Is it ever good to chew gum?
Most people understand the basics to having good oral hygiene and know that you should brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day and have regularly scheduled dental appointments and cleanings, but there are other things people can do to ensure that their teeth and gums stay healthy as well. Although people realize that what they eat and drink can have impacts on their health and weight, some people do not take into consideration the impact that food and drinks have on their oral health.
Sugar leads to tooth decay: this is not a secret. However, there is usually more sugar in what people are eating and drinking than they even realize. 25 grams of sugar is the amount of sugar that people should consume (or less), according to The American Heart Association. A disturbing fact though is that certain large size coffee drinks can have up to 73 grams of sugar per serving!
When people are out and about, whether at work, school, running errands, or just going about their daily routine, people can worry about maintaining fresh breath. Gum is a popular choice to combat bad breath, but the average piece of gum has 5 grams of sugar in it.
The good news for avid gum chewers is that sugarless gum can actually have positive effects on your mouth and it will not cause tooth decay.
Other benefits of chewing sugarless gum include:
· Can help people who suffer from having a dry mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications or by having a certain type of disease, and chewing sugarless gum sends a signal to your brain and tells it to start making more saliva, which ultimately helps to combat a dry mouth
· Can help to strengthen your enamel. Most types of sugarless gum contain Xylitol, which has been shown to help in reducing the amount of acid that is on your teeth after you eat or drink something. Since Xylitol has an ability to help with acid reduction, it allows your enamel to stay strong
· May reduce sensitivity in your teeth. Some people suffer from tooth sensitivity or experience tooth sensitivity in relation to using teeth whitening treatments, and chewing sugarless gum may help to alleviate the pain. This is due to having an increased flow of saliva in the mouth, which can help to counteract the sensitivity
· May help to prevent tooth decay. According to a study, people who chew sugarless gum after a meal for 20 minutes may be able to prevent tooth decay. Bacteria from your meal gets trapped in the gum and is then removed from your mouth once you discard the gum
It should be noted that consumers should still pay attention to what type of gum they are buying and should be sure to only purchase gum that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal. Brands that have this seal have proven that their product was evaluated and was deemed to be safe by ADA employees.
There are certain requirements that gum must meet in order to earn the ADA seal, including:
·Will not cause any harm or damage to oral tissue
·Reduces cavities
·Reduces gingivitis
·Encourages the remineralization of tooth enamel
·Lessens plaque acids
If you like to chew gum and want to find out what the best type is for your oral health needs, contact your dentist or ask at your next dental checkup.
