While you may be surprised if your dentist recommends that you chew sugar-free gum as part of your dental hygiene routine, this is a proven way of helping keep your teeth and gums in good order. Which kinds of chewing gum have the best dental benefits and which ones should you avoid?
All Sugar-Free Gums Create More Protective Saliva
Chewing on any sugar-free gum gives your mouth a helping hand with saliva production. The more you make your mouth chew, the more saliva it produces. While this may not seem a big deal, saliva plays a pivotal role in your oral health.
For example, saliva helps wash your mouth clean naturally and protects your teeth and gums. If you chew a piece of sugar-free gum after a meal or a snack, the increase of saliva that goes hand in hand with chewing may go some way to keeping food sugars and acids away from your teeth and gums where they can do harm. This may reduce the risks of dental problems such as tooth decay and acid erosion.
Some Gums Are Also Bacteria Killers
While all sugar-free gums have dental benefits, some also give you added protection from oral bacteria. These chewing gums may help you protect your teeth and gums by giving you a saliva boost; however, they may also have an active effect on your oral bacteria.
For example, chewing gum that contains the natural sweetener xylitol is considered to reduce the formation of cavities by up to 70%. Unlike sugar, which bacteria feed on to produce tooth-harmful acids, xylitol isn't a good meal for bacteria. Bacteria think that xylitol is a regular sugar and will try to eat it; however, bacteria can't digest this sweetener and will then die.
Chewing on a xylitol gum that also contains the CPP-ACP milk protein can potentially give your teeth an extra boost up the dental health scale. This protein also helps fight decay and may help remineralise and even repair teeth after acid attacks.
Gums to Avoid
The flavour of the sugar-free gum you chew may impact your dental health. While a regular mint-flavoured sugar-free gum is beneficial to your teeth, other flavours may cause dental problems. For example, chewing sugar-free gum with a fruit flavour may expose your teeth to acidic flavourings. The acids in these flavours may damage your teeth through dental erosion.
You should also avoid chewing regular gums containing sugar. A regular gum may help your saliva production but this benefit is reduced by the gum's sugar content. A regular gum is more likely to damage your teeth by coating them in sugar than to help protect them.
Chewing sugar-free gum may help keep your teeth and gums in good shape; however, gum is not a substitute for traditional dental care. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth and to have regular check-ups with your dentist.
Share12 May 2016
As a mother, I've seen my kids' faces light up after they've lost a tooth – oh, the excitement they feel about getting their grown up teeth! However, I've also seen my kids become extremely scared and anxious after having an adult tooth knocked out. If you're a mom or a dad with a busy kid, chances are you might see a tooth knocked out in a skateboarding accident or a sport pile-up. This blog is dedicated to those moments when you could lose your wits, and it's here to ensure you don't. I am collecting and curating the best information about kids and dental emergencies here so that you will have it when you need it. Best of luck with your kids' smiles!
