Can Gum Really Help Prevent Tooth Decay?
Chewing Gum and Your Oral Health
Tooth decay occurs when sugar comes in contact with the bacteria found in the mouth. Since so many foods, even health foods, contain some type of sugar, it may seem impossible to prevent tooth decay without brushing teeth right after eating or drinking anything. The good news is that chewing sugar free gum after a meal can be helpful in preventing tooth decay by helping to wash away some of the leftover food debris and sugars from the teeth before the bacteria can turn them into acid.
Studies of this concept have shown that those who chew sugarless gum for a period of twenty minutes after they eat are actually helping to prevent tooth decay. Chewing, whether it is food or gum, helps to stimulate saliva production in the mouth – the additional saliva is key in washing away the harmful sugars and other food particles from the teeth before they can react with bacteria and start to decay the tooth’s surface. Sugar free gum does not add additional sugars but does help to increase saliva.
The additional saliva production is also key in neutralizing the acids that can be formed in the mouth that cause erosion to the tooth’s enamel, leaving it more vulnerable to developing cavities and other oral issues. Also, saliva contains nutrients like fluoride, calcium, and phosphates that help to reinforce the tooth’s enamel and keep it strong. Those who do not have adequate saliva flow or suffer from what is known as “dry mouth” are often at a higher risk for a number of different oral health problems that include, but are not limited to, gum disease, tooth decay, and other types of oral infections.
Since the action of chewing is the number one way to help produce saliva, sugar free gum can be a very important part of preventing tooth decay and a number of other oral health issues. The motion of chewing helps to produce saliva and the more chewing that occurs, the more saliva is produced. While this is a great way to be proactive about preventing cavities after eating, it is important to note that chewing gum will in no way replace the traditional oral health practices like brushing teeth twice a day and flossing. Always make sure to practice proper oral health in addition to chewing sugar free gum!
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