The average American chews about 1.8 pounds of gum each year. Although some gum can be bad for your teeth, especially if you’re chewing nearly 2 pounds of it, most gum can now be chewed with little to no consequence. In fact, many gums can be beneficial to the chewer.
Chewing sugar free gum can help remove left over food particles by increasing the flow of saliva. This happens from both act of chewing and the flavor of gum which stimulate the saliva glands. The saliva also washes away acids left on your teeth which can cause decay. The artificial sweetener xylitol, which is used in many sugarless gums, prohibits the growth of a certain bacteria which causes cavities. The more you chew gum which contain xylitol the shorter these bacteria will live. Also, some gums now contain an added agent, CPP-ACP, which replaces lost minerals in your teeth. This leads to stronger teeth and helps prevent tooth decay.
If you want to check out which chewing gums are American Dental Association (ADA) accepted, you can see the full list here. The ADA states that gums are accepted based on the general criteria of being sugar-free, safe and efficient.
If you have any questions about gum and dental health, give us a call or ask during your next checkup at Advanced Dentistry.
