Do you know the major minerals? Major support for oral health
Contributing authors:
Annelise Collins, MBA, RD US
Ellen R Guritzky, MJS, RDH, FADHA
Alpa Shah, MS, RDN US
Minerals are inorganic elements the body needs for proper function. Vitamins are not the only things that play an important role in the body. There are two groups of minerals—major and trace—that play a big role also. Major minerals are required in higher quantities than trace minerals, hence the distinction.
Minerals play a vital role in pH balance, amino acid structures, and bone formation. They’re important for bone density and bone regulation, including the alveolar bones. Minerals are present in nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and some dairy products. Here I’ll dive deep into the major minerals.
Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body.1 It makes up a large portion of the structure of bones and teeth and is vital for growing children as it’s essential for building large amounts of bone.1 Due to this greater need, children absorb about 60% of calcium intake. As the need for calcium wanes in adulthood, our absorption rate decreases to about 25% of intake.1
As people age, their bones remodel and change to fit their needs. This remodeling process requires adequate daily intake of calcium to restructure and lay a boney foundation where it will best benefit the body. If calcium intake or absorption is inadequate, calcium supplements help aging patients prevent osteopenia and osteoporosis. Getting enough daily calcium is crucial so that the bones, including the alveolar bones, remain strong and intact.
Hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, is the inorganic structure of dental enamel and is composed of calcium molecules, phosphate molecules, and hydroxide molecules. When the teeth are exposed to acids, the calcium appetite molecule from the hydroxyapatite is leached from the teeth, causing caries.1 Salivary calcium, along with phosphorus and fluoride, can help remineralize teeth to repair the damage done by the acidity.1 Daily dietary calcium is essential for this balance.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral component of hydroxyapatite that composes bones and teeth. Phosphorus is in DNA, RNA, and cell membranes. Our bodies create and use adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as the energy source to keep our systems functioning, in which phosphorus is a large component.
Phosphorus plays a vital role in maintaining the pH in extracellular fluids such as saliva. This pH balance helps protect enamel from excess acidity that causes decay.2 However, if demineralization is present, calcium and phosphorus work together to remineralize teeth.1
Magnesium
Magnesium has many uses throughout the body and it’s an important cofactor for various enzyme regulatory systems.3 It plays a big role in protein synthesis, glucose control, and energy production. Magnesium impacts levels of the active form of vitamin D and helps transport calcium and potassium ions into cells, which contributes to nerve impulses firing, muscles contracting, and the heart beating.3
Magnesium can remineralize tooth enamel by replacing the calcium ion in the hydroxyapatite crystal to strengthen the enamel.4 Like phosphorus, magnesium helps balance the pH in saliva to neutralize acidity in the oral cavity.4
Patients with alcohol dependence, type II diabetes, or digestive diseases such as Crohn's and celiac may have issues getting enough magnesium in their diet.3 Patients at risk of low magnesium may need to consult with their doctor about incorporating more magnesium into their diet via diet or a supplement.
Sulfur
Sulfur is important for humans as it’s a component of many amino acids and antibiotics, and is a component of glutathione, which protects against cellular damage and heavy metals.5 Many foods have volatile sulfur compounds present that give the dish a distinctive and strong flavor and a potent smell. Volatile sulfur compounds can play a role in halitosis.
Electrolyte minerals
Potassium
Potassium is the most abundant positively charged ion in the body and is mostly present in the cells.6 This charge is what classifies potassium as an electrolyte. Potassium helps regulate extracellular fluid and plasma volume.6 Like phosphorus and magnesium, potassium is found in the saliva and buffers acidity.
Dietary potassium may help to promote bone density, though more studies are needed to understand why this might be.6 While discussing the benefits to the oral cavity, it’s important to remember that potassium nitrate is the active ingredient that helps minimize tooth sensitivity in many toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Sodium
An electrolyte, sodium is a major component of extracellular fluid and is essential for normal cell homeostasis and the balance of electrolytes.7 Some data suggests that sodium and calcium have an antagonist relationship. When there’s too much sodium in the body, calcium is excreted along with the sodium. This relationship may contribute to loss in bone density.7
Chloride
Also an electrolyte, chloride helps regulate fluid and nutrients going across the cell membrane and helps O2 and CO2 move within cells.8 It also helps maintain proper stomach pH for digestion and stimulate muscle and nerve cells to function.8
Conclusion
Minerals play indispensable roles in maintaining overall health, particularly oral health and bone and tooth strength. Phosphorus complements calcium and magnesium to remineralize tooth structure. Some minerals maintain the pH balance in saliva to prevent decay.
Sulfur, an essential component of amino acids and glutathione, plays a role in cellular protection but can contribute to halitosis due to volatile sulfur compounds. Sodium and chloride, as electrolytes, are essential for maintaining fluid balance and cellular homeostasis, but an excess of sodium may negatively impact bone density, among other health conditions.
Understanding and maintaining a balance of these major minerals through diet, and if necessary, supplements, may support oral health and overall bodily functions, highlighting their critical role in well-being. It’s vital for dental hygienists to be aware of the roles these minerals play in the body and oral cavity.
In their assessments, clinical hygienists should include what supplements patient include in their diets. It may also be a good idea to have patients keep a nutrition diary for new-patient or follow-up appointments.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the June 2025 print edition of RDH magazine. Dental hygienists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
References
1. Calcium. National Institutes of Health. 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
2. Phosphorus. National Institutes of Health. May 4, 2023. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Phosphorus-HealthProfessional/
3. Magnesium. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/#h9
4. Xu J, Shi H, Luo J, et al. Advanced materials for enamel remineralization. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022;10(9):985881. doi:10.3389/fbioe.2022.985881
5. Dordevic D, Capikova J, Dordevic S, Tremlová B, Gajdács M, Kushkevych I. Sulfur content in foods and beverages and its role in human and animal metabolism: a scoping review of recent studies. Heliyon. 2023;9(4):e15452. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15452
6. Potassium. National Institutes of Health. 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Potassium-HealthProfessional/
7. Strazzullo P, Leclercq C. Sodium. Adv Nutr. 2014;5(2):188-190. doi:10.3945/an.113.005215
8. Chloride. The Nutrition Source. November 15, 2024. Accessed January 23, 2025. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/chloride/
