Doctors recommend that the time spent chewing gum should not exceed 15 minutes, and people with stomach problems should avoid chewing it excessively.
Chewing gum frequently can increase saliva secretion, thereby better cleaning the mouth and teeth. However, medical experts do not advocate promoting chewing gum as a fashion, especially as excessive and prolonged gum chewing can have adverse effects on health.
First, most chewing gums use sucrose as a sweetener. When chewing gum, sugar remains in the mouth for a long time, allowing cariogenic bacteria in the mouth to use sucrose to produce acidic substances that corrode teeth.
Second, people who have had their teeth filled with mercury-containing materials should avoid chewing gum. Studies have found that frequent gum chewing can damage the materials used in dental fillings. Doctors recommend that the time spent chewing gum should not exceed 15 minutes, and people with stomach problems should avoid chewing it excessively.
In addition, chewing gum for too long keeps the chewing muscles in a constant state of tension, which may lead to the habit of grinding teeth at night. Furthermore, if teenagers chew gum during their developmental period, it may over-exercise the masseter muscles, stimulating the development of the muscles and bones at the jaw angle, ultimately resulting in a "square-shaped" face, affecting a woman's facial features. Therefore, each session of chewing gum should be controlled to within a quarter of an hour. Try to choose which type of gum
Nevertheless, the benefits of chewing gum cannot be entirely dismissed, but a selective approach is necessary. Cariogenic bacteria in the mouth can use sucrose to produce acidic substances, which in turn corrode teeth. Xylitol cannot be utilized by cariogenic bacteria and does not provide the nutrients for bacteria to survive. At the same time, xylitol is also helpful for early-stage cavities, as it can aid in natural repair, thus preventing cavities from occurring. The higher the xylitol content in gum, the better the anti-cavity effect. Persisting in chewing gum with xylitol content accounting for over 50% of the sweeteners can reduce the incidence of cavities by 85%. Choose to chew sugar-free or xylitol gum after meals and snacks
After consuming sugary foods and drinks, the acidity of dental plaque in the mouth increases. At this time, chewing sugar-free or xylitol gum can stimulate saliva secretion, neutralize acidic substances, and help with tooth remineralization.