Does Chewing Gum After Meals Help Clean Teeth?

According the the American Dental Association (ADA), chewing sugarless gum helps to protect and strengthen teeth. The act of gum chewing stimulates the production of saliva which acts as a neutralizer. Saliva neutralizes the acids that are produced when food is broken down by bacteria in our mouths and washes them away.

Preventing Tooth Decay

• ADA studies suggest that chewing sugarless gum for at least 20 minutes after a meal can help prevent tooth decay. Gum chewing, however, is not a substitute for teeth brushing or flossing. The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and flossing or using a proxy brush once daily.

Strengthening Enamel

• The increased saliva production associated with gum chewing also brings additional calcium and phosphate into the mouth. These two minerals help strengthen tooth enamel.

Health Care Savings

• A University of York Health Economics Consortium studied the economic impact of chewing sugarless gum on the entire population of Britain. It concluded that the preventative benefits of gum chewing could save the country more than 100 million pounds each year on dental health care, according to the International Chewing Gum Association.