Osteoporosis Connected to Tooth Tartar Buildup

Posted by beanieone @beanieone, Sep 27 10:34am

Good morning!

It has been my observation, and I’ve been told by many dentists and hygienists that I have an excess amount of tartar, especially in my lower front teeth; this is in spite of using mouth rinse, flossing, and careful brushing. Those professionals always explained it away by saying, “Some people just have this problem.”

I have pondered “calcium leeching” for quite some time, as it has always appeared to me that the buildup seems like little pieces of calcium (I fed chickens when I was little😉). My mind went down the 🐇 hole . . .

Come to find some info that this could be due to a Vitamin D and/or Vitamin K deficiency and the effects these minerals have on the metabolism of calcium. Vitamin K is responsible for the activation of a protein that sends calcium where it needs to go, i.e., to our bones, not our arteries. Without sufficient Vitamin D/Vitamin K - uh oh - it stands to reason that the calcium isn’t being sent to where it belongs: Our Bones!

Wish I had researched this little gem years ago - this tartar buildup is not new and perhaps dental professionals should make patients aware of the vitamin deficiency/OP connection and make noise early on when they see this condition, especially in younger people. I’ll be keeping this in mind - perhaps increase my Vitamin D and add some K to see if the tartar decreases.

Further, one would think that our OP docs would mention this to us: “Hey, if you seem to have an unusual tartar buildup, you might have a Vitamin deficiency.”

Anyone know anything about this? Have a great weekend, all, and keep our southern friends in your thoughts. Football coming up: WE ARE!

Cheers!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

lizzie12 | @lizzie12 | Sep 28 10:00am

Interesting. My hygienist tells me this too that the backside of my lower teeth have more tartar build up. He says it is common. Recommended using an electric toothbrush, but still same issue when I was back for a 6 month check up. I take Vitamin D, Calcium, floss etc. My multi vit has Vit K in it. I'll mention this at my next appointment.

teb | @teb | Sep 29 12:55pm

Tarter build up at the center inside the lower jaw is pretty common as we stop producing saliva at night and tarter builds and lays there as we sleep. Worse for those of us with periodontal disease which was always assumed to be a certain detrimental bacteria that we unfortunately have more of than most. I use an electric toothbrush in that area as soon as I wake up. It seems to have helped somewhat. I still have tarter there but not as much as I previously had.

healthmatters | @healthmatters | Sep 29 3:51pm

I had a Vitamin D deficiency and never took Vitamin K until 2 months ago. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis this year. I don't have tartar build up and never have. However, your comment is a good reminder to take Vitamin K because we do need it to make sure calcium gets to where it needs to.

One note: "Tartar mostly contains dead bacteria that have mineralized, mixed with a small amount of mineralized proteins from your saliva (spit). Specifically, tartar consists of these minerals: Calcium phosphate. Calcium carbonate." Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25102-tartar

So, the key word is "mineralized" proteins in the saliva

Here is the composition of saliva

Composition
2–21 mmol/L sodium (lower than blood plasma)
10–36 mmol/L potassium (higher than plasma)
1.2–2.8 mmol/L calcium (similar to plasma)
0.08–0.5 mmol/L magnesium.
5–40 mmol/L chloride (lower than plasma)
25 mmol/L bicarbonate (higher than plasma)
1.4–39 mmol/L phosphate.

If a high calcium content is in your saliva, I wonder if it might be a good idea to watch and keep track of possible hardening of the arteries or plaques in the blood vessels.

Whatever the case, I am taking my 100mcgs of vitamin K daily.

One thing I recently found out, WATERCRESS is a great source of vitamin K.
I knew natto was. It was good to find out a more common item (one I can also find) contains vitamin K.

beanieone | @beanieone | Sep 29 6:19pm

Thank you for the additional info, @healthmatters. Your reference to tartar being comprised of “calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate” is really interesting. And, I did see references to insufficient K and hardening of the arteries, so also good to know.

Although some of my OTC concoctions contain Vitamin K, I’ve decided to add some to my diet but will check on the particulars before I OD on K 😝. I was told by a hygienist that I should brush my teeth for two minutes per bridge - four minutes total - which has helped a good bit; not sure it helps my receding gums, though. It seems as though the buildup has been more under control since taking Tymlos/Evenity/Reclast, but I can’t say if it’s due to my good old Oral B or if there’s been a systemic change due to any or all of those meds.

Have a great week! Cheers! 😄