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For a long time, chewing gum has been considered a healthy replacement for bad oral habits like smoking or nail biting. Chewing gum has been shown to enhance the taste of food and beverages by boosting salivary flow and activating taste receptors in the mouth.
In fact, in Lincoln, NE, where health-conscious trends often take root, chewing gum has become a popular choice for those looking to maintain good oral hygiene. Visit a dental clinic Lincoln, NE, for your dental checkup.
How detrimental is chewing gum to your oral health?
Regular gum chewing can be detrimental to your oral health, even though a regular stick of gum will probably not hurt you. Chewing gum can have several negative impacts on dental health, some of which include:
- Cavities
When chewing gum, a lot of individuals ignore the ingredient list. Certain gum types available in the market may be harmful to teeth because they include excessive amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
- TMJ Disorders
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the location where the jawbone joins the skull. A TMJ problem that results in joint pain or stiffness can arise from imbalance or fatigue in the muscles that control this joint.
- Headaches
Regular chewing of gum can give rise to other medical problems like chronic headaches. When the muscles in the jaw are exhausted, headaches may develop. This problem is common in people who use chewing gum as a way to relax.
Positive effects of chewing gum
Apart from the adverse effects of chewing gum on our dental health, there are some positive effects, too, which are mentioned below.
- Improving Your Teeth’s Health
The main way that sugar-free gum might help your teeth is by increasing the production of saliva. Your mouth produces more saliva the more you chew. Because saliva helps clean out food particles from between your teeth, it is beneficial for your dental health. Furthermore, saliva flow helps in neutralizing the acids produced through dental plaque buildup.
- Get Rid of Dry Mouth and Bad Breath
Harmful breath-causing microorganisms are promoted by dry mouth. Chewing gum can reduce bad breath by encouraging salivation, avoiding dry mouth, and hiding any residual odor with delicious flavors. Bacteria responsible for bad breath are reduced by increased saliva.
How to Chew Gum Safely for Healthy Dental Health
If you do sometimes enjoy chewing gum, make sure you select the proper variety. Choose a variety of sugarless gum that includes the ADA seal of approval printed on its packaging. When buying sugar-free gum, the ingredient you want to look for is xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that has a similar taste to sugar but contains fewer calories.
