Is Chewing Gum Good or Bad For Your Teeth? Explained By a Dentist

Gums recommended in the video:
AMAZON AUSTRALIA
CCP-ACP: https://amzn.to/3c3Ylsd
Xylitol: https://amzn.to/3C8U1m8
EBAY AUS
CCP-ACP: https://ebay.us/V7en8p
Xylitol: https://ebay.us/6Q1mkY
AMAZON USA
CCP-ACP: https://amzn.to/3JYL0yb
Xylitol: https://amzn.to/3STAMTv
EBAY USA
CCP-ACP: https://ebay.us/WJlL7k
Xylitol: https://ebay.us/V26j6x

Is chewing gum good or bad for your teeth? This is a question that I was asked recently by someone in the comments, and it’s a great question. There are a few potential good things, but there are also a few potential bad things. I will explain them all, so you will know exactly what to look out for.
Chewing gum after meals is good for your teeth. Why? After eating. you have leftover food stuck to your teeth or in between your teeth, this food gets broken down by bacteria and is turned into acid, which causes tooth decay. Chewing gum stimulates saliva which helps to clean the teeth and remove food particles, and the saliva also helps to reduce the acid that the bacteria produce.
Where you can go wrong however, is if you chew sugar based gums. The reason is that the sugar in the gum, provides a source of food for the bacteria which we know produce acid, which can cause tooth decay. So the caveat is that the chewing gum has to be sugar free. Also, steer clear of citrus flavours, because they are slightly acidic, which we know is bad for teeth.
On top of this, some chewing gums go even further to benefit your teeth. Some chewing gums contain a molecule called xylitol, which is a sugar substitute, and is effective in inhibiting the growth of one the main bacteria that causes tooth decay! Over time, the gum can actually change the types of bacteria present in the mouth, which in turn also reduces the risk of tooth decay. This is a great thing for people wanting to take an extra cautionary measure. Here are some examples, which I will link below.
As well, some chewing gums actually strengthen the teeth, and can reverse the decay process! These are ones that contain a chemical called casein phosphopeptide--amorphous calcium phosphate, or CPP-ACP. Basically, CPP-ACP contains high levels of the building blocks of teeth, which are calcium and phosphate, and they embed themselves into the tooth and can remineralise teeth and strengthen the other outer layer. If a tooth has an early decay lesion, this decay process can be stopped completely. These gums are more expensive, but can be very useful for patients that have had lots of cavities in the past, or have been told that they have some areas that may require fillings in future. Here is an example of one, which I will link below.
Apart from avoiding sugar and citrus containing gums, are there any other negatives that should be mentioned? Yes. The human jaw joint is a complex and delicate joint, and is not designed to be chewing for hours throughout the day. With overuse, it can lead to wear and tear on the joint, and possible jaw problems. It’s impossible for me to give a time on how much chewing is too much, because everyone is different, but I will say that if you already have jaw problems, or start chewing gum and it feels like your jaw is becoming sore, maybe chewing gum isn’t the best for you. I would say, to be safe, 5mins after meals of light chewing should keep you on the safe side, while still getting the benefits.
As a closing statement, some people question the sugar alcohols in sugar free gums, and whether they can cause decay, but in general, the main ones used like sorbitol and mannitol are not broken down by the bacteria in our mouths, and therefore don’t cause tooth decay.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:16 Saliva/acid removal
0:45 Sugar is bad
1:02 Citrus is bad
1:15 Xylitol is good
1:45 CCP-ACP is good
2:26 Jaw problems?
3:09 Sugar alcohols good or bad?
3:24 Outro