Do you want an easy way to fight cavities? Well you’re in luck! According to the American Dental Association, chewing sugarless gum after your meals can actually help prevent tooth decay! In other words, chewing sugarless gum after your meals is a simple and easy way to help you fight cavities.
So, how does it work? Well, it’s not the sugarless gum itself that helps you fight cavities. Instead, it’s the act of chewing the gum that helps fight cavities because chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. The increased flow of saliva helps to wash away food and other debris in your mouth while helping to neutralize decay-causing acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. Your saliva also carries calcium and phosphate, which both help to strengthen your tooth enamel.
There you have it. A simple and easy way to help you fight cavities is to chew sugarless gum after your meals, ideally for around 20 minutes or more. It’s important to remember, though, that to get the most cavity-fighting benefits from chewing gum, it must be sugarless chewing gum and not sugar-containing chewing gum. Although sugar-containing chewing gum will also increase the flow of saliva in your mouth, the plaque bacteria in your mouth will use the sugar in the chewing gum to produce decay-causing acids, which promote tooth decay.
It’s also important to remember that chewing sugarless gum is not a substitute for brushing and flossing your teeth. Although chewing sugarless gum will help prevent tooth decay, good oral hygiene is still the key to a healthy smile. Remember to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day, and to visit your dentist regularly to keep your teeth and mouth at their healthiest.