Is chewing gum good for teeth?

Chewing a few sugar-free gums every day after meals and before going to bed is another way to prevent tooth decay on top of the prevention of teeth brushing and using mouthwash.

Chewing gum can freshen your breath and help you socialize. However, medical experts do not advocate chewing gum too much or for too long, as it may affect your health.

First of all, many chewing gums use sucrose as a sweetener, and the sugar will stay in the mouth for a long time when chewing, which is conducive to the production of acidic substances by cariogenic bacteria in the mouth, which induces tooth decay. The Journal of the American Dental Association recommends that people choose new chewing gums that replace sucrose with xylitol. Because xylitol has the same taste and nutritional value as sucrose, but it does not ferment to produce acid, and it does not destroy teeth.

Secondly, it is advisable for people who have had a tooth filling with mercury-containing material not to chew gum. Swiss scientists have found that chewing gum can damage the substances used in the mouth for fillings, so that the amalgam in it is released, causing excessive levels of mercury in blood and urine, which can cause harm to the brain, central nervous system and kidneys.

Again, chewing gum is not good for children. Children have poor self-control, and chewing gum may cause swallowing or accidentally entering the trachea, which is life-threatening. In addition, chewing gum for a long time may cause the chewing muscles to be in a state of tension all the time, which may cause the bad habit of grinding teeth while sleeping and affect the quality of sleep.

Experts recommend not chewing gum for more than 15 minutes, and people with stomach problems should not chew too much gum. Because chewing gum for a long time will reflexively secrete a large amount of stomach acid. Especially in the fasting state, not only will there be symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, and acid reflux, but it may also aggravate stomach problems in the long run.

Chewing gum can promote the secretion of saliva in the human mouth and "dilute" the residual acid in the human mouth after eating food through saliva. Acids are the main culprits in destroying people's teeth and leading to tooth decay. However, the saliva produced by chewing gum can only "dilute" the acid in the mouth, and has a limited protective effect on the teeth; Also, chewing gum can't get rid of all the bacteria in your mouth.

Therefore, chewing sugar-free gum instead of brushing your teeth is not recommended.

Cane sugar-free chewing gum cleans teeth, such as xylitol chewing gum. But be aware that chewing too much gum can damage your teeth.

There are benefits, but not excessive. Joints and muscles will be damaged.

It's better to have xylitol.

A small amount is fine, but too much is not good.