Do You Use Chewable Vitamin C?
Less is More
Where would we be without our vitamin C? Everyone agrees it’s a crucial nutrient that provides many health benefits. And in dentistry, it plays an important role in the healing process, especially in soft tissue such as gums.
But vitamin C, being acidic, can actually do damage if consumed in chewable form. Too many chews and tooth enamel literally dissolves. A single chewable tablet won’t hurt, but if you need higher levels of vitamin C, switch to another form or consider eating more fresh fruits and vegetables! With a balanced diet, most people can get all that they need, naturally.
It’s also important to understand that vitamin C is water-soluble (as opposed to fat-soluble). This means the body cannot store any extra that is consumed; instead, it is excreted and (literally) flushed away. The average daily recommended amount of vitamin C differs depending on age, gender, life stage, and other factors. See the table below for more information.
How much Vitamin C do I Need?
| Life Stage | Recommended Amount* |
| Birth to 6 months | 40 mg |
| Infants 7-12 months | 50 mg |
| Children 1-3 years | 15 mg |
| Children 4-8 years | 25 mg |
| Children 9-13 years | 45 mg |
| Teens 14-18 years (boys) | 75 mg |
| Teens 14-18 years (girls) | 65 mg |
| Adults (men) | 90 mg |
| Adults (women) | 75 mg |
| Pregnant teens | 80 mg |
| Pregnant women | 85 mg |
| Breastfeeding teens | 115 mg |
| Breastfeeding women | 120 mg |
*Individuals who smoke should add 35 mg to the above values.
About Yuri Kaneda, DDS
Dr. Yuri Kaneda was born in Japan and immigrated to the US when she was 4 years old with her family. She lived in Ohio, Nebraska, and Illinois before finally settling in the San Diego area. A graduate of Bonita Vista High School, she went on to the University of California Berkeley where she obtained her Bachelors in Microbiology and Immunology. After working for 2 years in growth plate research at University of California San Diego, she went to the University of California San Francisco Dental School for her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Upon graduation, she returned to San Diego where she worked as an associate in the practice of Drs. Morimoto and Yaryan, her childhood dentist. She then started her own practice in 1995 and has been at her present location since 1999 which happens to be across the street from her high school!
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