Albertville, AL
Everyone knows that gummy candy (gummy bears, gummy worms, etc.) are bad for people’s teeth. But what about gummy vitamins? Are they as bad for teeth as candy? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? This article will discuss just that.
Many parents buy gummy vitamins for their children and even for themselves. They have become prevalent in today’s society. Gummy vitamins are loaded with artificial dyes, high fructose corn syrup and citric acid, then often dipped in sugar. Does that sound like something that would be good for teeth? Of course not.
While gummy vitamins do contain some vitamins, they are not as high in vitamins as those that can be swallowed or chewed. Of course, the best way to ingest vitamins is through healthy eating and whole foods, and, in fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages parents from giving vitamins at all. Most people, children included, do not benefit from vitamins C and E. Whereas they might benefit from vitamin D because they don’t go outside enough, or from B-12 if they are vegan, they do not benefit from the other vitamins. Since many parents are aware that the American diet can be deficient in nutrients and are unaware that the need for vitamins is so low, they feel they cannot, in good conscience, allow their children to go without vitamins. When this is the case, other forms of vitamins can be used. Gummy vitamins, however, should be the last choice. This is why:
Gummy vitamins consist of a gelatin material that holds the vitamin together. This is where the problem starts. The gelatin sticks to the teeth. When it is combined with the sugary coating on the outside, it encourages decay and cavities. Even in gummy vitamins that claim to be lower in sugar, the gelatin allows even a relatively small amount of sugar to remain on the teeth all day long. This means that even gummies with a small amount of sugar can wreak havoc on teeth.
Won’t simply brushing the teeth afterward help? Not necessarily. The citric acid in gummies eats away at the tooth enamel in a process called demineralization. This causes the enamel to soften and to be more sensitive to decay. By brushing their teeth too soon after eating foods that contain citric acid, people can damage the enamel on their teeth, especially since it is already weakened. A person should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing their teeth after consuming foods with citric acid. Also, even if the citric acid did not cause the teeth to be more sensitive, brushing and flossing cannot remove all the sticky gelatin from teeth.
Gummies have sugar in addition to citric acid. This combination equals lots of damage. The citric acid makes the teeth soft (and brushing removes the mineralization), and the sugar can go straight to the unprotected, softened teeth. Bacteria feeding on the sugar also produce lactic acid, which leads to even more damage.
Mary Hayes, a pediatric dentist and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association, states: “I will see children who have been cavity-free, and then they start eating these gummy vitamins, and boom, they have cavities within three months to a year.” Hayes goes on to explain that certain bacteria that live on the teeth eat the sugars that are in the gummy vitamins. After they process those sugars, they excrete acids on the teeth, leading to decay and cavities. This process doesn’t take very long; it only takes about 20 minutes for the bacteria to start excreting acids.
So, what if gummy vitamins are the only option? How does someone mitigate the risk of decay? The answer is timing. Offer gummy vitamins with meals. The worst time to give gummy vitamins is right after brushing teeth in the morning or after brushing right before bed at night. Another remedy would be to follow the gummy vitamins with plenty of water. The water can help loosen the gelatin from the teeth and wash away the bacteria.