With winter in full swing, for many of us, getting outdoors is a luxury we aren’t able to enjoy.
Unfortunately, sunlight contains essential vitamin D that is needed to keep us healthy, and when the sun is shining during the winter, we often can’t enjoy it because it’s too cold outside. Getting more sun is crucial for improved oral health.
Why is the Sun So Important?
The sun provides us with a variety of health benefits. It can improve your immune system, boosts your mood, and supplies your body with vitamin D.
When it comes to your dental and overall health, vitamin D is crucial. This nutrient is extremely powerful, and it serves as the first line of defense against bacteria and germs. It can help the pancreas to make insulin, will absorb calcium, and can lower the blood pressure.
Calcium is essential in building strong teeth. Unfortunately, calcium can be absorbed into your system without vitamin D. For that reason, it is important that you are getting outside so that you are getting your necessary sunlight exposure.
How Else Can You Get Vitamin D?
So during the winter months when daylight hours are hard to come by, how are you supposed to get the vitamin D that your teeth so desperately need? Besides picking up supplements from your local pharmacy, there are certain foods that are high in this vitamin. Increase the amount of milk, eggs, and fatty fish that you are getting in
your diet.
If you fail to find a vitamin D supplement, it’s not just your oral health that will suffer. Deficiencies in vitamin D can lead to other problems, including osteoporosis and cancers of the prostate, colon, and breast. You might even boost your risk of developing type 1 diabetes.