Gummy Vitamins and Your Child’s Dental Health

Gummy vitamins have been rapidly gaining popularity over the last few years but have been around since the late 1960s. They were created to make vitamins more appealing to children while still delivering important vitamins and minerals. Recently even some adult vitamins come in gummy form for those who are kids at heart!

While there are a number of benefits with gummy vitamins, there are a few downsides as well. These vitamin treats have a few health disadvantages for your children that you may not have considered.

Gummy Vitamin Disadvantages

While gummy vitamins provide your child with the nutrition he or she may not be getting from a regular diet, it does not counter the potential damage that these gummies can do to your child’s teeth. These products do contain vitamins and minerals, but they also contain ingredients like sugar and glucose syrup. Even sugar-free gummies contain citric acid, which eats away at the tooth enamel.

In addition to the harmful ingredients, the consistency of gummy vitamins can also damage your child’s teeth. Sticky substances will more easily work their way into the crevices and contours of your child’s teeth, creating dental cavities.

Before offering vitamins to your child, check with his or her pediatrician first. If your children have a balanced diet, they may not need vitamin supplements at all. In the event that they do need vitamins, make gummy vitamins a last resort and make sure to help your child practice good at-home oral hygiene.

To make an appointment for the whole family, please contact Auburn Family Dental, our general and emergency dentist located here in Wichita, KS.