Does Chewing Gum Promote Good Dental Hygiene?
Does chewing gum promote good dental hygiene?
The answer is yes, if you first read the ingredients and choose a chewing gums which contains xylitol.
Many studies have shown the benefit of chewing gum sweetened with Xylitol is good for oral health and oral hygiene. Xylitol is a polyol or sugar alcohol that makes an excellent sweetener, as it has many of the same properties as table sugar (sucrose). However, xylitol gum has some added benefits.
Not only does it have fewer calories and less effect on blood sugar than sucrose, but xylitol gum has the added benefit of inhibiting the creation of acid in the mouth. This minimizes the damage done to your teeth, as well as allowing your teeth to heal at a faster rate. Xylitol has a low glycemic index of 7, compared to sugar's level of 83.
Chewing gums with xylitol content in it can clean the tiny bacteria that remain on teeth after brushing. It is recommended to chew xylitol gum after meals and snacks. Trident is an example of commonly found chewing gums with xylitol.
Since we can’t be brushing teeth all the time, consider chewing gum as a quick replacement and save your trips to the dentist for preventative maintenance, not problems.
If you need to find a dentist or want to learn more about teeth cleaning cost please contact the office of Dr. Gary Adams DDS & Associates.
We are conveniently located in Rockville, MD.
