Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

How Sugar-free Gum Can save Your Teeth

by Lonnie Bryant

Chewing gum isn't often thought of as a particularly healthy activity, but it can actually drastically improve your oral health. As long as the gum is sugar-free, you could benefit from a lower likelihood of decay and cavities by simply chewing after meals, or whenever you fancy a snack.

Increased Salivation

Chewing gum after a meal can help wash away more than the food debris left in your mouth. It also increases the flow of saliva. This serves to neutralize the bacteria and acidity caused by eating, and also carries calcium and phosphate which helps strengthen tooth enamel. In fact, numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after a meal can significantly retard the development of tooth decay.

This is particularly advantageous for those who choose to eat several smaller meals throughout the day, or for those with medication or health conditions which interfere with salivation. Even better, chewing gum regularly can actually increase the size of your saliva glands and make them more efficient, meaning that you'll eventually enjoy the same benefits without having to chew as often!

Less Bacteria

If you pick the right kind of gum, your mouth will enjoy a lower level of oral bacteria. Just look for packets which are marked as containing xylitol. Chewing gum manufacturers are aware that this ingredient is good for oral health, so it isn't too hard to find.

Xylitol might sound like some kind of harmful chemical, but it's actually an extremely beneficial sweetener which is typically made from birch bark. While boasting a level of sweetness which is equal to sugar, xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria known as streptococcus mutans. This nasty bacterium is the primary causal element of both tooth decay and cavities, but xylitol diminishes its ability to adhere to the surface of your teeth. Over an extended period, it also changes the type of bacteria in the mouth, with fewer damaging strains surviving.

Less Eating

Finally, chewing gum can help your oral health simply by keeping you away from unwholesome snacks in the first place. Numerous studies have demonstrated that carrying a few sticks of gum can serve as an effective dieting aid. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, people will have some gum instead, and they'll statistically eat less during meals.

You might not need to diet, but staying away from the odd snack will certainly help your oral health. The acidity of nearly every type of food can harm your teeth, but the sugary treats which people tend to snack on can be amongst the worse.  You can also use gum to help avoid smoking, another habit which can have disastrous consequences for the health of your pearly whites.

Gum is inexpensive, tasty, and helps freshen your breath, all while greatly improving oral health. Picking up a pack every few days should be a no-brainer. For more information, contact TLC Dental


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About Me

Braces versus Retainers: A Comprehensive Overveiw

There are more than two ways to straighten a smile, and in this blog, I plan to discuss them all. I plan to look at the differences between braces and retainers and explain why sometimes you may need them both. I look at the differences in cost, time commitment and efficacy. Personally, I have had a bit of experience with this subject – I had braces as a young teen, and I had a permanent retainer. In this blog, I discuss what I have learned, and I present all kinds of new information on the topic. Whether you are trying to make decisions for yourself or your child. I hope you find this information useful.