Whether or not sugarless gum boosts your oral health has been a highly debated topic for many years. There has been a lot of research on the topic as well, and the findings are as varied as the colors of the rainbow. It’s no wonder that patients and consumers are confused on this topic. Should your chew gum at all? Is sugar-free gum better than regular gum? Does sugar-free gum actually fight cavities or create them? Regardless of the wide array of research findings, it is true that sugar-free gum containing Xylitol does not harm your teeth, but can indeed help prevent certain types of tooth decay, and may—in fact—improve your overall oral health.
If you are going to chew gum, we definitely want you to choose a sugar-free variety. There are several benefits to sugarless gum, especially if you are in a pinch and don’t have access to a toothbrush and toothpaste after a meal. There are several ways in which sugar-free gum can improve your oral health.
- Choose gum sweetened with Xylitol. This sugar-free sweetener has tooth decay-fighting properties! This ingredient in sugar-free gum actually inhibits the production of bacteria that damages your teeth. Plus, it boosts saliva production, and saliva enzymes help to keep those bacteria from sticking to your teeth and gums. But how does it do all of this? Xylitol (as opposed to sorbitol) does not sit in your mouth and “ferment” into acid that wears away the enamel of your teeth.
- It protects teeth after meals. If a toothbrush and toothpaste aren’t at your fingertips after a meal, sugarless gum can help to prevent acid from attacking your teeth. Your teeth are at the highest risk for acid right after you eat, so popping a pack of Xylitol-containing gum in your pocket or purse can help to prevent the effect of acid erosion on teeth. The key is to make sure you are chewing it for at least 20 minutes after a meal. This will ensure that the gum is having it’s full effect.
- It puts important minerals back in your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum after a meal produces an increase in your own natural saliva. That’s a good thing. The increase in saliva puts much-needed minerals back into your teeth—minerals like calcium and phosphate. These minerals help strengthen your tooth enamel, making it stronger and better able to fight off decay.
IMPORTANT: Chewing sugarless gum is not a substitute for good oral hygiene.
Keep in mind that you must maintain good dental habits in order to avoid tooth decay. Chewing sugarless gum does not replace toothbrushing, flossing, and rinsing. While sugar-free gum is great in a pinch, you should never look at it as a miracle tooth healer.
When you are trying to choose a sugarless gum, you can look for the ADA (Americal Dental Association) seal, which will indicate those gums that are approved by them. But also make sure you look at the list of ingredients. That will tell you if the gum contains Xylitol or another sweetener.
In order to maintain good oral health (aside from chewing gum), your going to need to search for a nearby dentist—how about a dentist in Charleston, SC? We love to help answer your questions, set you at ease, and come alongside you in protecting your body’s first line of defence—your mouth.