Gum and teeth?!


Question: I have heard that if you are in a tight situation...(like a long flight with no toothbrush)...... that certain chewing gums are a good way to remove some amounts of plaque. what do you guys think??? ( i know it isn't the best but do you think it could work?????)


Answers: I have heard that if you are in a tight situation...(like a long flight with no toothbrush)...... that certain chewing gums are a good way to remove some amounts of plaque. what do you guys think??? ( i know it isn't the best but do you think it could work?????)

Yes, gums containing xylitol in the as the top 2-3 ingredients are good for teeth for a few reasons. The xylitol is better than other sugar substitutes. Xylitol cannot be used to produce acid by oral bacteria at all. Other sugar substitutes are obviously better than sugar, but can be used slightly with a lot of work to produce a very small amount of acid if lots of plaque is present. Xylitol also increases saliva flow which buffers any acids present in the mouth reducing cavities and demineralization of enamel. The chewing action of the gum can also rub away some plaque. If you can't brush, using this right after a meal or snack is a great alternative. Popular brands are Trident with xylitol.

i don't know, i've never heard of a gum that *actually* does anything more than freshen your breath.

when i'm out without a toothbrush, i fold up a paper towel or a napkin and rub it on my teeth - works like a charm! it gets all the gunk off your teeth, but doesn't taste too pleasant. use the gum after to freshen up.

I think those brush ups work better. Gum really just moves the plaque around.

Some gums have an ingredient called Xilitol. It's an alcolhol based sugar that has been proven to help prevent tooth decay by inactivating the bacteria that cause tooth decay. This should be the first or second ingredient in the gum for it to be affective. I believe the gum Koolerz has it in it. Also any trident whitening gum has ReCaldent in it. This is a chemical that helps remineralize soft spots on teeth.
These are not substitutes for brushing, they are just additive to brushing and flossing.





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