Vitamin B12 deficiency: The sore sign in your mouth you should never ignore

Cheryl Cole does yoga to promote her Feel vitamins

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Vitamin B12 deficiency has a wide range of symptoms, affecting everything from your mouth in the form of poor oral hygiene, to your toes (pins and needles). What are the warning signs of vitamin B12 affecting your mouth?

A lack of vitamin B12 can leave you feeling tired, groggy and can have a negative effect on your oral hygiene too.

Your body needs B12 to carry out many vital processes including maintaining a healthy nervous system, keeping your brain functioning properly and producing red blood cells.

Unlike some other vitamins, your body can’t create B12 on its own, so you need to ensure you’re getting enough of it from your diet, and if not you’re taking a supplement.

Foods rich in B12 tend to be animal products, so people who eat vegan, plant-based or dairy-free diets may be particularly at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency in your mouth?

Sore, red and bleeding gums are a lesser-known symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.

A vitamin B12 deficiency can increase your risk of a severe form of gum disease called periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory gum disease which can eventually lead to tooth loss.

Low vitamin B12 levels can also cause you to develop a condition called glossitis in which your tongue becomes swollen and more red.

Glossitis can also change your tongue’s appearance, making it look smooth.

Also, vitamin B12 helps with wound healing, so this could be a factor in why those with lower levels suffer from ongoing ulcers and bleeding gums.

Even if you’re sure your B12 levels are tip-top, don’t ignore the warning signs of gum disease including sore, swollen and bleeding gums.

Make an appointment with your dentist for a check-up, as catching gum disease early can prevent serious problems such as tooth loss down the line.

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What are the other symptoms of B12 deficiency?

According to the NHS, other symptoms of B12 deficiency can include:

• A pale yellow tinge to your skin
• A sore and red tongue (glossitis)
• Mouth ulcers
• Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• Changes in the way you walk and move around
• Disturbed vision
• Irritability
• Depression
• Changes in the way you think, feel and behave
• A decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement

To be diagnosed with a vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor will take a blood test.

To avoid becoming deficient in B12, try to eat a B12-rich diet.

Foods high in vitamin B12 include meat, fish, dairy and eggs.

Many people who are at risk for B12 deficiency may follow vegan diets – the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimates up to 11 percent of people who follow this diet are B12 deficient.

Try eating more of these 11 foods to up your vitamin B12 intake:

• Sardines
• Beef
• Cereals with added B12
• Tuna
• Marmite (and other yeast extracts)
• Trout
• Salmon
• Milk
• Cheese
• Yoghurt
• Eggs

If those foods don’t fit with your diet, or you prefer the convenience of getting your vitamins from a supplement, why not add a vitamin B12 supplement to your daily routine?

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