The importance of calcium to dental health

Calcium is an important mineral which people of all ages need for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. It’s one of the most abundant minerals in the body, but your body can’t make it, so you must get it from your diet. But what is the importance of calcium for your dental health? That’s exactly what we’re covering in this article, so stay tuned to find out.

Skip to: 

• What calcium is
• Importance of calcium
• How calcium helps your teeth
• Sources of calcium

What is calcium?

Let’s start off with the basics, what actually is calcium? Important for several functions within your body, calcium helps your blood to coagulate (clot) and works with magnesium for muscle contraction and heartbeat regulation.¹

However, it’s most known for being the mineral which makes up your bones and tooth enamel - aka the hard, protective outer layer on your teeth. 99% of your body’s calcium is found in the bones and teeth.²

How calcium helps your teeth

Now you know the link between calcium and bone health, you might be wondering how it affects your teeth… Well, many dentists believe that calcium helps to protect our mouths from oral bacteria. It likely does so by aiding to remineralise tooth enamel, which in turn supports your teeth and repairs potential damage caused by bacteria.^3,4

Symptoms of calcium deficiency

What happens if you don’t get enough calcium then? Interestingly, signs of a calcium deficiency might not show up in teeth at first, but over time it may lead to loose teeth, enamel loss and potentially even tooth loss. In fact, one scientific study on 145 participants highlighted a link between a low calcium intake and losing teeth.⁵

Symptoms of low calcium levels that aren't related to your dental health include muscle cramps, fatigue, weak and brittle nails.⁶

The final say

While we all know the importance of calcium for bones and joints, it can have an impact on our dental health too. That’s why it’s important to try and get enough calcium through your diet or by using a supplement. Having said this, if you have some concerns about changing your calcium intake, do speak to your GP for personalised advice. Learn more about your bone, muscle and joint health on our Health Hub.