Caring for your teeth is an everyday situation that becomes more and more important as you get older. A large part of caring for your teeth is making sure that your diet is healthy. While chewing gum is not necessarily something that you eat, it is something that you use in your mouth. A question that many people ask is whether chewing gum is good for your teeth. Continue reading to learn more about whether chewing gum is good or bad for your teeth and overall health.
Benefits Of Chewing Gum
Depending on the type of gum that you decide to chew, there can be some major benefits that you receive. Chewing sugarless gum after eating a meal can help decrease tooth decay. The reason behind this is that food can get stuck in your teeth after eating a meal, so chewing gum after a meal for a few minutes can help get the food out of your teeth.
Decrease Bad Breath
Another benefit of chewing gum is that it can better your breath. Sometimes bad breath can follow you around throughout the day. By chewing gum for a little while after eating meals, you can freshen up your breath and feel more confident.
Increase Saliva
A common oral health issue that people can experience in the winter is dry mouth. Dry mouth is a result of being dehydrated. Chewing gum can help create extra saliva which can be helpful in keeping your mouth moist and hydrated.
Drawbacks Of Chewing Gum
If you choose to chew gum, it is important to choose a sugar-free option. Gums with high levels of sugar can be detrimental to your oral health. Too much sugar in general can be bad for your overall health, but it can be especially bad for your teeth as it can cause cavities and potential tooth decay.
TMJ Disorder
Another time when chewing gum would not be the best for your oral health would be if you have TMJ disorder. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is basically when you have pain in your jaw. Chewing gum with TMJ can cause extreme problems and potentially cause your jaw pain/symptoms to get much worse.
Braces
Lastly, if you wear braces, chewing gum is not recommended. Braces are important because they can improve the straightness of your smile. However, if you chew gum while you have braces, then the gum could get stuck in your braces and potentially cause tooth decay. Steer clear of all gums (including sugar-free gums) when you have braces.
Do You Need Dental Services?
If you are looking for dental services that will help improve the appearance of your teeth, look no further than us at Hendersonville Family Dental. We offer comprehensive oral health services that allow our clients to receive quality care, no matter what dental issue they may be dealing with. We have cosmetic dental services, restorative dental services, and many more services that aim to improve your teeth. Our team is talented, experienced, and passionate about helping our clients receive the best possible results. If you have any questions about our services or would like to schedule any dental services, feel free to reach out to us today.