Most people know vitamin A as the “eye vitamin,” but few realize it’s also one of the most important nutrients for oral health. Vitamin A acts like the architect of your teeth and gums, guiding how they form and ensuring the mouth’s defenses stay strong throughout life.
How Vitamin A Builds Strong Teeth
During tooth development, vitamin A directs the enamel- and dentin-building cells, ensuring they follow the “blueprint” correctly. Without it, teeth may appear normal but be structurally weak, malformed, or prone to decay.
Nearly 100 years ago, researchers Dr. Edward and Dr. May Mellanby proved this in groundbreaking studies: puppies deprived of vitamin A were born with crooked teeth, soft enamel, and delayed eruption. Similar results were seen in humans, when mothers were deficient in vitamin A, children often developed weaker enamel and narrower jaws.
Gums, Saliva, and Oral Defense
Vitamin A is just as important for the soft tissues of the mouth as it is for enamel. It keeps gum tissue healthy, moist, and resilient. Without it, gums may become thin, dry, and more prone to infection.
Vitamin A is also essential for saliva production. Saliva continuously bathes teeth in minerals and helps neutralize acids that cause decay. When vitamin A is low, salivary glands don’t work as well, leaving teeth less protected.
On top of that, vitamin A boosts the immune system in the mouth, helping it fight off bacteria and infections. In short, it fortifies both the “walls” (gums) and the “moat” (saliva) that defend your teeth.
Lessons from History
Dr. Weston A. Price, a pioneer in nutritional dentistry, saw firsthand how vitamin A-rich foods prevented cavities. In Swiss villages, children who consumed deep-yellow butter and raw milk from grass-fed cows had almost no tooth decay. In his clinical work, Price treated children with cod liver oil (vitamins A and D) and grass-fed butter oil (vitamins A and K2), often halting cavities and even triggering natural remineralization.
Best Sources of Vitamin A
The most potent sources of vitamin A (in its active form, retinol) are animal foods, including:
- Liver (beef, chicken, lamb, or fish) — nature’s richest source of vitamin A
- Egg yolks — especially from pasture-raised hens
- Butter, cream, and cheese — from grass-fed animals
- Fish roe and shellfish — traditional “sacred foods” for growing children
These are the very foods traditional cultures gave to children and pregnant mothers to ensure strong teeth and healthy development.
The Takeaway
Vitamin A truly is the architect of oral health. It builds enamel, strengthens gums, fuels saliva, and supports the immune system. Without it, teeth and gums are more fragile; with it, they’re resilient and resistant to decay.
At West Lake Hills Dental, we encourage families to bring vitamin A-rich foods back into their diets. For those who struggle with liver or grass-fed butter, we carry KareFor’s ToothKare, a whole-food supplement that provides grass-fed liver extract and bone matrix sourced from grass-fed and grass-finished cattle on regenerative farms, delivering this “tooth-building” vitamin in an easy, convenient form.
