Lack of Vitamin D Associated With Dental Cavities in Older Adults: Study

A new study reveals an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of dental cavities in people ages 65 and older.

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Older adults deficient in vitamin D have a 44 percent increased risk of having untreated dental cavities, according to a new study.

The study, published in Nutrients, suggests “the potential importance of adequate vitamin D levels for maintaining dental health among older adults,” according to the authors.

Researchers from the University of Utah, the College of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, Utah, and the Institute on Aging in Portland analyzed data from more than 2,700 participants ages 65 and older. The data included information from responses to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

About half of the older adults were deficient in vitamin D, the researchers found. They theorized that vitamin D helps the body absorb the calcium and phosphorus needed to build tooth enamel, teeth’s natural defense against harmful bacteria. Additionally, older teeth have less water content, potentially making them more brittle.

Vitamin D Insufficiency and Dental Decay

The research team reviewed dental examinations and assessed the vitamin D levels in participants’ blood. The less vitamin D that was present, the more likely a person was to have dental cavities (caries).

About 32 percent of people with normal levels of vitamin D—greater than 75 nanomoles per milliliter (nmol/mL)—had dental caries. The percentage of people with dental caries increased as their vitamin D levels decreased. More than 36 percent of people with insufficient vitamin D levels had dental caries, while almost 41 percent with deficient and severely deficient levels had caries.

Additionally, severe vitamin D deficiency (less than 25 nmol/mL of vitamin D) was linked to a 13 percent increased likelihood of having decayed, missing, or filled teeth, the authors found.

Race, sex, and place of birth also affected the number of dental caries an individual might have, with men at a slightly higher risk, according to the study. Close to 49 percent of Mexican American participants had untreated dental caries, while about 38 percent of other Hispanic participants and non-Hispanic black participants had them. A little more than 30 percent of Asian and non-Hispanic white participants had dental caries.

Higher rates of caries were also found in study participants born outside of the United States.

“This study demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and [decayed, missing, and filled teeth] among older adults and adds to the literature supporting a link between vitamin D and caries,” the study authors wrote.

Why Vitamin D Is Important for Oral Health

While researchers may not understand vitamin D’s exact mechanics, they recognize that it has antimicrobial properties and immunomodulators, which help the immune system fight disease. According to the study’s authors, these properties are vital for more than just tooth health. When they’re absent, the immune response is impaired, making it harder to fight off germs or infections and more likely that tissue will break down around the teeth. As a result, people with lower levels of vitamin D are at a higher risk of other oral health issues, including periodontitis, a severe gum disease.

“As individuals age, the likelihood of developing chronic conditions that affect oral health, such as reduced salivary flow, increased medication use, and general wear and tear on teeth, increases,” the authors wrote. “Therefore, maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in older adults could be a crucial component of comprehensive dental care strategies directed at improving the oral health of this population.”