What Does The Dentist Think About Chewing Gum?

If you are one of the millions of patients who love to chew gum, you may wonder if your dentist would approve. You know that the medical and dental worlds frown on excessive sweets and soda pop, but what about Bazooka Bubble Gum, Doublemint, or one of your own personal favorites? The oral healthcare practitioners of the world want the best for their patients. That's why they went into the profession of dentistry in the first place. Here's what they have to say about some of the guilty pleasures that their patients so enjoy.

Chewing gum: This tasty treat has been around for eons. In fact, ancient civilizations such as the Mayans and early Greeks chewed some natural forms of the substance. The mastic tree was one source, while sap from a sapodilla tree was another. Our forefathers and mothers were taught how to chew sap from spruce evergreens by the Native Americans who they enjoyed turkey dinners with. Today's concoction is a combination of man-made products such as waxes, artificial flavorings and resins. Believe it or not, there are certain packages of gum that dentists feel are actually good for their patients' pearly whites. The trick is to look for the ADA seal of approval to find a healthy version. As long as it doesn't contain sugar, it can be a way to stimulate saliva production and clean the teeth. While it's no substitute for brushing and flossing, it can help in a pinch.

Excessive sweets: "Everything in moderation" is the name of the game. Most human beings love the tastes of desserts such as ice cream, candy, cookies and cake. If humans were forbidden to touch any of these delicious items, they'd probably sneak around and eat them anyway. There's no reason to be so strict about desserts. Instead a "moderation" philosophy should be adopted. Brushing and flossing immediately after enjoying these treats will be the best bet. Some items, such as jawbreakers, are broken teeth waiting to happen. Avoid those. Some candies like stale tootsie rolls and caramel are also detrimental to teeth and can crack or pull out existing fillings. Choose sweet treats wisely and stick to small amounts followed by tooth brushing.

Soda pop: Some people are in love with their soda pop of choice. Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper - just the sight of these beverages can make a grown person salivate and not in a good way. People that are hooked on these sugary drinks might want to sip through a straw in order to save their enamel from constant streams of sugary liquids. Some people choose diet sodas to keep sugar to a minimum but the chemical sweeteners in those can be detrimental to health, too.

A dentist isn't a warden. He or she wants patients to have the healthiest smiles possible and still enjoy life. If patients remember to enjoy their guilty pleasures such as desserts and soda pop in moderation followed by tooth brushing, they will be better off. If they are chewing gum aficionados, looking for the ADA seal of approval will be a wise move.