Your Teeth and Vitamin C

Although a great deal of consumer information cautions against chewing large amounts of ascorbic acid because of its erosive effects on tooth enamel, other scientific studies have addressed this issue differently. One study found that dissolving a 500 mg chewable vitamin C tablet in one’s mouth caused enamel erosion. But, chewable vitamin C tablets of 250 mg and 60 mg did not produce enough acidity to cause enamel erosion.

Although some chewable tablets are buffered with sodium, the researchers felt that the sodium might be of insufficient quantity to prevent dental erosion. Because the application of vitamin C directly to the teeth and gums has no known therapeutic value, they recommended swallowing vitamin C tablets instead of chewing them. Some health advisors recommend rinsing the mouth with water once the ascorbic acid tablet is taken orally so that tooth enamel is not dissolved by the synthetic vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It is important to point out that all of these tests were down with lab-derived vitamin C, and the higher the amount the greater the problem identified.

Please remember that vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and their juices, strawberries, cantaloupes, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, sprouts, and turnip greens and other greens. Most other fruits and vegetables contain some vitamin C. Other sources include black currants, clover, radish, and chickpea sprouts, guava, kiwi fruit, and red peppers.