Tongue and Mouth Vitamin Deficiency

Nutrition and oral health share an interdependent relationship.



Good nutrition promotes oral health that acts as a catalyst to promote overall health and development. This is because mouth is the beginning of the gastrointestinal tract and has the ability to chew and swallow, potentially, providing essential nutrients to the body for good health.

Oral diseases are often associated with vitamin deficiency. Mouth or oral cavity shows characteristics signs and symptoms in case of unusual food practices, limited supply of vitamin rich foods or lack of specific vitamins in the diet. The common vitamins responsible for various oral manifestations are Vitamin B, C, D and K.

Vitamin B deficiency often leads to burning sensation in the mouth. This creates trouble in swallowing and may break tissues of inner cheeks. Severe deficiency of Vitamin B12 can result in various gastrointestinal and neurological defects that result in numb or tingling limbs. If any individual develops a sore, pale fissured, swollen and a beefy-red tongue, vitamin deficiency is the only reason. Vitamins responsible for the tongue defects are niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic acid and B12 Vitamin. In case of chronic vitamin deficiency, the tongue may become atrophic and smooth.

Deficiency of Vitamin B may also increase the risk of various other oral diseases like angular cheilitis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, chronic oral mucosal candidiasis and astrophic glossitis. To combat these symptoms, it is important to add various rich sources of B Vitamins like pork, liver, enriched grains, legumes, milk, egg, nuts, bananas, leafy green vegetables, oranges and fortified cereals.

Deficiency of Vitamin C hampers the synthesis of collagen, a building block for many tissues. This results in bleeding gums and a gum disease known as gingivitis. To prevent the outcomes of this disease, it is essential to have good sources of Vitamin C like citrus fruits, dark green vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes.

Deficiency of Vitamin D affects the strength and quality of bones along with the formation of teeth. Individuals suffering from this deficiency are at a greater risk of having jaw fracture and periodontal disease. Ensure that the body is exposed to sunlight for several minutes at least three times a week to absorb this essential vitamin. It is also found in fish liver oils, egg yolk, milk and milk products.

Vitamin K deficiency is known to hinder the blood coagulation process. This results in excessive bleeding from the gums and teeth even in case of minor injury or tooth extract. Good percentage of Vitamin K is found in liver, green leafy vegetables, milk, eggs and citrus fruits.

Nutrition is one of the most basic processes of life. The human body needs many different nutrients to support the various systems that function in the body. These nutrients are absorbed through digestion when the right kind of food is fed to the body. Vitamins are nutrients that are required by the human body in small quantities. Even though the quantity required is low, their importance to the body and to the health of the individual cannot be underestimated. These substances, in small quantities, provide the body with vital tools for the various different processes performed by it. Each specific part or function of the body depends on a combination of different nutrients including some different types of vitamins. A good example of the importance of vitamins can be seen in the functioning of vitamin d.



This vitamin helps with the absorption of calcium and the maintenance of calcium concentration in the blood. Calcium is needed for bone growth and the bones form the basic structural support of the human body.

There are many different vitamins needed for the human body. In order to feed the body properly, one therefore needs a balanced diet which allows the body access to all these vital nutrients. Vitamin deficiencies can produce temporary symptoms or can even cause permanent damage.

The oral cavity is used for many important functions such as food and fluid consumption. Communication also occurs through this area. Some amount of breathing also takes place through the oral cavity. Many people do not actually realize that this area has its own specific needs when it comes to vitamins. Therefore, certain vitamin deficiencies may cause certain tongue and mouth symptoms.

Tongue and mouth vitamin deficiencies may result in symptoms such as bleeding gums, soreness and many other symptoms. Vitamin deficiency symptoms usually take days or weeks to present themselves as it is unlikely that there will be a sudden reduction in supply or absorption of these vitamins.
The most common tongue and mouth vitamin deficiency symptoms are associated with vitamin B.



There are many different types of vitamin B which makes the range of possible symptoms quite substantial. A common mouth vitamin deficiency symptom is the sensation of a burning tongue. Other related mouth vitamin deficiency symptoms include weak lining of the mouth and also susceptibility to infections. Individuals with vitamin b deficiency are more likely to develop conditions like candidiasis and chelitis. 

Vitamin C helps with the immune system of the body. It also helps with synthesizing a substance known as collagen. Collagen is used by the body to bind tissues together. When an individual suffers from vitamin C deficiency, one of the mouth vitamin deficiency symptoms will be that of a weak mouth lining. This means that the lining within the cheeks is likely to peel off easily. Individuals with this type of problem may also experience regular bleeding from the inner sides of the cheeks. It often happens that healthy people may accidentally bite the inner side of their cheeks. This sometimes leads to bleeding. However, individuals with mouth vitamin deficiency associated with vitamin B may suffer from more frequent incidents of bleeding because the lining of the mouth will be weaker than normal. 

Related to this condition is the deficiency of vitamin A. This vitamin helps with cell development and with the repair of damaged tissues.



When there is an injury in the mouth, an individual with vitamin A deficiency will suffer from slow healing of this wound.

Iron deficiency may cause similar vitamin B deficiency symptoms on the tongue. These symptoms include burning sensation on the tongue and soreness of the tongue. The reason for this tongue mineral deficiency symptom being similar to the vitamin B symptom is that both conditions lead to a type of anemia. Anemia is the condition where there is an insufficient amount of red blood cell production which leads to insufficient oxygen being transported to the various cells of the body. When this happens, an individual will experience fatigue and problems with performing physically intensive tasks.

Vitamin D is an important vitamin for the human body. As mentioned above, this vitamin helps with the absorption of calcium. Calcium is used as a raw material for the production of bone tissue. The teeth are also, partly, made of this material. Therefore, an individual who suffers from vitamin D deficiency may experience symptoms that include brittle teeth and brittle jaw bones. The mouth vitamin deficiency associated with the teeth usually occurs in individuals who have experienced a deficiency during their formative years. Children develop teeth early and then develop replacement permanent teeth. When this happens, the child should not be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency.



This could cause mouth vitamin deficiency symptoms that include cracking teeth and teeth that fall off more easily than normal.

Individuals who suffer from vitamin K deficiency will experience symptoms that include excessive bleeding from wound sites in the mouth. Such individuals may also be susceptible to damage caused by brushing or by professional tooth cleaning. This damage does not heal quickly, leading to continued bleeding from the site of the injury.

It is clear from the above descriptions that vitamins are needed for the health of the body as well as for the health of the mouth. Tongue and mouth vitamin deficiency symptoms are often easily corrected by improving one’s nutrition. However, problems with the teeth and bones may be a long term irritant for the individual. It usually takes some time for the condition to set in and equally takes some time for the individual to recover from the condition. Once an individual is diagnosed with tongue and mouth vitamin deficiency symptoms, corrective action should be taken immediately. This will ensure improved health of the individual and will reduce the chances of any medical complications. In many cases, patients with these problems are asked to consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet so that they body is fed with the nutrients that are important for oral health.