How Sunbathing Benefits Oral Health

Summer is a great time to spend a day at the beach or pool, soaking up as much sun as possible. While the heat can be a little difficult to stomach, getting just a little bit of sun this time of year can do the body a world of good.

In fact, your oral health could actually benefit from a little bit of sunbathing. If you’re wondering how, here’s what you should know.

Vitamin D and Oral Health

Sunlight is one of the best sources of vitamin D, which is essential to all kinds of functions in the body, including those pertaining to your teeth and gums. You may know someone who needs vitamin D supplements—this is often due to a lack of exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D, among other things, assists with calcium absorption into the bones. This is also true for the teeth, meaning that a little bit of sunbathing can help you to fortify your enamel. Vitamin D is also critical to supporting your immune system, which can help your body to stave off gum disease.

How to Spend Time in the Sun Safely

If you want to soak up some of that sweet vitamin D, you could take the time to sunbathe this summer. When you do so, be sure to bring plenty of water, as the heat can dehydrate you pretty easily if you aren’t careful.

You should also apply plenty of sunscreen to make sure that you don’t get burned. This applies to the lips as well, so you should make sure to get a lip balm with SPF protection. Be sure to reapply both after every two hours that you’re outdoors.

Other Sources of Vitamin D

If you’d rather stay in the A/C, that’s understandable. Your doctor or dentist may prescribe you a vitamin D supplement, but here are some more natural ways to get vitamin D through your diet.

• Fatty fish, like tuna or salmon
• Vitamin D milk
• Eggs
• Fortified cereal
• Fortified orange juice

If you worry that you aren’t getting enough vitamin D, talk to a medical professional about whether there are changes you should make to your lifestyle.

About Our Practice

At Real Dental, we know that some people consider dentistry to be a deeply stressful experience, so we do everything that we can to make getting the care you need as easy and painless as possible. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your teeth are healthy and that you feel heard every step of the way. We promise that every appointment you have with us will be as comfortable as it can be.

If you have any questions about how to protect your oral health this summer, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (817) 406-7239.