According to research reviewed by Gram, a 2026 randomized controlled trial of 52 teens found that vitamin D3 supplements were linked to braces treatment about 1.7 months shorter, averaging 17.8 versus 19.5 months. Researchers say larger studies are needed before routine use.
Braces take a long time, and researchers wanted to know whether vitamin D could help. According to research reviewed by Gram, a 2026 randomized controlled trial in Clinical Oral Investigations followed 52 teenagers getting braces. Half took a vitamin D3 supplement of 60,000 IU every 20 days, and half took none. The supplement group had higher vitamin D levels in their saliva during key stages of treatment, and their braces came off about 1.7 months sooner on average. Saliva testing also appeared to track vitamin D levels without needing blood draws. The study was small and short, so the researchers say more work is needed before vitamin D becomes a standard part of orthodontic care. Anyone considering supplements should talk with their doctor or orthodontist first.
Key Statistics
A 2026 randomized controlled trial of 52 adolescents found that those taking 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 every 20 days finished orthodontic treatment about 1.7 months sooner than teens who took no supplement.
In the same 2026 trial, salivary vitamin D3 levels at the end of braces treatment averaged 48.31 ng/mL in the supplement group compared with 39.91 ng/mL in the control group (p < 0.001).
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Does taking a vitamin D3 supplement change vitamin D levels in saliva and shorten how long teens wear braces?
- Who participated: 52 teenagers aged 13 to 18 who needed braces for crowded or misaligned teeth and had four first premolar teeth removed. Participants were split into two groups of 26 by chance.
- Key finding: Teens taking vitamin D3 finished treatment about 1.7 months sooner on average, at 17.8 months compared with 19.5 months for those who took no supplement. Their saliva vitamin D levels were also higher at key points, such as when the braces came off (48.31 vs. 39.91 ng/mL).
- What it means for you: Vitamin D may help some people finish braces a little faster, but this is one small early study. Do not start high-dose vitamin D on your own. Ask your doctor or orthodontist whether a supplement makes sense for you, especially if you already have low vitamin D.
The Research Details
This was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest ways to test whether something causes a change. Researchers assigned teens to one of two groups using a random method. One group received no vitamin D3, while the other received 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 every 20 days. Random assignment helps make the two groups similar at the start, so differences are more likely due to the supplement itself.
The researchers collected unstimulated saliva, meaning spit collected without chewing or stimulation, at three points: when the archwires were first placed, when the spaces left by removed teeth were being closed, and when the braces were taken off. They measured vitamin D3 in the saliva using a lab method called ELISA. They also recorded how long each teen wore braces, from the first archwire to removal.
To keep the group assignments hidden, the team used sealed, numbered envelopes, a method called SNOSE. Statistical tests compared the average results between the two groups and used a common threshold of p of 0.05 or less to judge whether differences were likely real.
A randomized design lets researchers compare the supplement group with a similar group that did not get the supplement. This makes it more believable that the shorter treatment times were caused by vitamin D rather than by other differences between the teens. Measuring vitamin D in saliva at several treatment stages also shows how levels changed over time, which is useful for understanding whether saliva could serve as a simple test.
Strengths include random assignment, concealed group allocation, and measurements at several points in treatment. These features make the results more trustworthy than a simple observation of people who happened to take supplements. Limitations include the small size of 52 teens, which makes results less certain and harder to apply broadly. The summary does not say whether participants or staff knew who was taking the supplement, and that detail matters for judging bias. The study was also published as a single trial, so it needs to be repeated by other research teams before its results are considered firmly established.
What the Results Show
Teens who took vitamin D3 had higher saliva vitamin D3 levels during two key phases of treatment. During the closing of the gaps left by removed teeth, the average level was 44.39 ng/mL in the supplement group compared with 38.19 ng/mL in the control group. When the braces came off, the average was 48.31 ng/mL compared with 39.91 ng/mL. Both differences were statistically significant, meaning they are unlikely to be due to chance alone.
The supplement group also finished treatment sooner. On average, braces stayed on for 17.81 months in the vitamin D group and 19.50 months in the control group. This was a difference of about 1.69 months, or roughly 51 days. The researchers reported this gap as statistically significant, which suggests the timing difference was not just random variation in this group of teens.
The two groups had similar vitamin D levels at the start of the study, which is important. This means the later differences likely reflect the supplement rather than the teens’ starting point. The study also found no meaningful difference between boys and girls in saliva vitamin D levels.
The researchers suggest that saliva testing might one day offer a simple, painless way to check vitamin D status, especially in children and teens who may not want blood draws. Saliva collection is easy and noninvasive. However, the authors state that more studies are needed before saliva testing can guide decisions about who should take supplements. The finding that boys and girls responded similarly is also reassuring, though the study was not designed to examine sex differences in depth.
Vitamin D plays a well-known role in helping the body maintain healthy bones, and researchers have long been interested in whether it affects how teeth move during orthodontic treatment. Some earlier work has linked vitamin D to bone remodeling, which is the process that allows teeth to shift position. This trial adds a direct test in teens, but the body of evidence on vitamin D and braces duration is still small. Other studies would need to confirm whether this pattern holds across different ages, diets, and treatment methods.
The study included only 52 teens, so the results could be different in a larger or more varied group. The treatment group was limited to teens with a specific pattern of crowding that required removing four first premolar teeth, so the findings may not apply to everyone who wears braces. The follow-up covered only the length of treatment, and the study did not measure long-term outcomes such as bone health, tooth stability after braces, or side effects over many years. The high dose of 60,000 IU every 20 days is much stronger than standard daily supplements, and its safety for long-term use in teens needs careful medical oversight. The authors also note that saliva vitamin D monitoring is not yet proven useful for guiding treatment decisions.
The Bottom Line
Based on this single early trial, vitamin D3 supplementation may help some teens finish braces slightly sooner, so the evidence is promising but preliminary (moderate to low confidence). Researchers recommend that supplementation be individualized and guided by a clinician. Saliva testing for vitamin D is interesting, but it is not yet ready to guide routine care. Confidence should increase only if larger studies reproduce these results.
Teens and parents who are about to start or are in the middle of braces may find this research interesting, along with orthodontists and dentists who want to understand new ways to support treatment. People with a history of high calcium levels, kidney problems, or who take medications that interact with vitamin D should not start high-dose supplements without medical advice. Adults with braces who are not teens were not studied, so the results may not apply to them in the same way.
If vitamin D were to help, the effect shown in this study was about 1.7 months shorter treatment over a course of roughly 17 to 20 months. Benefits would not appear quickly, and the timing of the supplement schedule would need to match the treatment plan. Because the study measured the overall treatment length, people should expect results only after many months of braces, not within days or weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does vitamin D make braces come off faster?
A 2026 randomized trial of 52 teens found that vitamin D3 supplementation was associated with treatment about 1.7 months shorter, averaging 17.8 versus 19.5 months. The study was small, so researchers say more research is needed.
How much vitamin D did teens take in the braces study?
Teens in the supplement group received 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 every 20 days. This is a high-dose schedule, not a standard daily supplement, so it should only be used under a doctor’s guidance.
Can saliva tests check vitamin D levels?
Researchers found that vitamin D3 levels in saliva rose in teens taking supplements, suggesting saliva might be a noninvasive way to track vitamin D. However, the authors say more studies are needed before saliva testing can guide supplement decisions.
Should I take vitamin D if I am getting braces?
Not without talking to a healthcare provider first. This trial used a high dose in a specific group of teens, and the researchers recommend that supplementation be individualized and guided by clinical assessment.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log each vitamin D3 dose with its date and strength, and note whether it was taken on schedule. Also record the date of each orthodontic appointment and the estimated number of months since braces were placed. Tracking these details together helps you and your provider see whether supplement timing lines up with treatment progress.
- Set a recurring reminder for supplement days if your doctor has prescribed a schedule, and pair the reminder with an existing habit such as breakfast. Ask your orthodontist to add your supplement plan to your treatment notes. Keep your appointment reminders visible in the app so missed visits do not slow treatment.
- Review your logs with your healthcare provider every few months rather than making changes on your own. If your provider orders vitamin D blood or saliva testing, record each result in the app with the date so you can see trends over time. Stop and contact your provider right away if you notice symptoms such as nausea, constipation, excessive thirst, or frequent urination.
This article summarizes a single randomized trial of 52 teenagers and is for general information only. It is not medical or orthodontic advice. The supplement dose studied (60,000 IU every 20 days) is a high dose that can cause harm if used incorrectly, so do not start, change, or stop any supplement without consulting a licensed doctor, dentist, or orthodontist. Results may not apply to adults, people with other health conditions, or people taking other medications.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.