Chewing Gum - Affordable Dental Defense Against Cavities

By Susan Braden
Published Apr 29 2010

Some people ask whether or not chewing bubblegum is beneficial for the teeth. It is true that a bubblegum containing sugar is not the best for your teeth, but many question the impact of sugarless varieties on your oral health. Believe it or not, gum-chewing is an easy, affordable dental defense against cavities – with several advantages to your health and your pearly whites!

Helps Prevent Tooth Decay

Gum is an effective, fun, and affordable dental defense against decay. Chewing a sugarless kind can both clean the surfaces of your teeth and increase your flow of saliva. This increase in saliva is important because saliva in itself contains antibodies that fight cavities from growing in your mouth. In other words, gum-chewing activates your natural body systems against tooth decay, which means a healthier mouth and more affordable dental visits! An added benefit of gum-chewing is that it can lessen bad breath – your friends and family may thank you!

Backed By The Experts

Research has been performed in support of the fact that sugar-free gum can benefit your teeth! According to the American Dental Association, clinical studies prove that sugar-free gum-chewing for just 20 minutes after you eat can help fight cavities. The ADA supports gum-chewing – in fact, the association even places its seal of approval on certain affordable dental gums that it approves for better oral health.

Healthy Snack Substitute

This virtually calorie-free snack substitute can play a significant role in controlling your appetite and food cravings. According to the Biomedical Research Center, chewing sugar-free gum during your afternoon can significantly lower your unhealthy snack consumption! In fact, this research noted a 40 calorie decrease in overall snack intake and a 60 calorie decrease in the snacks consumed in the afternoon after a certain amount was chewed – even small calorie differences like these can have a long-term affect on your overall health and well being. Gum-chewing significantly lowered participant's hunger levels and their cravings for sweets in the study. Several other benefits were discovered – gum-chewers maintained energy levels throughout the afternoon and felt less drowsy.

Although gum-chewing should not replace your daily routine of brushing and flossing, it may be the next best affordable dental solution! Whether you are on the go or need a quick clean in between meals, sugar-free gum-chewing may be a step to stronger, healthier teeth when you do not have time to brush. It will clean your teeth while assisting in tooth decay prevention, and it will even get rid of that bad breath. You can use gum to control your unhealthy, less than affordable dental habits and sweet cravings – try it yourself and see the results!

For more affordable dental tips from Susan Braden, see this article.