Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
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Vitamin

Vitamin A

Likelihood in at-risk patientsLow

Likelihood of deficiency within an at-risk group, not the general population.

Evidence confidenceLow

Strength of the peer-reviewed evidence.

Food sources

Liver, Sweet potatoes and carrots, Leafy greens, Eggs and dairy

Typical intake: 900 mcg/day for men, 700 mcg/day for women (770 mcg in pregnancy, 1,200 mcg while breastfeeding).

Upper limit: 3,000 mcg/day (preformed retinol) for adults, pregnancy is more sensitive to excess; avoid high-dose retinol supplements/isotretinoin-class products without medical guidance.

Dental & oral effects of deficiency

  • Dry mouth (reduced salivary flow)

    Vitamin A supports salivary gland epithelial integrity; deficiency can contribute to dry mouth.

  • Delayed wound healing

    Impaired epithelial repair after oral surgery.

  • Thin, pitted or weak enamel in children (enamel hypoplasia)

    Vitamin A is required for normal tooth development; deficiency in childhood can impair enamel formation.

  • Oral thrush (oral candidiasis)

    Vitamin A deficiency alters oral epithelial keratinization, contributing to dry mouth and increased susceptibility to Candida infection.

    Clinical management: In patients with recurrent thrush and risk factors for deficiency (malabsorption, bariatric surgery, liver disease, very restricted diets), suggest medical evaluation in addition to antifungal treatment.

Associated with deficiency

  • Night blindness: Impaired night vision, the earliest classic sign of vitamin A deficiency.

Dental & oral effects of surplus / excess

  • Dry, cracked, peeling lips (cheilitis from excess vitamin A)

    Chronic excess vitamin A (hypervitaminosis A, including high-dose supplements or combined use with retinoid drugs) can cause dry skin and cheilitis.

    Clinical management: Ask patients with persistent dry, peeling lips about high-dose vitamin A supplements and retinoid medications; recommend a bland lip emollient and review of supplement doses with their physician.

General toxicity (not necessarily oral-specific)

  • Hypervitaminosis A: Liver damage, bone pain, and headache from chronic excess preformed vitamin A (not from beta-carotene).
  • Teratogenicity in pregnancy: Excess preformed vitamin A (and related retinoid medications) is a known cause of birth defects, relevant when counseling pregnant patients on supplements.

Sources

  1. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: oral health and nutrition. Touger-Decker R, Mobley C, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2013.
  2. Vitamins and oral mucosal diseases: From bench to the bedside. Yesudian RI, Yesudian PD. Clinics in dermatology, 2026.
  3. A Prescription for Change: Food as Medicine & the Vital Role of Nutrition in Patient Care. teethFirst. Continuing education course material, 2025.
  4. Cutaneous signs of nutritional disorders. Wong CY, Chu DH. International journal of women's dermatology, 2021.
  5. The safety of commonly used vitamins and minerals. Moses G. Australian prescriber, 2021.