Is sugar-free gum good for your teeth?
You may have heard that chewing gum is bad for your teeth, but what about sugar-free gum? Is this type of gum any better or is it best to steer clear of gum altogether? In this blog post, we answer these questions and more.
Does sugar-free gum clean your teeth?
Regular chewing gum can damage your teeth because it contains sugar. Frequent sugar consumption can lead to dental problems like tooth decay, cavities and gum disease. Sugar-free gum contains no sugar so is not associated with the same negative outcomes.
In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that chewing sugar-free gum could actually be good for your dental health.
Helps to remove interdental debris
A 2010 study indicated that chewing sugar-free gum, in addition to tooth brushing, significantly reduced interdental debris.[1]
However, the research cautions that the most reliable mode of plaque control is cleaning your teeth with a toothbrush and other oral hygiene aids. For example, interdental tools such as DenTek Eco Triple Clean Floss Picks supplement toothbrushing by removing plaque and food particles effectively with extra strong textured floss.
Reduces plaque
A more recent review and meta-analysis suggests that sugar-free gum – particularly ones that contain the ingredient xylitol – can reduce the quantity of plaque in comparison to ordinary chewing gum or no chewing gum.[2]
Promotes saliva production
Chewing sugar-free gum can also trigger an increase in saliva production. Saliva plays an important role in dental health. It can help to:
- Clear food particles from your teeth and keep the mouth relatively clean[3]
- Safeguard against tooth decay as it can rinse sugar away from your teeth[4]
- Neutralise acids, which are a key cause of dental erosion. Chewing sugar-free gum can help to replace tooth enamel minerals lost in acid attacks.[5]
In summary, research indicates that chewing xylitol sugar-gum can support a good dental hygiene routine. It does this by helping to remove food debris, reduce plaque and promote saliva production.
Can you chew sugar-free gum after brushing your teeth?
So when is the best time to chew sugar-free gum? Should you chew it straight after brushing?
The best dental hygiene routine involves:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes
- Using interdental aids like floss picks, or interdental brushes at least once a day.
A tongue scraper like the Orabrush Tongue Scraper, which is designed similarly to dentists’ tools to remove bacteria and residue on the tongue after toothbrushing, can also help to maintain a healthy mouth.
If you want to add chewing gum into your dental hygiene regime, it’s best to do this after eating.[1] Research shows that chewing for up to twenty minutes after eating can help to increase saliva flow, neutralising acids from food more quickly.[5]
Dental hygienist Emma Nelson from the Dental Referral Centre says, “Chewing gum is great for getting the mouth neutralised quicker.”
While using gum after toothbrushing is not thought to be harmful, it’s advisable to stick to chewing after you eat for best results. Chewing sugar-free gum can be particularly helpful after eating or drinking on the go, when toothbrushing isn’t feasible.
You’ll be pleased to know that sugar-free gum is designed to be flavourful without sugar. However, if you’re struggling with sugar cravings in general, you may find these tips on sugar-free swaps useful.
On an environmental note, you may have concerns about using chewing gum at all. After all, most chewing gum will take up to 25 years to decompose due to its plastic content.[5] However, nowadays there are a variety of eco-friendly options available if you want to use gum to support your dental hygiene routine. There are multiple sugar-free and plastic-free brands on the market that contain the tooth-friendly ingredient xylitol.
Finally, it’s important to note that while sugar-free gum is safe for most people, we do not recommend it for young children under the age of seven or people with braces and certain types of dentures.[6] You should ask your dentist for advice if you are unsure if sugar-free gum is suitable for you.
Resources:
[1] – Kakodkar, Pradnya, and Soniya Mulay. “Effect of sugar-free gum in addition to tooth brushing on dental plaque and interdental debris.” Dental research journal vol. 7,2 (2010): 64-9. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3177370/#sec1-3.
[2] – Nasseripour, Melanie et al. “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Sugar-Free Chewing Gum on Plaque Quantity in the Oral Cavity.” Frontiers in oral health vol. 3 845921. 30 Mar. 2022, doi:10.3389/froh.2022.845921. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9006880/.
[3] – Tiwari, Manjul. “Science behind human saliva.” Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine vol. 2,1 (2011): 53-8. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.82322. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3312700/
[5] – https://playitgreen.com/sustainable-gum-fresh-breath-green-planet/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-1
