Every day, from TV screens, from the pages of magazines and newspapers, we are told how useful chewing gum is for teeth and gums. To what extent can these words be trusted? Let’s try to figure it out.
Chewing gum is a means of additional oral hygiene. By using it after each meal, you will significantly reduce the likelihood of caries: chewing gum will remove food debris from the spaces between the teeth, increase salivation. However, remember: it will never replace much more effective toothbrushes and flosses (dental floss). In addition, chewing gum helps to increase salivation and secretion of gastric juice, so if you use it very often, you will not have digestive problems for long. The time of using chewing gum should not exceed 15-20 minutes.
In other words, chewing gum is an opportunity to clean your teeth after eating, if no other dentifrice can be used at the moment.
Please note: All of the above applies to sugar-free chewing gum. Frequent use of chewing gum, which contains sugar, can cause tooth decay.
Well, if chewing gum contains fluorine and xylitol, these components effectively prevent the formation of plaque and caries. It is also good if chewing gum contains aluminum lactate. It reduces bleeding gums and reduces inflammation.
The undoubted advantage of chewing gum is that it helps to partially eliminate bad breath caused by the breakdown of food debris that has lingered on the teeth.
But what about the snow-white teeth that chewing gum advertising promises us? It may upset you, but chewing gum is not able to remove plaque, which means it cannot make teeth whiter. Yes, there is chewing gum with granules, which partially removes plaque, but its effect is insignificant and you will not be able to achieve a snow-white smile in this way.
Undoubtedly, chewing gum is an excellent additional tool for oral hygiene, but it is worth remembering that its frequent use can significantly harm your health. In addition, chewing gum will never replace brushing your teeth with a toothbrush.