Healthy eating habits are an important part of good oral hygiene. Your body will be more healthy if you eat well and limit the intake of foods and drinks that could damage your teeth.
Is Vitamin K2 one of the vitamins that can help your gums and teeth? Is Vitamin K2 a vitamin that can benefit your gums and teeth? We will give you the facts about Vitamin K2 so that you can make informed decisions for your oral health.
What is Vitamin K2 and how can it help you?
Vitamins are vital for the body to perform many essential functions. Vitamins can be obtained by eating a well-balanced and healthy diet. Supplements can also be used if your body isn’t receiving enough vitamin intake from whole foods.
Vitamin K is absorbed by fats in your diet, and stored in your body’s fat tissue (it is fat-soluble). Vitamin K1 (the chemical composition phylloquinone), and vitamin K2 (“the chemical compound menaquinone”) are two forms of this vitamin.
Where does K2 come from?
Vitamin K1 can be found mostly in dark leafy greens, and vegetable oils. Vitamin K2 is found in:
- Blue Cheese
- Gouda and Swiss cheese are hard cheeses.
- Eggs
- Pork
- Chicken
- Nato, a Japanese fermented food made from soybeans, is also available.
What are the benefits of Vitamin K2
Vitamin K is vital for healthy bones and blood clotting. According to a study published in Integrative medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, vitamin K2 can also be useful in keeping the blood vessels’ walls free from calcium deposits.
What does Vitamin K2 do for your oral health?
There have not been any human studies that prove vitamin K2’s effects on oral health. There have been only discussions and hypotheses about the possible benefits of vitamin K2 to your teeth. One such article was published in Health Hypotheses.
This hypothesis suggests that vitamin K2 could play a role in the prevention of cavities. However, more research is needed on this subject.
What is the recommended amount of Vitamin K2?
The Office of Dietary Supplements states that you can get the recommended vitamin K intake by eating a balanced diet. It also depends on your age, gender, and if you are breastfeeding.
- 0-6 Months 2 Micrograms
- 7-12 Months 2.5 Micrograms
- 1-3 Years30 Micrograms
- 4-8 Years 55 Micrograms
- 9-13 year60 micrograms
- 14-18 year75 micrograms
- Adult men aged 19+120 micrograms
- Adult women 19+ 90 micrograms
- Pregnant/breastfeeding teens 75 micrograms
- Pregnant/breastfeeding women 90 micrograms
Vitamin K Supplements: Should You?
Vitamin supplements are recommended by most dentists only if certain vitamins are not available in your diet. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, vitamin K2 may not be available to you without eating meats and cheeses. Vitamin supplements may be required for certain medical conditions.
You can ask your dentist and health professionals any questions you may have about vitamin K2.
Although Vitamin K2 has some important benefits, the effects of vitamin K2 on your oral health are yet to be established. A healthy diet should include adequate amounts of menaquinones. The best way to maintain good oral hygiene is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Brush your teeth at least twice daily and make sure you brush your tongue.
Other helpful products such as antimicrobial mouth rinses and tongue scrapers may also be available. Regular appointments with your dentist are a must. Vitamin K2 is not a supplement that can protect your oral health, but good oral hygiene is an excellent supplement to help you smile.