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Four Ways You Could Improve Your Oral Health by Chewing Sugar-Free Gum

September 24, 2021

Four Ways You Could Improve Your Oral Health by Chewing Sugar-Free Gum

After a meal, chewing sugar-free gum protects teeth against decay in four ways. Gum isn’t only good for refreshing your breath. It can also help keep your teeth clean and healthy, as long as you chew the appropriate sort of gum. Following extensive research, it is now widely acknowledged in the dentistry profession that eating sugar-free xylitol gum can help prevent cavities.

Remember that chewing gum does not take the place of brushing, flossing, or visiting your dentist for an exam and cleaning. Call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 if it is time to schedule your cleaning.

Sugar-free gum aids in the removal of food debris

Chewing gum aids in the removal of small food particles that can become caught in teeth after eating. It’s particularly useful for removing sticky foods out of the nooks and crevices of molars, which are especially prone to cavities. Bacteria cannot create the acid that causes tooth decay if there is no food waste to feed on.

Plaque acids are neutralized by sugar-free gum

Chewing increases the production of saliva to up to 10 times its usual pace, thanks to the flavor of the gum. This not only helps remove food debris, but it also helps neutralize the acid created by plaque bacteria to maintain a healthy pH in your mouth. For up to 40 minutes after eating, chewing gum for 20 minutes might increase pH levels from a concerning 4 to a healthy 7.

Sugar-free gum aids in the remineralization of tooth enamel

Chewing gum for 20 minutes can also help re-mineralize tooth enamel, according to the American Dental Association. The calcium and phosphates normally present in saliva build up to high levels when gum is chewed, and are more able to attach to teeth as a result of increased saliva production. This strengthens teeth and helps to prevent decay from taking hold and developing into a full-fledged cavity.

Tooth decay bacteria are killed by sugar-free gum containing xylitol

Gum sweetened with xylitol is the greatest form of sugar-free gum to chew in terms of dental health. The ability of the common tooth decay bacteria Streptococcus to attach to tooth surfaces has been shown to be hampered by this artificial sweetener. As a result of the chewing motion, the bacteria are washed away and are unable to create the acid that causes tooth decay.

Gum isn’t a good oral hygiene substitute!

When you don’t have time to brush after eating, sugar-free gum is a great alternative. It is not, however, a substitute for brushing and flossing. It’s critical to maintain good oral hygiene in order to keep teeth healthy enough to chew gum in the first place!

Chewing gum might become too painful to enjoy if your teeth get infected with cavities. To achieve the greatest results, see your dentist for professional cleanings and examinations, brush and floss regularly, and consume sugar-free gum only as a last resort to help avoid cavities and the need for fillings. You can contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up an appointment.

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