How does calcium phosphate affect dental health?

Critical nutrients can give you healthy teeth

Calcium phosphate is a salt found commonly in diet and is used by many biological processes. It is one of the more absorbable forms of calcium and is therefore also found in higher quality dietary supplements. It aids in digestion and may be recommended for children and adults who are having trouble gaining weight. Calcium deficiency can affect all functions of the body from muscle fatigue to immune function to basic dental and bone health.

Calcium phosphate refers to minerals containing calcium ions (Ca2+) together with orthophosphates (PO43-), metaphosphates or pyrophosphates (P2O74-) and occasionally hydrogen or hydroxide ions. This really doesn't mean much to most people and isn't of any great importance.

The most important thing about calcium phosphate is to recognize that it is a necessary component of nutrition.

Dietary supplements with calcium phosphate

Calcium phosphates supplements are used to prevent and to treat calcium deficiencies.  This is true of all dietary supplements. This is how a dietary supplement differs from a drug.

No one is deficient in any pharmaceutical medication, but most people are deficient in a variety of nutrients, including calcium. When you take a dietary supplement, consider what you are doing to support the nutritional needs of your body. This in turn ensures that structures in your body (like your teeth and saliva) are being properly made from the parts you supply from your diet.

In addition to calcium phosphate, calcium citrate is also a highly absorbable form of calcium.

Calcium carbonate is the most common form of calcium found in dietary supplements and is also the least absorbable.

Calcium Phosphate and Your Teeth

For optimal dental heath, calcium and phosphate levels must be maintained. Both are found in saliva which constantly bathes the teeth and prevents tooth dissolution. It is from this that dental health is maintained through proper dietary support from calcium and phosphate. To prevent periodontal disease, a balance of proper diet, containing a maximum of whole foods and a minimum of processed foods, and good dental practices, such a regular brushing, flossing and early detection of any cavities or other problems, must be maintained.

Other dietary issues must be noted as well. Diets high in refined sugar will still result in poor dental health and calcium phosphate is not a magical remedy for other poor dietary choices.

Calcium phosphates are widely used in orthopaedics as implant coatings and defect fillers because of its relation to cement.

Calcium Phosphate Requirements and Safety

Calcium phosphate is generally considered to be relatively nontoxic, but large amounts or inhalation are considered poisonous. 

According to a release from the National Institute of Health, "six out of ten teen boys and eight out of ten teen girls don't get enough calcium in their diets at a critical time when nearly half of all bone is formed. Most teens are getting only about 800 mg of the 1,300 mg required each day, setting the stage for osteoporosis... one-half of women will have an osteoporosis-related fracture at age 50 or older, and doctors believe that inadequate calcium consumption during the teen years is largely to blame."

The release goes on to state that "Recent NICHD research indicates that supplementing the diets of teenage girls with an extra 350 mg of calcium per day produced a 14 percent increase in bone density."

Calcium requirements change with age, and here are some basic guidelines.

Other Important Nutrients

Good dental health is impacted by a variety of factors and proper nutritional support with calcium phosphate is one of them. A well-balanced diet and good hygiene are also critical.

In addition to calcium phosphate, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium are necessary for balanced mineral support.