When it comes to taking your daily supplements, how you take them matters just as much as what’s in them.
Enter: buccal absorption—a fancy term for a very simple and effective process your body already knows how to use. And if you’ve ever wondered why gummy vitamins seem to work so well (besides tasting great), this blog is for you.
Let’s break it down.
What Is Buccal Absorption?
Buccal absorption refers to the process where nutrients are absorbed directly through the tissues in your mouth (especially the inner cheeks and under the tongue) rather than going through your digestive system first.
Think of it as a VIP lane to your bloodstream. By starting absorption in the mouth, then continuing in the GI tract and only then passing on to the liver (where many nutrients are broken down or filtered), buccal absorption allows for better, more efficient delivery of active ingredients.
How Does Buccal Absorption Work?
Your mouth isn’t just for chewing and chatting, it’s lined with thin mucous membranes packed with capillaries. When nutrients dissolve in the mouth and come into contact with these membranes, they can diffuse directly into your bloodstream via these tiny blood vessels.
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
- Contact: Nutrients contact the mucosa in your mouth.
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Diffusion: Small, soluble molecules pass through the mucosal membrane.
- 💦 Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C & B can diffuse easily and are absorbed quickly.
- ☀️ Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D require special carriers (like glucose) to cross effectively.
- Circulation: These molecules enter your bloodstream and travel where needed, without detouring through the stomach or liver first.
This is especially beneficial for nutrients that:
- Are poorly absorbed in the gut
- Are sensitive to stomach acid
- Are broken down by the liver (a process called first-pass metabolism)
What’s First-Pass Metabolism & Why Does It Matter?
When you swallow a pill, it doesn’t go straight into your bloodstream.
First, it travels through your digestive system, where some of the nutrients are lost along the way.
What’s left is filtered through the liver, a process known as first-pass metabolism, which can break down part of the active ingredients.
Only a portion of the original dose makes it into your bloodstream, meaning your body may absorb less than you think.
➡️ This liver detour is known as first-pass metabolism—and it’s a bit of a nutrient thief.
Gummies start their journey by taking advantage of buccal absorption first, then moving to the GI tract and only then passing to the liver. This offers a more comprehensive approach than traditional pills or powders.
🧬 Fun fact: Nutrients like vitamin B12 and even some forms of vitamin D can lose potency through first-pass metabolism, which is why gummies that start absorbing in your mouth can work better.
Why Gummies (Like Ours) Work Better
Unlike traditional tablets or capsules, gummies spend more time in your mouth, where they start dissolving and interacting with the oral mucosa. That makes them ideal for buccal absorption, especially for nutrients designed to work quickly or in smaller, targeted doses.
The Buccal Advantage of Gummies:
- Better bioavailability for certain nutrients
- Faster onset of action compared to traditional supplements
- Gentler on the stomach (no bulky pills or harsh fillers)
- Great for those with digestive issues who struggle to absorb nutrients via the gut
- Tasty and enjoyable—meaning you’re more likely to remember to take them
Nutrients That Love Buccal Absorption
🍊 Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a key nutrient for immune support and your mouth can absorb it directly. Science shows that ascorbic acid can pass through the buccal mucosa, making it a perfect fit for gummies that dissolve in the mouth.
Even better? Absorption can improve when vitamin C is paired with sodium or glucose, two natural enhancers that help your body take in more of what it needs.
🥩 Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 supports your energy, nervous system, and red blood cell production, but it’s notoriously difficult to absorb through the gut. That’s where buccal absorption shines.
Studies show that delivering B12 through the inner cheek, via dissolvable formats like gummies, significantly boosts absorption compared to traditional capsules or tablets. This makes it especially helpful for those with digestive conditions or B12 deficiencies.
☀️ Vitamin D
Vitamin D is vital for immunity, bone strength, and mood balance—but many people, especially those with digestive issues, don’t absorb it well from food or pills. Luckily, research shows that buccal delivery is far more effective.
One study found that vitamin D3 delivered through a buccal spray raised blood levels 1.9x higher in healthy people, and 2.6x higher in those with malabsorption, compared to softgel capsules.
In Summary: Buccal Absorption = Better Absorption
If you're still relying on hard-to-swallow tablets that head straight for your stomach (via your gag reflex), you might be missing out on the full benefit of your vitamins.
Buccal absorption changes everything—and gummies are made for it.
At Novomins, every gummy is formulated with purpose. Each chew is designed to:
- ✅ Maximise bioavailability, so you absorb more of the good stuff
- ✅ Bypass digestive barriers, especially helpful if you have gut issues
- ✅ Work faster, thanks to direct oral absorption
- ✅ Support real health outcomes—energy, sleep, skin, mood, immunity
- ✅ Taste amazing, so you’ll never forget your vitamins again
So the next time someone says, “Gummies are just candy,” you can confidently say:
“They’re science-backed, delicious, and formulated to work with your body's natural systems, not against them.”
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