Something to chew before biting into gummy vitamins

Whether you go to the grocery store, a pharmacy, or a dispensary, those little gummy treats containing vitamins, supplements, or THC have become ubiquitous. But do the benefits of gummies (and similar chews) outweigh the risks they pose to your oral health?

Here’s some advice from Aikaterini Papathanasiou, professor and chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dentistry, and Cheng Lu, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dentistry.

We often hear that sticky substances, especially those containing sugar, are bad for your oral health. Is that true?

Aikaterini Papathanasiou: Sticky substances containing sugar can lead to oral health problems, especially tooth-related problems such as cavities.

Cheen Loo: That stickiness is also important because bacteria in the mouth break down sugars and produce acids, which can lead to tooth decay.

Do chewables/gummies affect other parts of the mouth or just the teeth?

Papathanasiou: Chewing candy and gummies primarily affect the teeth, but they can also affect the gums around the teeth because they leave a sticky residue in between and around the teeth, near the gums. Gummies can also loosen fillings and crowns. If a patient has a new filling or temporary crown and starts chewing a gummy candy, it can cause the filling or crown to come loose.

Do gummies and chewable candies pose as much of a risk to your oral health as candy?

Lou: Gummies contain sugar, so I think they pose the same risk as candy. Chewables are less sticky, so the risk is a little lower. There are also sugar-free soluble vitamin alternatives, which generally use plant-based sweeteners that don’t cause cavities instead of sugar. There are also tablets that dissolve in water, or ones that kids can dissolve in their mouths.

What are the benefits of gummy or chewable vitamins and supplements to alleviate oral health shortcomings?

Loo: Good nutrition is important for children. When this isn’t possible through their regular diet, it’s important to take supplements. Ideally, they should be taken during or after meals, not as a snack.

Papathanasiou: While gummies and chewables should be avoided whenever possible, the benefits of vitamins and supplements often outweigh the oral health drawbacks, so it’s important to explore other available options, such as tablets or sugar-free alternatives.

Talk to your doctor and dentist. Specifically, ask your dentist about concerns based on your oral health status and, if there are any, find ways to maintain optimal oral health. For example, your dentist may prescribe a high-fluoride toothpaste in addition to providing oral hygiene instructions on flossing and brushing.

It seems to vary depending on each patient’s health condition.

Papathanasiou: Yes, as a dentist, I would encourage people who eat gummies to brush and floss regularly and also eat gummies as part of a meal, not as a snack. Rinsing with water after meals and chewing sugar-free gum can also help. Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which helps neutralize acids and remove food particles. Also, always consider using sugar-free chewables or gummies.

For children who have difficulty swallowing pills and need to take medications or supplements orally, what are the advantages and disadvantages of gummies or chewable tablets?

Loo: Medication compliance is very important. Parents can ask the pharmacy about sugar-free or liquid versions of their children’s medications. Many liquid medications are sweetened, but some use alternative sweeteners. Liquids flow through the mouth and are flushed out more quickly than chewable medications. Most children also drink water after taking their medicine, which helps wash any medication off their teeth.

Is it for adults?

Papathanasiou: Patients need to know what is available based on the vitamins, supplements, or medications they take. If a patient can’t swallow tablets, are the medications or vitamins available in dissolvable drops or tablets? If so, patients should talk with their healthcare provider and dentist to discuss the best options for them.

Are the risks to oral health from these substances roughly the same for children and adults?

Loo: I think children may be at higher risk because they often don’t brush and floss their teeth as much as adults.

Would the damage be greater if permanent teeth were present rather than baby teeth?

Lu: The permanent teeth, including the 6-year-old molars, start coming in when a child is around 5 or 6 years old. We want to protect those permanent teeth, so we recommend sealants on those teeth at that time. At the same time, we want to prevent cavities in toddlers and younger children who still have their baby teeth. If cavities in baby teeth are not treated, they can lead to infection.

When we treat cavities in children aged 3, 4, and 5, many of them can’t sit in the chair to undergo treatment, so we end up using nitrous oxide (laughing gas), sedatives, or general anesthesia in the hospital, which can be very hard on a child. Also, if we end up extracting a baby tooth, we may need to put in a spacer so the permanent tooth can grow in the right position. Cavities are a problem at any age, even baby teeth.

What about the various edibles that contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, whether for recreational or medical use? Would you recommend a different method of consumption?

Papathanasiou: Cannabis use, particularly smoking, has been associated with periodontitis and xerostomia (dry mouth). THC is not only a psychoactive drug, but also acts as an appetite stimulant, often causing users to consume foods that promote caries. Foods that contain THC often contain sugar, a major cause of tooth decay. More research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of foods on oral health.