If you’re anything like us, you’re soaking up as much sun as you can while summer lasts since Manitoba weather has been known to change in an instant. Even beyond having a fun time, outdoor activity has been linked to numerous positive mental and physical effects, like the production of vitamin D in your body.  

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a key nutrient that is important for strong bones and teeth, supporting immune health, mood regulation and overall brain function. It’s also, unlike most other vitamins, rarely found naturally in food, instead being produced inside your body as a result of direct sunlight on your skin.

As you might expect, vitamin D can be particularly hard to come by in Winnipeg, where the winters are often long and gloomy and most of our time is spent indoors. This isn’t a Manitoba-specific problem however, as some studies report that up to 35% of Canadians may be vitamin D deficient. In addition to being important for overall health, a lack of vitamin D can also lead to rickets, an illness marked by soft, weak bones, especially in children.  

Does vitamin D affect teeth?

With all this talk of strong bones, you may be wondering if vitamin D affects your teeth as well – and the answer is yes, absolutely! One of vitamin D’s main functions is to help the body absorb calcium, making it essential to having healthy teeth. Calcium helps build and maintain your enamel, the hard protective covering on your teeth, and without enough of it your teeth are very susceptible to cavities.  

But calcium absorption isn’t the only job vitamin D does. In fact, though it’s not fully understood why, research has linked vitamin D deficiency to both tooth decay and increased risk of periodontitis, or gum disease.  

So, the next time you say no to a day at the beach, remember that a bit of sun goes a surprisingly long way toward a bright and healthy smile – just remember to wear sunscreen!