What can your mouth tell you about vitamin deficiencies?

Have you noticed a sore or unusually smooth tongue, sore corners of your mouth or gums that bleed more than they used to? These changes can sometimes point to a vitamin or mineral shortage. However, they can have many other causes, so they cannot prove that you have a deficiency. A dental provider can examine your mouth and help you decide whether you should also see your doctor. 

• Mouth changes such as a sore or smooth tongue, bleeding gums, irritated mouth corners or recurring sores can sometimes be linked to vitamin or mineral deficiencies 

• Low B vitamins, iron and severe vitamin C deficiency can affect the mouth in different ways 

• These symptoms can have many other causes, so they do not prove that you have a vitamin deficiency 

• If mouth changes keep coming back or do not heal, a dental exam can help rule out oral health problems and your doctor may recommend blood tests

If you've noticed changes in your mouth and aren't sure why, schedule an appointment with an Aspen Dental provider. Your care team can examine your mouth and help you figure out what to do next. 

What are early signs of low B vitamins in your mouth? 

Low levels of some B vitamins may cause changes in your mouth, but these signs can have other causes too. 

A review in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology notes that vitamin B2 deficiency may cause sore, irritated areas at the corners of the mouth. The tongue may also lose some of its normal bumps and become smooth and deep pink.¹ 

Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause glossitis, which can make the tongue smooth, red, sore or burning. Irritated mouth corners and canker sores have also been linked to low vitamin B12. Other B-vitamin shortages may be linked to inflamed lips, a smooth tongue or mouth ulcers. These signs do not appear in everyone with a deficiency.¹ 

What does vitamin C deficiency do to your mouth? 

Severe vitamin C deficiency over time can cause scurvy. The International Journal of Women's Dermatology review reports that in people who already have poor dental health, scurvy can make the gums swollen, red or shiny. The gums may then bleed, and the tissue may begin to break down. Teeth may also become loose or more likely to develop an infection.¹ 

These are signs of a serious deficiency, but they can have other causes. If your gums bleed without a clear reason or your teeth feel loose, tell your dental provider. 

Can low levels of vitamin D or iron affect your mouth? 

Yes. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), not getting enough iron may be one possible contributing factor in burning mouth syndrome.² However, this feeling has many possible causes. Symptoms alone cannot show whether your iron level is low. 

Diet can play a role in vitamin and mineral shortages. Learn more about the vitamins for teeth and gums your body needs, including how vitamin D also affects oral health. 

Why does your mouth feel like it's burning? 

A burning feeling can have more than one cause. The NIDCR explains that burning mouth syndrome causes pain that returns often and may last for months or longer. A person may feel burning even though an exam shows no visible problem. Experts think damage to the nerves that control pain and taste may play a role. 

Other health problems can also cause oral burning. These include low levels of iron or B vitamins. This means that burning does not prove you have a vitamin deficiency or burning mouth syndrome. A dental provider or doctor may need to examine your mouth and order blood tests to find the cause.² 

When should you see a dental provider or doctor about these signs? 

The NIDCR says shortages of iron, folate or vitamin B12 are possible canker sore triggers, but reports differ. If your canker sores keep returning, ask your doctor whether testing for a health problem or nutritional deficiency may be helpful.³ 

You should also speak with a dental provider or doctor about mouth corners that remain sore, a painful or smooth tongue or gums that keep bleeding. A dental provider can examine your mouth for dental causes. Your dental provider may then suggest seeing your doctor for blood tests. 

If mouth sores, a sore or smooth tongue or bleeding gums keep coming back, talk with your dental provider. They can check for dental causes and let you know if it makes sense to ask your doctor about blood tests or a possible deficiency. 

What can your mouth tell you about vitamin deficiencies? FAQs 

Still have questions about vitamin deficiencies and your mouth? These answers cover a few common concerns. 

Can treating a vitamin deficiency reverse damage to your mouth? 

Some mouth changes may improve after the deficiency is treated. However, serious damage to the gums or teeth may need separate dental care. Your dental provider and doctor can explain what treatment you need. 

Do these mouth signs always mean you have a deficiency? 

No. Cracked or irritated lips, mouth sores, a sore tongue and bleeding gums can have many causes. A dental provider can look for dental problems, while a doctor can use blood tests to check for a vitamin or mineral shortage. 

How long do these signs take to go away? 

It depends on the cause, how severe the problem is and how it is treated. Some mouth tissue may heal once your vitamin or mineral level returns to normal, though more serious damage, like the gum and tooth changes linked to severe vitamin C deficiency, may need separate dental care. Your dental provider or doctor can give you a better idea of what to expect. 

Can children get these same mouth signs? 

Yes, children can develop mouth sores, irritated mouth corners, sore tongues and bleeding gums. However, these signs do not prove that a child has a vitamin deficiency. Tell your child's dental provider or pediatrician about symptoms that keep returning or do not heal. 

Sources 

¹ National Institutes of Health, PubMed Central, International Journal of Women's Dermatology: “Cutaneous signs of nutritional disorders.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8721081/ 

² National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: “Burning Mouth Syndrome.” https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/burning-mouth 

³ National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: “Fever Blisters & Canker Sores.” https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fever-blisters-canker-sores