24: Vitamin D Won’t Save Your Teeth – The Shocking Truth About Cavities and Oral Health with Dr. Rob Karlinsey

What if vitamin D supports your oral health in powerful ways, but not in the cavity preventing role social media claims it does?

In this episode of Dental Formulator’s Playbook, Dr. Rob and Tami take a deep, evidence-based look at vitamin D and its relationship to oral health. They examine historical research, modern studies, and emerging science to clarify what vitamin D can and cannot do for teeth and gums. While vitamin D is often promoted online as a cavity-preventing solution, the hosts explain why fluoride remains the gold standard for caries prevention and where vitamin D actually fits into a smart, holistic oral care strategy.

Rather than acting directly on enamel, vitamin D influences oral health through systemic pathways, including immune regulation, salivary protein expression, and periodontal tissue support. This episode separates fact from hype and offers practical guidance grounded in real science.

🔍 Highlights

1. Why vitamin D does not directly prevent dental caries
2. The difference between systemic support and topical protection
3. How vitamin D influences the oral proteome and salivary proteins
4. The role of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin (LL-37) in oral immunity
5. Historical vitamin D research and how early findings were often misinterpreted
6. Why fluoride remains essential for enamel protection and remineralization
7. Vitamin D’s documented benefits for gingival health and periodontal stability
8. The importance of distinguishing correlation from causation in nutrition research
9. How saliva flow and protein composition affect oral defense mechanisms
10. Where vitamin D fits into a comprehensive, evidence-based oral care approach

💡 Key Takeaways

1. Supplementing with Vitamin D benefits the oral environment in terms of gingival and periodontal health, however there is no clear association in preventing dental caries (i.e., not by strengthening enamel or preventing cavities)
2. Fluoride is still the most effective and only approved anti-caries agent
3. Adequate vitamin D levels improve gum health, immune response, and salivary protein function
4. Salivary proteins play a critical role in protecting teeth and soft tissues
5. Nutrition matters, but it cannot replace proper topical oral care
6. A holistic approach combines fluoride, good hygiene, diet, and systemic health

📲 Connect with Dr. Rob (Robert L. Karlinsey, PhD)

🌐 Website: customdentalformulations.com

📄 Research Profile: Robert Karlinsey on ResearchGate