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Deficiencies of certain minerals also can have an impact on a person’s oral health. Minerals are inorganic elements. Like vitamins, minerals are essential to proper growth and development. Essential minerals for good health include calcium, chromium, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc. In particular, lack of the minerals iron and calcium can have significant impact on a person’s oral health.

Iron is essential in the transportation and uptake of oxygen and carbon dioxide in body tissues. It also plays a major role in metabolizing dietary protein. Low levels of iron cause oral health symptoms similar to those of B vitamin deficiencies (e.g., sore mouth). Poor diet, intestinal problems and blood loss (e.g., heavy menstruation, internal bleeding) can result in these deficiencies.

Calcium is essential to the development of strong teeth and bones. Calcium deficiencies sometimes occur because of poor calcium content in a person’s diet. Vegans (people who avoid eating any animal products) are particularly susceptible to this condition unless they get calcium from another source. Additionally, low vitamin D levels affect calcium absorption and utilization.

Dietary sources of these minerals are as follows: