What Kind of Gum Should You Chew?

You may love to chew gum, but did you know that some gum can actually damage your teeth? When it comes to deciding what gum to chew, talk to your general tooth doctor to help you pick out the best gum for your teeth.

Bubble Gum

Bubble gum is not great for your teeth. The sugar inside of bubble gum can cause decay. It is like giving your teeth a sugary bath. If you have braces or other dental work, bubble gum can stick to your dental work. The high sugar content can sit on your teeth for a long time because it is very difficult to brush away. 

When you look at the label of a gum wrapper, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or cellulose may be on the label. They all mean that there is sugar in the gum, and you should choose another type of gum.

Sugar-Free Gum

There are actually a lot of benefits to chewing sugar-free gum. It helps to prevent tooth grinding, putting foreign objects into your mouth, or eating candy. Not only does it keep your mouth busy, but it also helps the mouth produce saliva. The extra saliva in your mouth cleanses the mouth and gets rid of bad bacteria. It can freshen breath as well.

As with most habits, chewing sugar-free gum must be done in moderation. Excessive gum chewing of any kind can lead to jaw issues. It also causes you to take in more air so chewing a lot of gum can lead to excess intestinal gas. As long as you chew sugar-free gum in moderation, it can be a great snack option.

Xylitol Gum

Xylitol is a natural polyalcohol that is known to fight off the bad bacteria in your mouth. Some brands of gum profess that they contain xylitol, but to get the cavity fighting benefits of xylitol, you need to get a full-strength gum that is not offered at the store. Chewing xylitol gum is a great option because it gives your teeth a constant bath of protection. Like any gum, it should be used in moderation to prevent any jaw issues.

If you are interested in adding xylitol gum to your dental regime, talk to your general tooth doctor. Chewing gum is one habit that you can continue if you stick with the right kind of gum.