Do you and your family members enjoy chewing gum? You’re not alone. Chewing gum is a $16.6 billion industry. Many people enjoy chewing gum for stress relief and just enjoying the taste of it, but it can be harmful to your teeth. If you and your family members enjoy gum, consider these reasons why you should make the switch to sugarless chewing gum.
Sugary Gums Can Be Very Bad for Your Dental Health
Although chewing gum itself can be good for your oral health, it can be detrimental to your teeth and dental gums. That’s because of one ingredient: sugar. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, harmful bacteria in your mouth can form an acid when they encounter sugars from the food and drinks you eat.
The resulting acid can attack the animal of your teeth and lead to tooth decay. That can result in your dentist finding out that you have multiple cavities when you go in for your biannual exam. If the tooth decay has been left untreated for too long, you may even need a root canal.
Reducing your sugar consumption is a very wise choice to protect your dental health. One easy, painless way to do that is switching from sugar-laden gum to gum that’s sweetened with artificial sweeteners. You can still enjoy a delicious, sweet taste without the worry.
Some Sugar-Free Gum Has the ADA Seal of Acceptance
The ADA Seal of Acceptance is given to items that have been evaluated for efficacy and safety by objective scientific experts. When you’re looking to protect your dental health, it’s wise to look for the seal on products. Only sugar-free gum can earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance. You won’t find it on any sugary gum options.
The American Dental Association reports that chewing sugar-free gum can increase the flow of saliva. Many people don’t realize that increased saliva can reduce plaque from building up on your teeth. That, in turn, can help prevent tooth decay and instead strengthen teeth. No wonder some sugar-free gums earn the ADA’s approval.
Sugar-Free Gum Supports Weight Loss Efforts
Sugary gum has empty calories, but sugar-free gum offers the benefits and pleasures of regular gum without the calories and carbs. Although chewing gum only burns about 11 extra calories per hour, every little bit can help when you are counting calories.
Children who crave something sweet but get too many calories from sugary snacks can often be satisfied with sugar-free chewing gum as a treat. Also, if you reach for sugarless, calorie-free gum when you just need to satisfy a desire to snack but don’t need the calories between meals, gum can also help you stay on track with your weight-loss goals.
Sugar-Free Gum Comes in Many Flavors
There’s been a decline in the production of sugary gum for years since people are increasingly aware of how bad sugar-laden snacks and gum are for dental health. As a result, more companies are turning to sugar free gum production to cater to the growing demand in healthier choices.
The primary gum choices you see at cash registers in major supermarkets are increasingly sugarless. Wrigley’s popular gums like Juicy Fruit and Big Red are now being sold as sugar-free gums. So you can get the same great taste and enjoy the brands you grew up with, but you don’t have to worry the effects of all that sugar you would otherwise be getting.
Finally, think twice before getting sugary gum for yourself or your kids. You may find that sugarless gum is a much more appealing choice. Talk to your dentist and doctor about what your healthiest choices are for snacks and treats. Contact Tippin Dental Group, to speak to our caring team and make your next appointment today.
Keeping your smile healthy well into the future starts with creating healthy at-home habits followed by regular visits to our Wichita Dentist twice a year. To learn more about your treatment options, call Tippin Dental Group to schedule your next cleaning and examination.
