It might seem strange that your dentist advocates for you to chew gum, but, in fact, chewing sugar free gum is actually good for your teeth. And yes, sugarless gum is the only kind that is beneficial for your teeth–stay away from any sugary gum! Here, we’ll explain why sugarless gum is beneficial for your oral health.
Cleans Your Teeth
It’s been shown that chewing sugarless gum after you eat can help clean your teeth. When you chew sugar free gum, the gum helps to rinse off your teeth and get rid of any food particles stuck to the surface of your teeth. If left on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, these food particles could break down into decay-causing sugars that wear away your enamel and lead to cavities.
Increases Your Salivary Flow
The simple act of chewing the sugarless gum actually increases your salivary flow. But what does this mean and why is it good for your oral health? Saliva is nature’s teeth rinse. Saliva neutralizes acids in your mouth which are produced when bacteria in your mouth breaks down the food you’ve eaten. These acids can wear away at your tooth enamel. Along with neutralizing acids, saliva also contains calcium and phosphate, two minerals that can help to strengthen your enamel.
Reduces Risk of Cavities
There is naturally occurring sweetener called Xylitol that can help reduce your risk of tooth decay or cavities. Xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities by making that bacteria unable to adhere to your teeth and eat at your tooth enamel. By banishing these bacteria Xylitol and sugar free reduce the risk of tooth decay and make your mouth healthier.
Hardens Tooth Enamel
Another product found in sugar free gum is casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate or CPP-ACP. Studies have shown that CPP-ACP can actually reverse the effects of tooth decay by remineralizing and strengthening tooth enamel. By chewing sugar free gum with CPP-ACP, you are adding back in these essential minerals and your teeth become much stronger and more resilient against bacteria and acids.
If you have any other questions about how chewing gum is good for your oral health, contact us today. We would love to see you!