07024 Dentist Shares Benefits of Sugar Free Gum

Sugar-free gum is a valuable tool in caring for your teeth. Not only does it help to protect your teeth in between meals, but it also increases saliva production which is important. See what our 07024 dentist of Anderson Dental has to say below!

 

How Sugar-Free Gum Helps

After you’ve eaten, your teeth are susceptible to the acids in your mouth. This produces plaque and eventually leads to tooth decay. When you don’t have time to brush after a meal, or you're unable to wash those acids away with a glass of water, chewing sugar-free gum helps to reduce these acids. 

 

It's also helpful to chew after you eat or drink something that is known to lead to dental erosion. This includes fruit juices, sodas and citrus or acidic foods. Chewing gum for twenty minutes is enough to remove these dangerous acids from the teeth.

 

As an added bonus, sugar-free gum helps to freshen your breath, making it a great alternative when you're out and about, and don’t have your toothbrush handy!

 

What about Xylitol?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is being used in many different brands of chewing gum. This helps prevent plaque build-up and could even reverse the decay by adding minerals to your enamel.

 

Tips for Using Sugar-Free Gum

Here are some tips to help you get the most from your gum chewing:

 

• Chew for twenty minutes after meals.

• Review the recommended amount of times to chew gum per day on the packaging.

• Keep children under the age of seven away from chewing gum. 

• If you have dentures or braces, avoid chewing gum as it may stick to your wires, brackets, or other adhesives that may disrupt your dental health.

• Remember to still brush your teeth at least twice a day to maintain a healthy dental routine.

• In addition to chewing gum, make sure you floss once a day.

• Drink plenty of water in addition to chewing gum to help remove acids from the teeth.

• Whitening sugar-free gums only help to remove surface stains on the teeth.

• Ask our team at Anderson Dental for a recommendation of the best gum to use. There are gum packets with the ADA logo on them, so keep an eye out for those brands!

 

If you have further questions about the use of sugar-free gum for your dental health, be sure to speak with our 07024 dentist. Anderson Dental can be reached at (201) 461-5400 and we look foward to hearing you!