Periodontal Associates of Jackson

Not All Chewing Gum is Bad For Your Oral Health

Sep 18, 2017 @ 12:14 PM — by Roger B. Parkes, DMD
Tagged with: Gum Health Gum Disease Oral Health Periodontist Jackson Jackson Periodontist

You’ve probably heard a time or two that bubble gum is no good for your dental health. While this is true, it is not the case for all kinds of gum. In fact, there are some kinds of sugar-free chewing gum that are actually quite advantageous for your oral health. 

While it is true that bubble gum packed with sugar is one of the worst things for your mouth, not all gum is packed with sugar. And, if you can find a brand with the right ingredients, gum can actually provide your mouth with some much-needed benefits. When searching for chewing gum, always look for two ingredients: xylitol or sorbitol.

Why can chewing gum be beneficial to your oral health?

There are a couple of reasons why chewing gum can actually promote good dental health. First, are the ingredients sorbitol and xylitol. Both sorbitol and xylitol are sugar substitutes found in sugar-free gum. However, while sugar substitutes, these particular sweeteners actually act more like anti-sugars and help to prevent cavities and tooth decay from developing. 

Next, is the fact that chewing gum stimulates your salivary glands. As you may know, saliva is our bodies best natural defense against tooth decay and cavities. Saliva helps to balance out the acids in our mouths and keep them from causing oral health problems. 

If you let cavities develop, not only will your teeth be affected, but so will your gums. Keeping your teeth and gums in good condition is a joint effort. You cannot only be concerned about your gums, and you cannot only be concerned about your teeth, you must be concerned with both. 

Concerned about the condition of your oral health?

If you are in the Jackson, MS area and concerned about the conditions of your gums, we welcome you to contact us today.