Is Chewing Gum Good for Dental Health?

Stimulates Saliva

When you chew gum, your mouth produces saliva. Saliva is not just “spit”—it’s actually an important part of your dental health. Saliva helps wash away food particles and acids that might otherwise remain in your mouth, causing cavities and decay.

Strengthens Jaw

Chewing gum helps strengthen your jaw muscles, just like squeezing a stress ball helps strengthen your hand and arm muscles. We don’t think about our jaw muscles very often, but it’s important to keep them limber and in good shape to prevent jaw injuries. The stronger your jaw is, the less likely you are to suffer major problems.

Sugarless? Sweet!

It’s important to make sure the gum you chew is sugarless, so you don’t put any extra sugar in your mouth. Gum with sugar puts your teeth at risk by coating them with a thin film of sugar, which will stay on your teeth until the next time you brush them. Make sure the type of gum you chew has an American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, because those are the ones that dentists have given a green light to.

It turns out that on the whole, yes, chewing gum is good for dental health, as long as you’re choosing brands that are free of sugar. While chewing gum can be good for you, it should never replace brushing and flossing as a way to clean your teeth and you might want to avoid chewing gum if you have braces or if you’ve recently had dental work done.

If you have more questions about your dental health, feel free to contact the Peak Dentistry team. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and schedule you an appointment if you need one.