When it comes to your oral hygiene, brushing your teeth morning and night and flossing once daily are a given. However, did you know that chewing gum can aid your oral health? That’s right! If the gum is sugar-free, it can help prevent cavities.
Studies show that chewing sugar-free gum for at least 20 minutes after eating can reduce the chances of tooth decay. This may come as a surprise to you. Chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in the mouth, which in turn helps to clear out food particles and other debris. The increase of saliva also helps neutralize cavity-causing acids, thus helping prevent tooth enamel erosion. In addition, the extra saliva strengthens the tooth enamel because saliva contains nutrients like fluoride, calcium, and phosphates.
It is the act of chewing that increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. If you would like to reap the benefits of chewing gum, make sure to stick with the sugarless variety. Keep in mind that while chewing gum that contains sugar will increase the saliva flow in your mouth, but the sugar present counteracts the benefits.
Dr. [doctor_name] and our team urge you not to try to replace brushing and flossing your teeth with chewing gum. Instead, chewing gum can be an extra protection for your teeth.
Our dentist and team in [city], [state], invite you to contact [practice_name] today at [phone] for more information and to schedule your next visit. We are happy to give you more dental health tips!