The International Association for Dental Research has found that moms who maintain adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy, may be protecting their babies against early tooth decay in childhood.
Dr. Robert Schroth from the University of Manitoba reported that mothers of children who developed cavities at an early age had significantly lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy than those whose children were cavity-free.
The study team enrolled 206 women during the second trimester of pregnancy “as that is when primary teeth begin to develop and calcify,” Schroth explained in comments to Reuters Health. They measured vitamin D levels in the women’s blood at enrollment and then followed them until their infants were around 1 year old.
Findings:
- 10.5 percent (21 women) were found to have adequate vitamin D levels
- 22 percent(134 infants) had noticeable enamel defects
- 34 percent had early childhood tooth decay
- Mothers of children with enamel defects in their primary teeth had lower average vitamin D levels than those of children without enamel defects
- Mothers of children with early tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy than mothers whose children did not develop early tooth decay
This is the first known study that has attempted to link blood levels of vitamin D and infant oral health, particularly caries (tooth decay) and suggesting a significant association.
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I think that vitamin d can be much more than just oral health care. I started taking doses of condensed vitamin d drops and since then I have not been sick, I’ve felt more alert, and I’m hardly ever tired.