Gummy Vitamins
Gummy Vitamins - seems like a good way to get your children to take their vitamins…right? Surprisingly, they can be a secret cause for cavities in your child’s mouth. Let’s dig deeper.
Are Gummy Vitamins Bad?
Short answer - No. They provide a delicious vehicle for your child to obtain vitamins and minerals that their diet may be lacking. But remember, they can be full of sugar in its worst form - sticky and gummy. Give them at the appropriate time and along with a healthy, sugar-restricted diet, and your child should be good to go.
When can Gummy Vitamins be Bad?
If they contain added sugar, we run into problems in two scenarios.
If you give your child their gummy vitamins before bed and after the teeth are brushed, the sugar adheres to the teeth for the entire night. The bacteria that create cavities have a food sources for hours that they can convert to acid and erode your child’s teeth.
If you treat the vitamins like a snack or treat and give them throughout the day. These gummy vitamins are essentially candy. If you give them frequently, you're just recharging the bacteria in the mouth with food that gets converted to acid as mentioned above.
So What’s the Best Way to Give my Child a Gummy Vitamin?
If your child needs a vitamin and will only take it in gummy form, give it with breakfast and brush the teeth afterwards as part of your normal morning routine. If you don’t have time to brush, have your child rinse with water after consuming the gummy vitamin. By limiting sugars in the rest of your child’s diet, the gummy vitamin shouldn’t cause any issues with the teeth.
Do I Have to Give my Child a Gummy Vitamin?
No! You can choose a chewable vitamin without sugar, or even a sugar-free gummy vitamin. Both of these option will minimize the risk of your child getting a cavity.