Chewing Gum And Your Teeth
When it comes to taking care of your teeth you will learn about a lot of things that are bad for your teeth and a lot of things that are good for your teeth. Sometimes, something will come along that can be both. For example, gum can be your mouth's worst nightmare or its saving grace. You can learn all about gum and your dental health by reading the information here.
Chewing gum with braces – If you have braces on your teeth, then you don't want to chew gum at all. In fact, you should steer clear of all foods that are sticky. Otherwise, they can get stuck in the brackets and wires of your braces.
When the gum us stuck in the braces it will cause everything else you eat and drink to also get stuck there, where it will cause bacteria and plaque growth, increasing the chances of cavities and stains.
Chewing gum with dentures – If you have dentures, then you will also want to stay away from gum and other very sticky foods. Each time you chew on the gum, it will pull on the dentures which can cause them to move. After a while, this can cause permanent damage to the fit of the dentures and cause them to need refitting.
Chewing gum with sugar – Chewing gum with sugar is not good for your dental health because every chew will cause the sugars to be transferred to your teeth. Sugar is one of the most common causes of cavities, along with dental neglect and other bad foods like sodas.
Chewing sugar-free gum – Provided you don't wear braces, have dentures, or have anything else going on with your teeth that requires extra care, you can feel free to chew as much sugar-free gum as you want. The sugar-free gum will actually help you to keep your teeth clean and healthy for a number of different reasons.
One of the things that the gum will do is it will pull food particles and other debris off of the surfaces of your teeth, cutting down on plaque development. Also, when the gum pulls off these particles, it will help you to maintain white teeth longer. Another way chewing sugar-free gum will help is it will increase your saliva production. Saliva helps to break down food particles and flush down bacteria. Sugar-free gum will even help you to maintain better smelling breath. Talk with a dentist for more information.
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