correct your bite?

Many people are negligent about impaired jaw development, considering it a temporary phenomenon in a child or a minor cosmetic defect in adults. This opinion is deeply erroneous, since over time the situation worsens, acquiring a rather unpleasant and dangerous bouquet of accompanying deformations:

it is impossible to chew food well;
facial features are deformed;
posture is disturbed;
there is constant muscle strain;
neurological pain appears;
arthritis and arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint develops;
The enamel wears off quickly, the shape of the teeth changes, and they begin to loosen;
the risk of developing periodontitis and caries increases, the volume of gum tissue decreases;
facial asymmetry is formed.

Bruxism

Unpleasant teeth grinding cannot always be attributed to a bad habit. He has well-founded reasons, such as:

increased emotional stress;
constant stress;
unhealthy diet;
violation of jaw closure.

If you have severe crooked teeth or any other dental defects, visit the Dentika dental clinic. With timely treatment, our specialists will guarantee to avoid problems of enamel abrasion and increased sensitivity when eating, and will also help you normalize sleep and eliminate unpleasant external manifestations.

Another reason for tooth loss. The most important. The reason of all reasons.

Periodontal disease, pocket, caries, cyst - these diseases are provoked by microbes. And we introduce germs to ourselves when we are too lazy to brush our teeth every time after eating, as well as in the morning and evening. Many years of smoking, eating junk food, lack of vitamins, and severe stress reduce overall immunity, which cannot but affect the condition of teeth and gums.

We chew nuts without thinking, neglect cleaning, and overeat sweet and salty foods. And microbes, day after day, year after year, do their nasty thing - they destroy our teeth and provoke diseases.

Therefore, the main advice that doctors of any specialty (not just dentists) give in unison is to lead a healthy lifestyle and get enough sleep. Find yourself a technique that relieves stress. And hygiene in general should become an integral part of your life. Take vitamins as prescribed by your doctor. And once every six months, go for an examination - it’s inexpensive and short-lived. In any case, dentures and dental implants are faster and cheaper.

Kinds

When the jaws are closed freely, the teeth of the upper and lower rows occupy a certain position. This is called overbite. There are physiological, correct and pathological, in which various types of displacement occur. This phenomenon occurs in most people. It manifests itself in children when their first teeth appear, when they change, and in adulthood. There are many reasons, as well as types of pathology.

Early contact with a specialist helps correct the deformity.

How to compensate for the lack of vitamins?

If vitamin deficiency is treated incorrectly, there is a risk of deterioration of the condition of internal organs, depletion and excess of vitamins that are easily absorbed by the body. To accurately determine the cause of vitamin deficiency, diagnosis and testing are needed. This approach will allow you to find the most optimal solution without harm to health. If there are signs of dysbacteriosis, a course of treatment is necessary. If a patient is diagnosed with acute vitamin deficiency, then medical treatment is carried out using specialized drugs. Following a diet in this situation is a measure that complements the general recovery course.

We get vitamins mainly from foods, so by changing our diet we can make up for the deficiency, add foods that contain more of certain vitamins and exclude less useful ones. Please ensure that the products are fresh and that heat treatment allows you to preserve as many vitamins as possible. Balancing your diet is quite difficult; in this situation, you can consult a specialist.

Vitamin A is found in carrots and peppers; adding vegetable oil to a vegetable salad with carrots will improve the process of absorption of substances.

B vitamins are synthesized by bifidobacteria; in addition, they produce other elements important for health. Yogurts containing live bifidobacteria will improve intestinal health and allow the body to absorb more vitamins and minerals. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, especially liver. Other vitamins of this group are also found in plant foods - cereals, bread, bran, legumes, and greens.

Vitamin C can be obtained from fresh fruits, black currants, lemon, red pepper, sea buckthorn, and herbs. Rosehip decoction contains vitamin C and can be added to tea, compote or jelly. The norm per day is from 50 to 100 mg.

There is more vitamin D in cheese, salmon, herring, sardines, salmon, and fish oil. For normal functioning, it is enough to take it in a volume of 5 mg. Vitamin D is found in milk, but adults may not be able to absorb it. Sunlight promotes the production of vitamin D3, which provides more than half of the required amount.

Vegetable oils, nuts, cereals and grains, cabbage, sea buckthorn, and rose hips are rich in vitamin E. This vitamin enters the body with food and cannot be synthesized by intestinal bacteria. To achieve the daily requirement of 20 mg, two tablespoons of oil or 50 grams of fresh almonds are enough.

Vitamin PP is found in most foods. Its highest content is in potatoes, cabbage, legumes, tomatoes, and cereals. With increased physical activity or in stressful situations, the daily dose, which is about 20 mg, can be increased.

Vitamin K is found in greens, cabbage, peas, and carrots. For a healthy person, it is quite easy to get this vitamin from vegetables and fruits. The daily requirement of vitamin K is about 90 mcg, so it is recommended to take it additionally only during pregnancy and lactation on the recommendation of a doctor. An overdose of the vitamin can occur in people with diseases of the circulatory system. If the level in the blood is elevated in patients at risk, it can cause blood clots.

How to understand that a tooth will soon fall out?

You can see the problem and prevent its development in advance. Imminent tooth loss will be indicated by tooth mobility that appears for no apparent reason, for example, without a previous injury. This is a sure sign that if nothing is done, there will soon be fewer teeth. Other characteristic symptoms:

exposure of the root surface - gum recession;
bleeding when cleaning;
discharge of pus from the gums when pressed;
a feeling that the gums are swollen, their external redness and swelling.

These symptoms indicate problems with the dental system. And they serve as an indicator that in the absence of proper attention, the outcome can be sad.

As a rule, diseases of the oral cavity develop slowly, gradually. Often months pass from the “first bell” to the loss of an incisor or molar. On the one hand, this is good, as it gives a person time to contact a specialist and solve the problem before it takes on a dangerous form. But on the other hand, it “relaxes”: a person does not consider the disease to be acute and threatening with negative consequences. From time to time he tries to fight it on his own, using rinses and available medications until the symptoms alleviate. This tactic of behavior is fundamentally wrong, as it only aggravates the course of the disease.

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ENT diseases and other disorders due to bite

The degree of closure of the jaws has a direct impact on the completeness of breathing and the normal functioning of the respiratory system. If the mouth is constantly open, the mucous membranes dry out, which results in the activation of pathogenic bacteria, which leads to pharyngitis and sinusitis. Lost time leads to complications.

It is worth remembering that one-time treatment of diseases of the nose and throat, if they are associated with a dental problem, is ineffective. And this is also one of the reasons why malocclusion is bad. Until it is corrected, ailments will return with enviable regularity.

Prevention

To maintain healthy teeth for as long as possible, you need to eliminate the causes of tooth loss. To do this, just follow simple rules:

brush your teeth thoroughly but gently;
use dental floss;
regularly have professional teeth cleaning;
visit a doctor at least once every 6 months;
to refuse from bad habits;
establish a balanced diet;
use protective mouthguards during training or extreme entertainment to avoid situations in which a tooth falls out.

Classification of edentulism by the number of missing teeth

Number of missing teeth	Classes	general description
Partial edentia (ICD K00.00)	– Partial primary adentia. – Partial secondary adentia.	With partial edentia, from one to 5 teeth or their rudiments are missing on one jaw. Most often, three teeth are missing.
Multiple edentia	– Multiple primary adentia. – Multiple secondary adentia.	Many experts combine the concepts of partial and multiple edentulism. Criteria: missing 5 teeth missing 6 teeth missing 7 teeth And so on up to 15 units on one jaw.
Complete edentia (ICD K00.01)	– Complete primary adentia. – Complete secondary edentia.	Complete absence of teeth or their rudiments on one of the jaws.

Expert opinion

Vladimir Aleksandrovich Voznyuk

maxillofacial surgeon, implantologist

Experience: more than 33 years

Without proper treatment, almost any dental disease can lead to root inflammation and tooth loss. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a dentist at the slightest sign of pathology in the teeth or gums. Preventive examinations by a dentist are also mandatory, during which a specialist will identify emerging problems and will be able to eliminate them efficiently and as gently as possible.

Correction

What do they do in dentistry if a tooth has moved? First of all, a diagnosis is carried out to understand the reason why this happened. An X-ray examination will help to get a clear and clear picture.

A treatment plan is then developed, which may include the following methods:

Disocclusion

The jaws are opened using a removable therapeutic prosthesis, a fixed bridge, or special mouth guards. The goal is to apply intermittent pressure to the involved teeth to move them back into place.

Sanding hard fabrics

Used only in adult patients over 40 years of age if the disocclusion method did not work. After the problem has been eliminated, prosthetics are performed.