Chewing gum is a staple of many people’s daily routine, but most don’t really consider how gum can affect your teeth. Thankfully, the news isn’t all bad, as long as you choose the right gum type.
Reasons people might chew gum
Outside of the dental implications, chewing gum can have a variety of different effects on your daily life. Chewing gum is commonly used to improve the scent of breath, providing a minty or flavourful freshness. Others may use chewing gum when they are trying to quit smoking. Gum helps to keep their mouth busy and some particular types of gum even help to reduce nicotine cravings. Gum has also been linked with managing dry mouth, reducing snack cravings, and improving concentration.
Is gum good for your teeth?
Chewing gum can have a lot of benefits for oral health, but it needs to be the right type. Unfortunately, while standard chewing gum is the most popular type, it’s full of sugar and not good for your teeth. To get any benefits and avoid any drawbacks, you need sugar-free chewing gum, particularly if it is made with xylitol.
Benefits of sugar-free chewing gum
Healthy chewing gum has loads of potential benefits for your dental and oral health. Sugar-free gum helps to stimulate saliva production, which clears away excess food particles and reduces the likelihood of decay. When saliva is produced, it rinses away bacteria, ensuring acids are not developing and weakening the teeth. As a result, sugar-free gum helps to reduce plaque buildup, prevent cavities and strengthen enamel. It is certainly not a replacement for brushing and flossing, but can be a positive addition to boost health.
Increased saliva production fights dry mouth and kills bad breath, adding freshness and reducing the incidence of cavities. Sugar-free gum can also deter cravings for sugary snacks, which often have a detrimental effect on your enamel.
Negative effects of chewing gum
Unfortunately, if you’re chewing gum that has sugar in it, you’ll be feeding the bacteria in your mouth and likely contributing to decay. Bacteria in our mouths produce acids, which in turn break down enamel and lead to the development of cavities. If chewing gum is a regular habit for you, it is worthwhile to try and switch to sugar-free gum to keep getting that sweet treat while also contributing to better oral health.
Is chewing gum good for your jaw?
An important thing to consider when you chew gum, regardless of the type, is that it can cause strain and aggravate the joints of your jaw. If this is prolonged, it can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a situation where one or both of the TMJs in the mouth do not function properly. If you feel like you’re at risk of this, you may want to limit your gum chewing and speak to a dentist about potential treatment.
Does chewing gum clean your teeth?
There is some suggestion that chewing gum will actually help to clean your teeth. While promoting saliva production will help to remove food particles, chewing gum will not reach in between your teeth like brushing and flossing can, and should not in any way be considered a substitute. It is still essential to brush and floss every day to remove plaque build up and preserve the health of your teeth.
The right sweet treat
If used in moderation, chewing sugar-free gum can be a significant help in your oral health routine. Use sugar-free gum to reduce your risk of cavities, freshen your breath, and keep plaque buildup to a minimum.
Get in touch with us to learn more about the benefits of sugar-free gum and different strategies to keep your teeth healthy. We’re always here to help.
