Nutrition in Infancy and Childhood: Vitamins for Growing Teeth and Jaws

Nutrition in Infancy and Childhood: Vitamins for Growing Teeth and Jaws

Birth is not the end of the story for tooth development – it’s the beginning of a new chapter. After a child is born, their teeth continue to mineralize and the jaws continue to grow. The crowns of the baby (primary) teeth, which formed during pregnancy, now harden further and begin to erupt through the gums (usually between 6 months and 2 years old). At the same time, the first permanent teeth are already forming under the gums – for instance, adult molars start mineralizing at birth and finish by around age 3, and the front adult teeth form enamel through the toddler and preschool years. What does this mean? It means early childhood nutrition is just as critical as prenatal nutrition for creating teeth that are strong and cavity-resistant. Additionally, once those teeth erupt, they are exposed to the oral environment – bacteria, food acids, saliva – and so the fat-soluble vitamins assume new roles in protecting the teeth externally and supporting the surrounding oral tissues.

Continuing a nutrient-dense diet through infancy and childhood essentially “finishes the job” of building durable teeth and a well-formed jaw. If an infant is breastfed and the mother is well- nourished, the baby will receive some of these vitamins initially, especially vitamin A and K2, but vitamin D in breast milk is low unless the mother supplements or the infant gets sunlight. It’s no surprise that a common practice in many traditional cultures was to give infants cod liver oil as one of their first supplements. Cod liver oil is a natural source of vitamins A and D, and parents noticed that babies who took it had stronger bones and teeth. As babies grow into toddlers and start on solid foods, traditional cultures didn’t wean them on sugary cereal puffs – instead, they emphasized mashed egg yolks, pureed liver, soft cooked meats, and butter or animal broth mixed into foods. These may seem like odd choices compared to today’s sweet rice cereals, but they provided crucial fat-soluble vitamins for growth. A century ago, it wasn’t uncommon for pediatricians to advise a teaspoon of cod liver oil a day for young children, precisely to support their growing bones and teeth.

Modern research is validating these old practices. Children who get plenty of vitamins A, D, K2, and E from an early age tend to have stronger enamel and fewer dental issues. In one clinical study back in the 1930s, groups of children were put on a diet high in natural vitamins and minerals (with foods like whole milk, cheese, eggs, meat, and a reduction in flour and sugar). Those children developed far fewer new cavities than a comparison group on a more typical refined diet – and remarkably, some of their small pre-existing cavities even began to heal on their own! Dentists observed new tooth mineral covering what had been early cavity spots, essentially a natural filling courtesy of the child’s own body. The key was giving the body the raw materials (vitamins and minerals) to remineralize and repair the teeth faster than they were decaying. Another famous trial in the 1920s showed that when undernourished children were given daily vitamin D (for example, via cod liver oil), the rate of new cavities dropped dramatically and some cavities stopped progressing altogether. These findings make sense: a well-fed child’s saliva is rich in calcium and phosphate (thanks to vitamin D), their teeth form with a deep reservoir of minerals (thanks to vitamins D and A), and their immune system in the mouth is bolstered (vitamins A and D help produce antimicrobial peptides in saliva). Even vitamin K2 plays a role postnatally by activating proteins that keep strengthening the teeth from inside and guiding proper jaw growth as the face matures. And vitamin E supports healthy gums and oral tissues, which are the first line of defense against invading bacteria once teeth are present.

On the flip side, a child who doesn’t get enough of these fat-soluble vitamins may run into trouble even with good brushing habits. For instance, a toddler deficient in vitamin D might have tooth enamel that never fully mineralized, so it’s “softer” and more easily eroded by acids – leading to cavities at a young age. A child low in vitamin A and K2 might grow a narrower jaw that can’t fit all their teeth properly (setting them up for crowding or orthodontic issues), and they might have weaker gum tissues or lower saliva production, making their mouth more vulnerable to plaque. Parents often observe that despite identical brushing routines, one sibling with a richer diet has far fewer cavities than another – the difference is often nutritional.

The encouraging news is that by paying attention to diet, we can stack the deck in favor of our kids’ dental health. By regularly including animal-based, vitamin-rich foods in your child’s meals – like adding grass-fed butter to their meals, offering cheese or full-fat yogurt as snacks, serving eggs for breakfast, and incorporating meats or organ meat blends into dishes – you provide the nutrients that strengthen their teeth from the inside out. Of course, limiting sugary treats and practicing oral hygiene is still wise, but the goal is that even when kids do enjoy some sweets, their well-nourished teeth will be much more resilient against decay. This was exactly what Dr. Weston Price witnessed: in communities where children ate traditional diets full of vitamins, they could indulge in the occasional sweet treat with minimal damage, whereas vitamin-deficient children back in “civilization” got cavities constantly from even modest sugar intake.

In summary, infancy and early childhood are a window of opportunity to “armor plate” your child’s teeth. Every bottle of cod liver oil, every spoon of creamy pastured butter, every egg yolk or liver paté you sneak into a recipe – it all contributes to harder enamel, a better bite, and healthier gums. Parents today are rediscovering that nutrition can be a powerful tool for dental health, not just an afterthought. By combining a nutrient-dense diet with regular brushing, you’re giving your child the best of both worlds: strong teeth that are naturally resistant to decay, and a clean mouth that keeps bacteria in check.

KareFor was founded to support families in this mission. We know how challenging it can be to get kids to eat things like liver or fish every day, so our products are designed to help bridge the gap – providing those critical fat-soluble vitamins in a form kids can take, to back up all your healthy home-cooked meals.