Chewing gum to prevent caries
Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help to prevent tooth decay.
- The chewing of sugarless gum, increases the flow up salvia, which washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in mouth and provides disease fighting bacterium in the patient's mouth. The increased saliva flow with calcium and furthur phosphate helps to strengthen enamel.
- Types of sugar free chewing gums are sweet by sweeteners and do not cause dental caries like: xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, and aspartame. Although chewing gum with sugar, increase the flow of salvia, but its sugar is used by bacteria to produce decay acids.