I know what you are thinking, everybody knows vitamin C helps treat the common cold. You probably even remember historically it was used for preventing and treating scurvy.

The benefits of vitamin C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease and even skin wrinkling according to webmd.com.

Most experts recommend getting your vitamin C from fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits. I know sometimes that is hard to do or to get enough vitamin C.

Let me tell you my personal experience with vitamin C. I was diagnosed with TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) many years ago. My dentist sent me to a specialist who wanted to make a mouth guard. I didn’t have insurance to cover it, so I declined the mouth guard.

My TMJ became worse, I couldn’t chew gum anymore, because my jaw would ache and pop. I couldn’t eat hamburgers or big sandwiches, because I physically could not open my mouth wide enough.

Then one day I read an article in a magazine that taking 1000 milligrams of vitamin C per day would help prevent UTIs (urinary tract infections). I thought, “Who doesn’t want to avoid UTIs?”. I am not sure if the vitamin C actually prevented UTIs. I didn’t get them that often but, after taking vitamin C for a while I noticed my jaw didn’t ache and pop as much anymore. I could chew gum again and take bigger bites, like eating a hamburger!

Just to test this theory I stopped taking vitamin C for a couple of days and my jaw started to pop again. Now I make sure to take 1000 milligrams of vitamin C every night.

I am not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV. So in all seriousness please check with your doctor before you take vitamin C or other supplements. See my disclaimer page for more information. Also check out the side effects & safety of vitamin C from webmd.com.