Have you ever heard that chewing your gum is bad for your teeth? There may be some truth in this. However, chewing gum can also lead to a number of dental benefits. You see, chewing gum can be detrimental or beneficial—depending on the type of gum you chew.

Many people assume that chewing gum is bad for your smile because of the sugar that your teeth could be exposed to. And this is true. So if you choose to chew gum, please use sugar free gum. There are real benefits to chewing gum you should consider. For example, the chewing motion can stimulate saliva production, which creates a healthy environment where good bacteria can thrive.

When you choose your gum, you may want to consider finding one with xylitol instead of one flavored with artificial sweeteners. Much like saliva does, xylitol could actually create an environment where your good bacteria can thrive. Furthermore, xylitol can actually stop bad bacteria from bonding to your teeth.

Still, please note that some argue that chewing gum could actually train your muscles to clench your teeth. In other words, if you chew gum often, you could increase your chances of bruxism or TMJ disorder.

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of chewing gum? Are you hoping to set up an appointment with us? Do you have any other questions? If you do, please contact Stanley Hometown Dentistry LLC by calling us at 715-644-3601. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and to examine the health of your smile. We’re excited to hear from you soon!