Dental Health Vitamins and Conditions Quiz

Role of Vitamins in Oro-facial Tissue

• Vitamins are essential for general growth and health, required in small amounts, and act as antioxidants.
• A healthy diet includes vegetables and fruits.
• Supplements may be necessary for deficiencies, like old age or pregnancy.
• Excessive intake of some vitamins, especially fat-soluble ones, should be avoided (hypervitaminosis).

5 Important Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Teeth

• Calcium is vital for building and maintaining strong teeth and bones, found in dairy products like milk and cheese (casein).
• Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that helps fight gingivitis by producing collagen for cell repair and healing, found in citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, kiwi).
• Magnesium aids in calcium absorption for strong teeth and enamel, present in nuts, whole grains, beans, seeds, and dark leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin A helps keep saliva flowing, preventing dry mouth and promoting healthy mucous membranes, found in carrots, eggs, sweet potatoes, and fish.
• Vitamin D acts as a communicator, signaling intestines to absorb calcium, making bones and teeth stronger, found in eggs, fish, and dairy.

Effect of Vitamins on Oral Health

• Vitamin A, in active form retinoic acid, is crucial for mucosal tissue integrity, cell differentiation of the immune system, and maintaining bacteria levels to prevent massive inflammation.
• Vitamin A also exhibits antioxidant activities; protecting against oxidation damage.
• Free radical-generating substances like fried foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides, and air pollutants damage vital cell proteins, including enzymes, and cause DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. Damaged cells lead to oxidative stress.
• Deficiencies may result in specific diseases.

Vitamin A

• Chemical nature and properties: Natural forms include A1 (retinol) and A2 (3-dehydro-retinol), active forms include retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and the provitamin is β-carotene. Stored in the liver and adipose tissue.
• Sources in Food: Dark leafy green vegetables (spinach, broccoli, cabbage), sweet potato, deep orange fruits (mangoes, apricots). Also found in retinols (milk, butter, cheese, cream, eggs, kidney, tomatoes, and watermelon).
• Health benefits: Maintaining mucosal tissue integrity, promoting cell differentiation in the immune system, maintaining bacteria, and exhibits antioxidant activity.

Vitamin D

• Sources: Cod liver oil, mackerel, salmon, sardines, tuna, and mushrooms (natural). Vitamin D2 is of plant origin. Vitamin D3 obtained from animal sources by UV light from a provitamin.
• Function: Maintains homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus, vital for bone and tooth structure. Crucial in enamel and dentin, ameloblasts, odontoblasts, and osteoblasts formation.
• Effect on oral health: Plays a role in enamel, dentin, and alveolar bone formation, important in remineralization of early tooth lesions. Deficiency may cause a delay in teeth eruption, abnormal enamel and dentin calcification, making teeth more susceptible to caries. During periods of tooth development, a vitamin D deficiency can cause enamel hypoplasia. Studies suggest association with caries and aggressive periodontitis, and a beneficial relationship between adequate vitamin D intake and less severe periodontal disease.

Vitamin E

• Sources: Fortified cereals, seeds, sunflower and seed oils, leafy vegetables like spinach, tomato products, sweet potato, mangoes, and broccoli. Found in high quantity in cattle liver, small quantities in heart, kidneys, eggs, kiwi fruit, and blue berries (this is the summary of listed foods).
• Health benefits: Acts as an antioxidant, protecting body cells from free radical damage. Plays a role in anticarcinogenic effects and immune system promotion. Topical application has shown better results in treating oral mucositis than systemic administration.
• Deficiency is not specifically mentioned in this material.

Vitamin K

• Term origin: from the German word Koagulation (clotting of blood).
• Types: K1 and K2.
• Sources: Found primarily in leafy green vegetables, naturally produced by bacteria in the intestines.
• Function: Multifunctional; involved in cell growth and proliferation, calcium metabolism, antioxidants, essential for normal blood clotting, and promoting bone strength; vitamin K has been tested as a possible anticaries agent in inhibiting carbohydrate degradation by its enzyme activity.

Vitamin B Complex

• Includes: Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), Biotin (B7 or B8), Folic acid (B9), Cobalamin (B12).
• Function: Essential for cell growth and metabolism, unique for each member of the group. B1, B2, B3, and biotin participate in energy generation. B6 is vital for amino acid metabolism, and B12 and folic acid for cell division. Also essential for brain development and function.
• Effect on Oral Health: Deficiency may increase prevalence of dental caries and gingival diseases in children. Signs and symptoms in B12 deficiencies include glossitis, angular cheilitis, and recurrent oral ulcers; also oral candidiasis and diffuse erythematous mucositis. Folic acid is essential for synthesis of amino acids, purines, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the integrity of gingival tissues. Insufficient intake during pregnancy may increase risk of cleft lip and palate. B-complex supplementation has demonstrated positive effects on wound healing after periodontal surgery.

Vitamin C

• Form: Ascorbic acid.
• Sources: Naturally found in citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits), and vegetables (potatoes, broccoli, spinach, red peppers). Boiling or cooking reduces nutritional value.
• Biological half-life: Approximately 30 minutes, absorbed from intestinal tract, no storage site, but higher concentrations found in some tissues.
• Functions: Essential for collagen hydroxylation, enabling uniform and flexible triple helix configuration in connective tissues; needed for dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine synthesis; enhances iron absorption; has antioxidant properties.
• Deficiency: Over 8-12 weeks of irregular or inadequate intake can lead to scurvy (anemia, myalgia, bone pain, easy bruising, swelling, gum disease). A deficiency may also cause changes in periodontal tissue and pulps of the teeth; its decreased level in serum and saliva increase caries activity. Vitamin C supplementation can positively affect periodontal health and postoperative healing following implant surgery.

Test your knowledge on the essential vitamins and minerals related to dental health issues. This quiz covers vitamin functions, sources, and their implications on oral conditions. Match the vitamins with their oral health benefits, deficiencies, and classifications for a comprehensive understanding.