Vegetarianism and Dental Health

A vegetarian diet can experience deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin B12, or complete proteins. An adult on a vegetarian diet for a prolonged period of time can be at an increased risk for periodontal (gum) disease from a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Teeth may soften when there's a shortage of vitamin D, becoming more susceptible to decay. Deficiency in vitamin D is rare, however, since it is produced in the body with sun exposure, but it can develop in those who do not consume milk or fish.

Dental Implant

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is surgically anchored into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. The benefit is that implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support and they are very stable. Implants are a good solution to tooth loss because they look and feel like natural teeth.

Once in placed, implants can now be used to support bridges, crowns, dentures or eliminating the need for dentures altogether. The cost tends to be greater, but the implant supported crowns and bridges more closely resemble real teeth.