It’s a common stereotype that those on a plant-based diet don’t get as many essential nutrients as those who eat other non-vegan diets. We’ll be the first to tell you this statement paints things with a broad brush. The truth is that there is so much variation in everyone’s diet…vegan or not. With this in mind, it’s still important to acknowledge scientific studies reveal common nutrient deficiencies among plant-based diets, and they can play a huge role in your oral health.

As a company that proudly makes premium vegan toothpaste, it’s no secret that we care deeply about nurturing the oral health of our plant-based friends. To take things a step further, we’re sharing our top five vegan oral health tips. We hope they teach you something new…and inspire you to add the best vegan toothpaste to your daily routine.

1: know your nutrients

We’re starting strong with the longest, most important section! Nutrient deficiencies remain at the root of most vegan-related health concerns, including oral care issues. It’s super important to know and understand which nutrient deficiencies are most common when eating a vegan diet, so we’re diving into the ones that can directly affect your oral health.

• arginine: this amino acid helps break down plaque to prevent cavities and gum disease through remineralization. While it’s mainly found in meat, fish, and dairy, you can find vegan sources such as soy, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, and lentils.
• calcium: those who follow a plant-based diet are less likely to get their recommended amount of calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. This is because dairy is a main source of bioavailable calcium, and plant-based sources may not be as bioavailable (actively delivering nutrients to our bodies). On top of this, foods like nuts and seeds might be high in sulfur amino acids, which can reduce calcium retention. For calcium, focus on foods like leafy greens, sesame seeds, and soy (tofu, tempeh, edamame). Pro tip, you’ll also want to add our hydroxyapatite-enriched vegan toothpaste!
• phosphorous: this essential mineral helps your body absorb calcium and effectively rebuild your tooth enamel. Together, phosphorus and calcium create hydroxyapatite, the main structural component of your enamel…and a very important, beloved substance in our vegan toothpaste (that you’ll hear more about later in this article)! As a vegan, you can get more phosphorus in your diet by focusing on foods like beans, almonds, cashews, wheat germ, lentils, and pumpkin seeds.
• vitamin D: without vitamin D, your body can only absorb 10-15% of dietary calcium. But with enough vitamin D, you can raise that to 30-40%. Animal products are high in vitamin D, so it’s important to find plant-based sources of this nutrient as a vegan. You can get vitamin D from safe sun exposure and eating foods like spinach and mushrooms.
• vitamin B12: this nutrient helps your body form red blood cells to carry oxygen to the soft tissues in your mouth. Without enough of it, you could experience bad breath, ulcers, gum disease, burning, and beyond. Vitamin B12 exists naturally in animal products, but as a vegan, you can only get it through fortified foods and supplements. Be sure to ask your doctor what a healthy dose is for your lifestyle!
• vitamin C: vitamin C helps with your body’s collagen production, keeping your gums healthy and strong. Without enough of it, you might run into gum disease, bleeding gums, and sensitivity due to enamel erosion. Some less-sugary sources of vitamin C include kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spring mix, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, and cauliflower.
• vitamin K: this healing nutrient can help your body build new dentin (the layer of your tooth right below your enamel), slow tooth decay, and reduce bacteria in your mouth. To increase vitamin K, focus on green foods like cabbage, kiwi, spring mix, spinach, broccoli, sprouts, and spring onions.
• vitamin A: vitamin A works to keep your mucous membranes healthy and increase saliva production, which can help prevent dry mouth and help your mouth heal from other complications. You can get more of it through orange foods like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, and carrots as well as leafy greens. You can also stimulate saliva flow with our vegan toothpaste, which contains moistening ingredients like xylitol, vegetable glycerin, and premium peppermint essential oils.

Remember, just because you’re vegan doesn’t mean you’re deficient in all of these nutrients! We highly recommend taking the guesswork out of things by heading to your doctor and finding your starting point through bloodwork.

2: keep an eye on your starch + sugar intake

You’ve probably heard before that sugar isn’t the best substance for oral health, as it feeds bad bacteria and contributes to plaque buildup. The same is true for processed starches like white bread, white rice, pasta, and refined flour, as your saliva breaks down these foods into sugars.

In general, a healthy vegan diet tends to contain more carbs than a non-vegan diet. This isn’t an inherently bad thing, but it could introduce more sugar and starches to your enamel. We recommend keeping track of your carb and sugar intake to be sure you’re not overdoing it. As always, we encourage you to focus on whole foods over processed foods for your oral and overall health....and do your best to tame bad bacteria with our vegan toothpaste!

3: use the Davids, the best vegan toothpaste + floss

As mentioned in the first section, calcium and phosphorus are essential nutrients for strong healthy enamel. These two come together to form hydroxyapatite, the hero ingredient in our nano-hydroxyapatite vegan toothpaste and our infused dental floss.

Hydroxyapatite already exists in your bones and enamel, so when you use our sensitive toothpaste and floss every day, you’re giving your teeth a healthy dose of this innovative remineralizing ingredient. The nano-particles effortlessly bind to your teeth, strengthening them from the inside out. This supplementation is incredibly important for vegans who might be slightly deficient in calcium and phosphorus.

4: prevent dry mouth in between your vegan toothpaste routines

Dry mouth is more than just a feeling, it’s a condition that can exacerbate oral issues and let bacteria wreak havoc in your mouth. We’re proud that our vegan toothpaste does a great job preventing dry mouth, but here are a few hacks you can use in between brushes to keep your mouth moist and healthy.

Try chewing on xylitol gum, snacking on ice chips, using a humidifier at home, and carrying dry mouth sprays and rinses on you when you’re out and about (just search “natural dry mouth spray” or “natural dry mouth rinse”).

5: visit your dentist every six months

Through diligent exams and x-rays, your dentist will be the first to tell you if your mouth and teeth are suffering from nutrient deficiencies. We always recommend visiting your dentist every six months to monitor any demineralization and stop it in its tracks!

While you schedule your next appointment, be sure to stock up on the best vegan toothpaste for your at-home oral care needs.

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