Have you ever heard that chewing your gum is bad for your teeth? There may be some truth in this. However, chewing gum can also lead to a number of dental benefits. You see, chewing gum can be detrimental or beneficial—depending on the type of gum you chew.
Many people assume that chewing gum is bad for your smile because of the sugar that your teeth could be exposed to. And this is true. So if you choose to chew gum, please use sugar free gum. There are real benefits to chewing gum you should consider. For example, the chewing motion can stimulate saliva production, which creates a healthy environment where good bacteria can thrive.
Aside from avoiding sugary gum, there is another important ingredient you can search for: xylitol. You see, xylitol is often used instead of artificial sweeteners. Xylitol is extremely useful because it can actually stop the bad bacteria in your mouth from bonding with your teeth. Furthermore, xylitol can also help the good bacteria in your mouth grow.
Still, please note that some argue that chewing gum could actually train your muscles to clench your teeth. In other words, if you chew gum often, you could increase your chances of bruxism or TMJ disorder.
If you’re interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to contact Carolyn L. Yu, DDS at 510.974.2147. Our dentist, Dr. Carolyn Yu, and our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
