Chewing Gum

Should you chew gum or not?

Chewing gum is an interesting topic and presents somewhat of a dichotomy. Overall, unless you have to chew gum to help with a condition you may have, we at our Seattle Dentist Eastside Bellevue Dentist office suggest you probably should not chew gum. It can be very harmful for the jaw and teeth because it creates unnecessary and excessive wear on the teeth and jaw joints. Also, gum typically has some type of sweetener.

Brands of gum containing sugar can be harmful to your teeth if these types of gum are chewed too often or are removed from the mouth too soon. Eating too much sugar can lead to tooth decay. Therefore, chewing gums with sugar in them can lead to tooth decay as well.

When Gum Chewing Could be Helpful

That being said, chewing gum can also help be beneficial in some cases. For example, if you suffer from xerostomia, or dry mouth. The odor from dry mouth is a result of bacteria building up in your mouth because of a lack of saliva and oxygen. Gum helps remedy this because it generates increased levels of saliva.

Furthermore, saliva is a natural buffering agent which washes the teeth and neutralizes some of the acid produced by bacteria. It is the acid which erodes enamel and eventually causes cavities. If you have dry mouth, consider chewing gum to help alleviate your condition.

Chew Sugar-free Gum

If you choose to chew gum, consider brands that use Xylitol as a sweetener rather than sugar. Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables. It tastes and looks like sugar but without the negative side effects. This ingredient may help prevent cavities. Exactly how it works is unknown, but it appears to help prevent bacterial growth, including growth of Streptococcus mutans, the main bacteria that is responsible for dental decay.

Gum that contains high levels of xylitol helps fight cavities and dental decay by creating an unwelcome environment for bacteria. Xylitol is one of bacteria's natural enemies. In a xylitol-rich environment, bacteria seem to lose their ability to stick to teeth and are therefore less able to colonize and turn into plaque. If you chew gum, stick to gums that use xylitol as a sweetener.

Certain flavors of gum are better to chew than others. If you have dry mouth, citrus flavored gums seem to be the most effective in producing extra saliva.

CAUTION: Cinnamon flavored gum should be avoided. The cinnamon oil in cinnamon-flavored gums burns the tissues in the mouth and can lead to irritation and tissue damage.

Gum chewing is an individual choice. If you chew gum, consider chewing sugarless gum. It is a good idea to brush your teeth, or at least rinse your mouth with water after chewing gum. If you have a history of tooth decay, gum containing Xylitol may have some benefit for you. If you notice tired jaw muscles, jaw joint pain, or headaches from chewing gum, you may consider chewing gum less often, or stop chewing gum altogether.

Contact Us

We are specialists in jaw-related headaches and oral pain. If you are experiencing any jaw-related headaches or oral pain, please contact us at (425) 454-2005 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you.