You already know that eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals is good for your body, but if you’ll be getting dental implants, you may not realize that vitamin D is vitally important to your healing process. Here’s why your body needs more of this compound when recovering from this life-changing oral health procedure.
The Importance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an organic compound that helps the body absorb both phosphorous and calcium, which are both essential for bone health. Because your dental implants are inserted into your jawbone, the higher the levels of vitamin D your body has, the easier it will be for your bones to heal and your dental implants to successfully complete the osseointegration process (where it fuses with your jawbone). It can also help reduce inflammation, which can lower your risk of peri-implantitis, a condition similar to periodontal disease that can also cause dental implant failure.
How Can I Get More Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is naturally absorbed by the human body when exposed to sunlight. In fact, all you need is 30 minutes of sunlight each day to generate enough of it to keep your levels healthy. Unfortunately, however, though these are extremely important, wearing sunblock, clothing, and staying in the shade can make absorption take longer.
If you can’t spare a half an hour a day in the sunshine, there are still a few easy ways to get your daily dose of vitamin D, including:
- Eating a diet rich in dark, leafy greens and seafood.
- Taking a vitamin D supplement.
If you choose to take a supplement, speak to your doctor about which dosage is right for you.
Remember, for best results healing from dental implant surgery, vitamin D can help your prosthetics successfully fuse with your bones, so be sure to take a supplement, eat a healthy diet, or get adequate levels of sunshine to give your new smile a fighting chance at success!
About Our Practice
At White Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, Dr. Julia White and Dr. Brandon White are the caring and skilled dental team who are proud to combine high quality dental care with small town values. If you are missing one or more permanent teeth and would like to restore your smile with the help of dental implants, schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about your options. You can book directly through our website, or you can call our friendly office at 540-587-5707.