Is Chewing Gum Good for Teeth?

Is Chewing Gum Good for Teeth?

Many people chew gum habitually and mindlessly, chewing away for hours each day. It’s important to know how chewing gum affects our dental health. Yes, it is, but not all the time and it depends on what type of gum you choose to chew.

Chewing gum can help prevent tooth decay, as long as you select a sugarless gum. Chewing gum causes your mouth to produce more saliva, which helps neutralize and rinse away some of the acid that forms in your mouth when you break down food. So, if you chew gum after a meal, you may be helping to protect your teeth and promote oral health. Also, the minerals generated by the extra saliva can even help strengthen your tooth enamel, which also reduces your risk of dental cavities.

However, chewing gum isn’t all good news. If you make a habit of chewing gum that contains sugar, the bacteria can feed on the sugars and do more damage to your mouth. Chewing too much gum can lead to excess wear and tear of teeth and effect your jaw. Here are the pros and cons to help you decide if gum chewing is for you. 

Pros:

Increases saliva flow: According to research, chewing sugar-free gum for twenty minutes after you eat a meal can cut down on decay.

Beneficial to your health: Chewing gum is beneficial for your health, but only if it’s sugarless! Chewing sugary gum will negate the positive effects that come from chewing.

Hardens enamel: Some gum manufacturers are beginning to add a substance called casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) to their products. CPP-ACP, more commonly known by its trademarked name Recaldent, is said to remineralize and harden tooth enamel, making your teeth stronger and less likely to suffer from tooth decay.

Cons:

Tooth decay: Sugared gums can with heavy use cause tooth decay, gum disease and cavities.  To reduce harmful effects of sugared gums, seek out gum brands that use Xylitol.

Jaw stress: Studies show that habitual use of chewing gums may cause continuous stress on your jaws. If not regulated, this stress can lead to the condition called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TJD), which is manifested with strong facial pain and great discomfort in the back of the neck.

Stomach issues: Continuous chewing of gum can lead to the increased levels of stress to your stomach and intestines. After meals your stomach must receive a period of resting time for it to digest food, but chewing and continuous swallowing of saliva interferes with that rest.

Why is Xylitol Beneficial?

Xylitol looks like sugar, tastes like sugar, but doesn’t act like sugar once it’s in the body. It doesn’t increase blood sugar levels and doesn’t affect oral health the same way traditional sugar does. But Xylitol functions differently. Even though bacteria will still feed on Xylitol in the mouth, they aren’t getting any nutrients from it. This starves bacteria and it can die off. This also means that bacteria aren’t excreting the damaging acids that contribute to decay. That’s not all.

Xylitol gum can:

·        Prevent tooth decay

·        Starve bacteria

·        Prevent oral inflammation

·        Reduce your risk for gum disease

Is Xylitol Safe?

Xylitol occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. It is safe for humans but occasionally, some people have experienced negative, yet not serious, side effects when they ingest too much. Some of these common side effects include gas, bloating, diarrhea, or other discomfort.

The next time you’re looking for a piece of gum, choose a brand that includes Xylitol. It can not only freshen your breath but protect your oral health in the process.

-By-IDA