As a parent, I understand the importance of making sure my children get enough sleep, fresh air, social time, exercise, healthy food, etc. For some, this may mean supplementing a child’s diet with daily vitamins. My own kids take vitamin supplements every day. But as a dentist, I also make sure that those vitamins do not help cause tooth decay as well!
One rule of my household has always been to avoid any sugary, sticky candy because it is cariogenic (causes tooth decay). Cariogenic foods tend to stay on the surface of the teeth and block the good effect that saliva has in neutralizing the harmful acids formed during meals by the bacteria that live in the mouth. The sticky film on the teeth ends up facilitating the acid’s demineralization (eating away at the minerals of the tooth enamel). Weaker enamel is more susceptible to tooth decay, cracks and chips. With enough enamel lost, the teeth can also become extremely sensitive to hot and cold.
What? No sticky candy? Sadly, no, not in my house. No gummy candy, no fruit roll ups. We even avoid raisins for the same reason! I am the one who ends up fixing the cavities resulting from these foods, so I have a big interest in prevention.
Of course, avoiding sticky foods should be a knee-jerk habit for those who have orthodontic appliances or restorations such as crowns or bridges. The stickiness can dislodge or loosen these restorations or appliances, sending the patient back to the dentist for costly replacements.
But, back to vitamins: those must be an exception, right? Isn’t it more important to maintain the optimal nutritional balance for a child than it is to worry about potential dental problems? Well, in my professional dental opinion, finding a way to achieve both goals is possible: just look for non-gummy vitamin options. My children either swallow a vitamin with water or consume a chewable (non-gummy) one with meals. That way we end up with a win-win: proper intake of vitamins without the risk of tooth decay and bent appliances.
If vitamins are a part of your child’s daily routine, also keep in mind the importance of maintaining optimal dental health; say NO to gummy vitamins!
By Brian J. Hockel, DDS, Life Dental & Orthodontics, Resident since 1964