The Truth About Gummy Vitamins

Taking vitamins every day is a habit that has been encouraged by health communities for many years. While we aren't debating the merit of taking vitamins, we do think it is important to consider what kind of vitamins you take each day and whether or not they are doing more harm than good. As the best dentists in the Springfield area, Access Dental has the knowledge to help you answer that question! Read on to learn more about vitamin types and what kind could be better for your oral health.

Chewable Children's Vitamins

These vitamins have a fun flair with cartoon character shapes, bright colors, and fruity flavors. These attributes can all be very helpful when trying to entice a young child to take their vitamins. However, children can also have difficulty in efficiently and thoroughly brushing their teeth every day. They are just grown up enough to refuse your help when it comes to brushing teeth, but not quite old enough to handle swallowing large vitamin pills. That means the particles and debris from the vitamins remains stuck between their teeth for long amounts of time. This can cause irritation to their gums or allow bacteria to grow between their teeth from the added sugar in the vitamins.

If you are determined to add supplemental vitamins to your child's diet, or if a doctor has recommended it, then there are ways to help prevent harm to their oral health. When they take their vitamins, give them a glass of water also. Teach them to swish water around in their mouth to free up the vitamin particles and flush them away.

Gummy Vitamins

Who doesn't love feeling like their eating candy while making healthy choices? Even though vitamins can help when someone has a deficiency of some kind, the composition of gummy vitamins in particular can be problematic. Gummy vitamins tend to have a lot of added sugar or sugar alcohols, artificial coloring, gelatin, and corn starch.

None of those ingredients are things that health-conscious people want in their daily diet. And while a vitamin-sized amount may not majorly affect the waistline, it could seriously affect your oral health. The additional sugar combined with the sticky nature of a gummy vitamin can cause problems for your teeth. Particles from the vitamin could easily become wedged between your teeth and cause gum irritation, bacterial growth, and more.

Traditional Vitamins

The traditional vitamins that most people are familiar with can be a great way to supplement the vitamins you receive from your diet. Because they do not sit in your mouth for long periods or get stuck between your teeth, they are the optimal form of vitamin for oral health.

Another great way to get vitamins is by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits and veggies that naturally deliver the vitamins and minerals you need. Always consult with your physician before making changes in your dietary and supplement habits.

Your Oral Health

Taking a vitamin every day shows that you are serious about living a healthier lifestyle and that you care about what you put into your body on a daily basis. Taking it just one step further and making sure the vitamins you are taking are good for your total health overall (including your teeth!) is important. For more information on oral health and how you can improve yours, contact the best dentists in the Springfield area - Access Dental and Dentures!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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