Vitamins. We take them for many reasons. To boost our immune system, to grow longer, stronger hair and nails, and to up our intake of important vitamins and minerals. But there is a new category of vitamins hitting the market that you may be curious about: dental vitamins.
Generally speaking, taking vitamins can’t hurt if done correctly. By this, we mean taken as prescribed, and under the supervision of a doctor. Some vitamins can cause dangerous side effects with a prescription or other medications, so it’s very important to get your doctor’s approval before beginning any vitamin regimen. But as long as you have the all-clear, vitamins can make a huge difference in how you feel if used properly.
Dental vitamins make many claims, such as making teeth stronger and healthier and improving gum health. One type of vitamin, probiotics, has been proven to counteract bad bacteria in the gums, and improve gut health. These beneficial vitamins can be found in capsule form but also in certain foods like yogurt and kefir.
But the vitamins hitting the marketplace specifically aimed at improving dental health can often be pricy, leading many to wonder if they are worth the investment.
While many of these vitamins contain a compound of many beneficial vitamins, you can save your money on expensive capsules by caring for your teeth the old fashioned way- by brushing and flossing twice a day.
If you already have gum disease, a treatment plan with Dr. Abelar is your best course of action. Don’t expect expensive over the counter vitamin capsules to cure any gum issues you may have. Severe gum disease may require special cleaning and procedures that aim to heal any damage the gum disease has caused while cleaning the teeth and killing the bad bacteria in your mouth.
You may also require antibiotics, special toothpaste, and/or special prescription mouthwash.
Bottom line: if you are interested in trying dental vitamins, speak to your physician and Dr. Abelar about which type of vitamins are best for you, and to make sure these vitamins don’t cause problems with any medications you may already be taking. Otherwise, just keep brushing and flossing and you probably won’t need oral health vitamins at all.
