Yes, sugar-free chewing gum is good for your teeth because it boosts saliva, which neutralizes acids, washes away food, and helps remineralize enamel, reducing cavity risk, especially when chewed after meals; however, sugary gum is bad, and gum is a supplement, not a replacement for brushing and flossing. Look for gum with xylitol or CPP-ACP for added benefits like inhibiting bacteria and repairing early decay.
Constant gum chewing puts excessive force on your temporomandibular joints, muscles and teeth, which leads to overstress, imbalance and misalignment. This can cause: Clicking or popping in one or both temporomandibular joints.
The simple answer is that it depends on what type of gum you are chewing. If you are chewing Extra's sugar-free peppermint or spearmint gum for example, then yes, it's good for your teeth.
Keep your mouth moist, which helps prevent bad breath. This is why many dentists recommend sugar-free gum as a quick, convenient way to support oral health—especially when you're on the go.
Recent evidence has indicated that chewing gum can enhance attention, as well as promoting well-being and work performance.
Dentists warn against chewing gum due to risks of jaw problems (TMJ disorders) from overuse, potential tooth decay from sugary gums, and gum getting stuck in braces, though sugar-free gum can actually help by boosting saliva to neutralize acids, but it's not a replacement for brushing and flossing. They often recommend sugar-free gum with xylitol and advise limiting chewing to avoid jaw strain and only using it as a supplement to, not a substitute for, regular oral hygiene.
Yes. Teeth can get stronger through a process called remineralization, where minerals like calcium and phosphate rebuild weak enamel. Good habits, fluoride, and healthy foods help this happen.
Most gums contain xylitol, a sugar alcohol that has been shown to reduce cavities. Xylitol works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria responsible for cavities. In addition, chewing gum increases saliva flow. Saliva is nature's way of washing away cavity-causing bacteria and neutralizing acids.
Fifteen minutes is the maximum time you should chew your gum. Any time over that could result in jaw muscle exhaustion.
Trident Sugar-Free Gum – One of the most widely available ADA-approved gums, Trident helps reduce the risk of cavities when chewed for 20 minutes after eating. Orbit Sugar-Free Gum – Another ADA favorite, Orbit offers lots of flavors while supporting healthy saliva flow and acid neutralization.
Teeth whitening chewing gum can help reduce surface stains and promote a brighter smile. It's effective for minor extrinsic stains but doesn't replace professional treatments for deeper discoloration.
Chewing gum excessively can strain your jaw muscles and joints, potentially causing or exacerbating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Symptoms include jaw pain, headaches, and clicking noises. While gum can be a handy tool for oral health, it doesn't replace brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
Chewing gum will cause you to work the muscles of the jaw while also offering some level of resistance. This repetitive resistance will help the muscles to grow stronger. Like any other type of exercise, you can overdo it.
Sugar-free gum helps to clean teeth
Both the act of chewing and the flavor of the artificial sweeteners in the gum stimulate saliva flow. Not only does the increased saliva flow neutralize the acids in your mouth, it also washes away food particles, helping to keep your teeth clean.
Chewing gum can be an inexpensive and effective way to help relieve anxiety and boost attention. Results across eight research trials that included more than 400 adults found chewing gum more often, compared to never chewing gum, resulted in a significant reduction in anxiety.
To balance the oral health benefits with the potential jaw issues, Arsenault recommended chewing gum for only short periods of time after eating — say, for 15 to 20 minutes. If you have a TMJ injury or disorder, however, you may want to avoid chewing gum completely, he added.
Commonly, individuals may resort to chewing on items like pens, pencils, or gum to obtain sensory input or alleviate anxiety.
Exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes are some recommended ways to define jawlines, but it will take several months before you can begin to shed submental fat. Some methods will help you get a more defined jawline much faster.
Although chewing gum is designed to be chewed and not swallowed, it generally isn't harmful if swallowed. Folklore suggests that swallowed gum sits in your stomach for seven years before it can be digested. But this isn't true. It is true that your body can't digest chewing gum.
Oral health professionals often recommend patients use saltwater when a wound or infection is present in the mouth. Saltwater can even destroy bacteria that leads to the formation of cavities. Swish with salt water as soon as you find out you have a cavity and it just might slow its expansion.
Chewing hard or sticky foods
Sticky foods, such as caramel and chewing gum, can pull at the filling and potentially dislodge it.
Stimulating Saliva Production
One of the most immediate benefits of chewing gum is its ability to stimulate saliva production. You may not think much about saliva, but it's actually your mouth's first line of defense against tooth decay.
The "333 dental rule" refers to two different concepts: a hygiene guideline (brush 3 times a day for 3 minutes, replace brush every 3 months) and a temporary toothache relief method (take 3 ibuprofen tablets, 3 times a day, for 3 days). The hygiene rule promotes better habits, while the pain management rule helps control inflammation and pain before a dental visit, but requires caution as it's not a cure.
Around 72% of Gen Z report that they compare their smiles to others on social media with 45% saying social media harms their confidence in their smile. The same source of these insecurities is often looked to for solutions.
Sensitive teeth can occur in the earliest stages of damage to tooth enamel, manifesting as a small twinge of pain when eating sweets or hot or cold food. In later stages, tooth sensitivity becomes more aggressive and causes severe pain. Discoloration of the teeth begins when the semi-translucent layer of enamel erodes.