Benefits of Chewing Gum on Oral Health

Chewing gum is present from a very early age in a variety of forms where it was made out of tree saps. In modern times the chewing gum is made using a mixture of synthetic products like elastomers, raisins, and waxes in different proportions.

Nowadays, most of us think that chewing gum is a kind of candy but in the truest sense chewing gum has been scientifically proved to be a benefit for our oral health. The physical act of chewing promotes saliva production in our mouth that helps wash away the leftover food particles and acids formed by the bacteria in the plaque present on our teeth and gums.

The acids made by the bacteria in our mouth can damage the outer enamel of our teeth with time. As mentioned earlier, chewing helps increase saliva flow in our mouth which allows our teeth to absorb the minerals such as calcium and phosphate to retain the strength. After much clinical research, it was observed that chewing sugarless gum for about 20-30 mins after a meal could help neutralize and wash away the acids on our teeth preventing tooth decay.

Sugar-free gum containing non-cavity-causing sweeteners such as aspartame, xylitol or sorbitol are more effective in reducing plaque on the teeth than the normal gums containing fermented sugar. Chewing gum helps stimulate saliva production that reduces the plaque acid and strengthening the teeth and reduce tooth decay. Chewing gum can also help suppress Halitosis (bad breath) to a certain extent.

Some of the chewing gum manufacturers are adding enamel hardening substances known as Recaldent which is found to remineralize and harden the tooth enamel making our teeth stronger and less prone to suffer from decay.

After so many benefits of chewing gum some might question, Is chewing gum is an alternative to brushing and flossing? The answer is a simple No. It is not an alternative to either brushing or flossing but is just an add-on to our daily oral care regime. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing with a string or water flosser is always recommended. Along with brushing and flossing, regular visits to the dental clinic is also a must. It reduces the chances of getting any oral health problems later down the line.