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Chewing gum to keep your teeth?

Chewing gum to keep your teeth?

chewing-gumMom always warned about chewing gum. “It will rot your teeth!”
New evidence shows that chewing sugarless gum can help reduce the incidence of decay.
Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can help wash away the acids produced by bacterial plaque in your mouth. The act of chewing gum stimulates saliva which helps lubricate the mouth, neutralize acids and also carries calcium and phosphate which keep teeth mineralized.
Chewing sugarless gum can also help with dry mouth, a condition which many people suffer with. The implications of dry mouth lead to very sticky biofilm, or plaque, which can be very difficult to brush or floss away. This, in turn, contributes to tooth decay as well. There are different contributing factors in dry mouth including medications and some diseases as well.
Gum that is sweetened with Xylitol, in particular,  has shown an effect of inhibiting plaque production and the capabilities of acid production of the plaque. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener. It is almost as sweet as table sugar but with 33% fewer calories.A great link for more information is:
https://www.adha.org/resources-docs/7161_Clinical_Overview_of_Sugarfree_Gum.pdf
Chewing gum does not replace brushing and flossing, however, and, it is should also be noted that chewing gum in excess can adversely affect the jaw muscles and TMJ. Moderation is key.  You should continue to brush twice a day and floss daily. Having regular cleanings and exams is also important to help maintain your smile.

3 Comments

  1. Thanks for posting this very informative article about chewing a gum!!
    https://sotadental.com

    April 13, 2015 at 10:04 am Reply
    1. Hello Sota Dental, Next time I’m visiting Cancun, I would love to visit your office. I think you have a great website, and thanks for coming by.

      April 13, 2015 at 11:14 am Reply
  2. Hey Kim, This just in from the American Dental Association, Bloomberg Business discusses the “difficulties the chewing gum industry currently faces, with sales down 15 percent to $3.5 billion since 2009 and the lingering feeling among industry insiders . . .  Bloomberg News notes that several brands had long promoted their sugarless gum as “cavity-fighters,” used slogans noting dentists’ recommendations to chew sugarless gum, and even displayed the American Dental Association’s seal of acceptance in attempts to widen the product’s appeal.”.

    April 13, 2015 at 3:49 pm Reply

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