Gummy Vitamins and Oral Health

Gummy vitamins have become a popular way to get your daily dose of essential vitamins, especially for children and adults who dislike taking pills. They are available in many tasty flavors and can be chewed like regular gummy candy. However, while they can deliver important vitamins and minerals, they can also be harsh on your oral health. Here are some insights about gummy vitamins, how they impact oral health, and how your Clermont dental office can help maintain your family’s oral health.

Why Gummy Vitamins?

Nutritional deficiencies are widespread despite comprehensive information and resources available that teach children and adults about proper health.

According to research published in Nutrients Journal, 95% of the U.S. population has a vitamin D deficiency, 84% percent have a vitamin E deficiency,  and 46% percent have a vitamin C deficiency.

Gummy vitamins offer a simple and delicious solution to nutritional gaps in American diets. These gummies taste like candy and are often preferred to hard-to-swallow capsules and chalky chewables. They also can be easier on the digestive system as they do not contain binding agents commonly found in tablets.

The Problem with Gummy Vitamins

While gummy vitamins may be suitable for some people, they do have some downsides. They often contain added sugars, food colorings, and sugar alcohols which give the gummies their pleasant taste and alluring colors. However, these sugars increase your risk of tooth decay.

Gummy vitamins often contain glucose syrup, the same kind of sugar found in many types of candies. When you consume a sugary one, the natural bacteria in the mouth feed on these sugars and create acids that eat away at tooth enamel. Gummies are also sticky and can adhere to the surface of the teeth, increasing bacterial growth, plaque buildup, and risk of tooth decay.

In addition, gummy vitamins often have fewer nutrients than consumers are led to believe. The colorings, sugars, and other filler compounds used to create the familiar gummy texture prevent manufacturers from adding adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to the supplement. They are considered food, not drugs, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning they could potentially interact with certain medications.

There is also a risk of overdose when taking gummy vitamins. Children often enjoy the sweet taste of these gummies and may take too many or confuse them with gummy candies, resulting in a potential overdose. Certain nutrients found in them can be dangerous if taken in excess.

Alternatives to Gummy Vitamins

As gummy vitamins can be bad for your oral health, it’s important to consider alternative supplements. If you have children who take vitamin supplements, your pediatric dentist in Clermont may recommend a non-chewable children’s vitamin product, such as Flintstones Complete or Centrum Kids Multivitamin. For children who are unable to swallow pills, there are non-gummy chewable and liquid vitamins on the market.

Ideally, children should receive all of the nutrients they need through their daily diet. Both children and adults require the same types of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. What types of foods and the amounts that each person needs will depend on a variety of factors, such as their age and existing health conditions that may impact a person’s ability to absorb certain nutrients.

If a person receives adequate amounts of nutrients through their daily diet, they may be consuming too much of a certain nutrient when they take a vitamin supplement. This could result in a nutritional imbalance that may cause unexpected side effects. Always speak with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplements or before giving your child a new supplement.

Schedule an Appointment with Hancock Village Dental

While gummy vitamins can provide essential vitamins and minerals, they can also be harsh on teeth and gums and can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. To learn more about the impact of them on oral health or to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Clermont, contact Hancock Village Dental today at 352-989-5815.