Tag: chewing gum

When it comes to cavity prevention and caring for your teeth, we all know some of the most common techniques – brush your teeth, floss, and visit the dentist on a regular basis. However, there are some lesser known things you can do to help protect your teeth against decay. One such activity is chewing gum after a meal. In today’s blog, we explain why chewing sugar-free gum following a meal can help protect your teeth and prevent cavities.

Benefits of Gum After A Meal

A lot of people reach for gum or a mint following a meal, but this is often done in order to help freshen your breath after some pungent foods. Gum has added benefits though, as clinical studies have shown that it can help prevent tooth decay and cavity formation. But why is sugarless gum so helpful for your teeth? It comes down to saliva production.

Saliva helps make it easier to swallow foods, but it does so much more than that. For starters, saliva is comprised of substances that serves to break down food particles, which helps remove food that is stuck between teeth. Food particles and plaque that remain on a tooth’s surface can turn into tartar and break down your tooth’s enamel, the outer layer of the tooth’s surface. Saliva helps to prevent tartar formation.

Saliva also helps to neutralize acids in the mouth that can wear down your teeth. Foods like oranges or coffee that have higher than average acid content can slowly erode your teeth, but saliva helps to protect your teeth from this breakdown. Finally, saliva also contains calcium and phosphate, which helps to strengthen your tooth’s enamel. In all, saliva both helps to protect and strengthen your teeth.

So consider adding sugarless gum to your after meal routine. When you’re at the grocery store or pharmacy, look for gum that has been marked with the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval. This way you’ll know that the gum is sugar-free and that it is trusted by dental professionals to protect their teeth. Gums with sugar in them will also help to spur saliva production, but the sugar is used by plaque to produce some decay-causing acids, so reach for a sugar-free pack.

Smiles for Life Dental in Bloomington, MN

Chewing on gum after a meal can be a great addition to a comprehensive oral hygiene plan, but it’s important to note that chewing gum is not a safe alternative to brushing and flossing. Make sure you are still practicing good oral health habits even if you begin chewing gum after a meal, and continue getting regular dental checkups. If it’s been a while since you got your last cleaning, reach out to Dr. Brooks’ office today to set up your next appointment.

Chewing a piece of gum after a meal can help give your mouth a refreshing sensation, but it turns out that it can also help protect your teeth.

As we’ve discussed in other blogs, chewing gum can help to increase the amount of saliva that is produced in your mouth. Saliva is full of bacteria fighting properties and helps to break down small food particles that may remain in your mouth after a meal. Increased saliva production helps to prevent against the buildup of plaque deposits that can break down your teeth. So by increasing saliva production, chewing gum after a meal can help keep your teeth strong and healthy.

Choosing The Right Gum To Chew

When it comes to picking out the right gum to chew after a meal, there are two things that you’ll want to keep in mind:

• Choose A Sugarless Option – Both sugar gum and sugar-free gum increase saliva flow, but gum with sugar in it can lead to the production of decay-causing acids. Stick with a sugar-free option to best protect your teeth.
• Choose an ADA Approved Gum – Secondly, look for the American Dental Association’s seal of approval when picking out a pack of gum. If you see the gum, you know that it’s a sugar-free option, and it’s also low on sugar alternatives like aspartame, xylitol or sorbitol, all which are only a slight improvement over gum with real sugar.

Also, remember that chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing, flossing or a good dental hygiene plan. Chewing sugar-free gum can enhance a care plan, but it shouldn’t be used in place of more effective options like brushing or flossing. Consider throwing in a piece of gum after lunch, but still set time aside to brush your teeth in the morning and at night.

Finally, make sure that you are having regular dental checkups with a professional in your area, like Dr. Brooks. A comprehensive dental hygiene plan involves regular trips to the dentist to look for potential problems and to ensure everything appears healthy. If you have questions about picking out the best chewing gum for your situation, or if you want to learn other ways to spur saliva production to keep your teeth healthy, bring these questions up to your dentist. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. For more information or to set up an appointment with Dr. Brooks, reach out to his office today.