Keep Chewing That Gum

The chewing of gum is said to be the world’s most common habit, and while most of us are familiar with the negative aspects of it (when we find it on chairs, stuck under desks, etc.), not many know of the great benefits of chewing gum. Did you know that chewing gum is even encouraged by dentists?

The benefits arise from the fact that tooth decay occurs when essential minerals are dissolved from the tooth enamel by acids produced by bacteria in plaque. Teeth are at their most vulnerable directly after meals and snacks, when plaque acid levels can rise dramatically.

Normally, it can take up to two hours for these acids to be either flushed away or neutralized, during which time the teeth are under attack.

However, chewing gum removes these acids within minutes, thus slowing down the process of tooth decay. One reason for this is that chewing can stimulate salivadefine production by up to ten folds, thus flushing out oral bacteria.

Furthermore, saliva contains hydrogen carbonate ions, a mild alkali, which serves to neutralize plaque acids. For this reason, hydrogen carbonate forms an ingredient in tooth pastes.

Saliva also contains minerals such as calcium, phosphate and fluoride – all components of tooth enamel - which can be assimilated and thus help to repair early decay and also strengthen tooth enamel.

Also, amylase, an enzyme present in saliva, speeds up the digestion of carbohydrates in food.