This post from Flawless Smile Dentistry in Broken Arrow and Claremore OK is for all gum-chewers. We’re going to talk about that sticky treat you love so much! You know that it can freshen your breath, but can it really help guard your smile from tooth decay?
It really depends on the type of gum. Chewing regular sucrose-based gum can be helpful in removing bits of food from the surface of teeth, but that benefit is negated by the stream of sugar washing over your teeth as you chew.
However, gum with some alternative sweeteners has an added benefit for your pearly whites. Xylitol is a sweetener which not only has fewer calories than traditional sugars, but it also has antimicrobial properties that lessen plaque build-up. This means that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes decay.
So if you’re headed out to a restaurant, bring a pack of sugar-free gum with you and pop it in your mouth when your meal is done. Of course, brushing and flossing are the ideal practices for your oral health, but when you can’t brush, select a sugarless gum with xylitol.
At Flawless Smile Dentistry in Broken Arrow and Claremore OK we offer complete general and family dentistry. Patients from Foyil, Chouteau, Coweta, Owasso, and Tulsa also come to our office for restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
Contact Flawless Smile Dentistry:
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
Broken Arrow:
2319 North 9th Street
Broken Arrow,OK 74012
918-957-7777
Claremore:
1502 W Blue Starr Dr
Claremore, OK 74017
918-342-4444
