February 24, 2009
Chewing gum: good or bad?
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The only chewing gum that we should consider chewing is gum that contains no sugar. Any bubble gum or sugar containing gum is bad for our oral health in many ways. This is also true for any sugar containing mint or lollie.
Obviously the continual release of sugars provides a rich source of food for the bacteria with which to cause dental decay. Many of these bubble gums also contain food acids which also promote dental decay.
Chewing gums that don't contain sugar are good in many ways but do not replace the need for correct brushing or flossing.
The greatest advantage of sugar free gum is that it stimulates the release of saliva. It is this saliva which can buffer acids in our mouth and provide our teeth with the goodies that keep them strong. There is nothing in the chewing gum itself that can help our teeth. The only exception to that is recaldent gum. Recaldent provides our teeth with enzymes, proteins, calcium and phosphate which help to reverse the effects of acids in our mouth.
Some of the disadvantages of any chewing gum can be the extra forces that can be applied to the teeth and if you have large fillings then teeth can be broken. If also you suffer from any jaw complaints(headaches, muscle soreness and clicking and popping) then the chewing can make this worse.
Also be aware that sugar-free gum usually contains xylitol and consuming large quantities of xylitol can result in stomach upset and diarrohea.
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