An Easy Way to Help Prevent Cavities

Want an easy way to help prevent cavities? How about chewing sugar-free gum? Studies show that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can decrease cavities.

How is that? The number one cause of cavities is dental plaque, which is actually a colony of bacteria that sticks to our teeth. That bacteria takes the sugar in the food we eat and turn it into acid. Over time, the acid eats away at our teeth, and, voila, we get a cavity. When we brush teeth, the most important thing we are doing is disturbing and removing the plaque. While the best thing to do after a meal is to brush, chewing sugarless gum will stimulate saliva flow, washing away food and debris and will counteract the acid that plaque creates.

Also, for people will dry mouth (who tend to be at higher risk of cavities), chewing sugarless gum will increase saliva flow, which will not only decrease cavity risk but may also make the mouth more comfortable.

If you want more information about how chewing sugarless gum helps, go to mouthhealthy.org