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Does chewing gum benefit your oral health?

Chewing gum actually provides a number of important oral health benefits including reducing tooth decay, neutralizing oral acids, and mitigating against dental erosion.

But did you know chewing gum can have other health benefits besides improving your oral hygiene?

Here are our top five reasons why you should try sugar-free chewing gum.

1. Helps prevent dental erosion

Tooth erosion is largely a result of what food and drink we eat and acidic foods like fizzy drinks and citrus fruits are the worst culprits when it comes to eroding teeth. Chewing gum for 20 minutes after eating or drinking can help reduce an acid attack because it stimulates saliva production. Your saliva contains important enzymes that help neutralise the acids that cause tooth erosion.

2. Helps people with xerostomia (dry mouth)

Xerostomia is the term used to describe a dry mouth that occurs when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva. This is often the result of dehydration, which means you don’t have enough fluid in your body to produce the saliva you need. It’s also common for your mouth to become dry if you’re feeling anxious or nervous. Dry mouth can also result from taking certain medications, therapeutic radiation, diabetes, or diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome. As chewing gum stimulates saliva production, it’s beneficial to people who suffer from a dry mouth.

3. Helps reduce bad breath

Using sugar-free chewing gum helps reduce bad breath by stimulating saliva production and removing debris from between your teeth. It’s always best to brush and floss your teeth, but chewing gum between meals can get into hard to reach places, minimizing the risk of bad breath, dental erosion, and infection.

4. Reduces stress and can enhance cognitive performance

Studies show that chewing gum can reduce stress levels and reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. It can also improve concentration and improve cognitive performance.

5. Re-mineralises tooth enamel

Sugar-free gum helps to promote the mineralisation of tooth enamel, which is particularly important for tooth decay prevention.

Since sugar-free chewing gum offers such important benefits, dentists across the world recommend it as a key component of your oral hygiene routine. Despite its many benefits, it’s important to remember it’s not a substitute for brushing and flossing twice a day.

Pleasecontact the practice today if you would like to book a dental or hygiene consultation or if you have any further questions regarding dental check-up. Our friendly and helpful staff will be happy to assist you.