Can Chewing Gum Keep Your Mouth Healthy?
Posted on 1/11/2021 by Matthew Martin |
 Chewing gum can improve the health of your mouth, provided it features an ADA seal of approval and it is sugarless. That is because chewing gum increases the natural saliva flow, thereby reducing conditions, such as dry mouth.
How Chewing Gum Maintains a Healthier Mouth
When you chew sugarless gum, you increase the flow of saliva, which balances the processes of demineralization and remineralization. While bad bacteria may demineralize the dental enamel, the good bacteria, in the saliva, remineralize the hard outer covering, thereby reversing the early forms of decay. You need to have this type of interaction to maintain healthy teeth and gums and support a healthy pH, or a more alkaline pH reading in the mouth.
What Kind of Chewing Gum Should You Chew?
When choosing a chewing gum, again, you need to find a gum with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. These gums have been tested to ensure they meet all the criteria established by the ADA. Some of these sugar-free brands include Trident, Stride, Orbit, Ice Breakers, Extra, Eclipse, and Dentyne. If you like bubble gum, choose a product, such as Bazooka sugar-free. It is best to find brands sweetened with the sweetener xylitol. Research suggests that xylitol can reduce the number of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. While chewing sugarless gum proves to be dentally healthful, it should not keep you from regular brushing and flossing. You should also schedule a comprehensive periodontal exam with our office. Keep on top of your gum health so you can see fewer incidences of gum swelling, bleeding, and tooth decay. Stick to chewing sugarless gum and do not select after-dinner mints to keep your breath fresh. A mint can cause you to crack your tooth, as it is too hard to chew.
Do you have problems with bleeding gums or swelling? If so, do not delay calling us for an appointment. Make sure your gums are healthy so you can maintain a more even and fuller smile. Keep your gums free from infection and protect your teeth from decay by chewing a sugarless gum to increase the saliva flow, freshens the breath, and removes the biofilm called plaque.
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