Can chewing gum be good for your oral health

In the past dentists have frowned upon the habit of chewing gum since most contain sugar which increases the chances of developing tooth decay. However, recent research studies have indicated that chewing gum or mints containing the sweetener, xylitol, can actually decrease one’s chances of developing tooth decay!

Discovered in 1891 by a German chemist, xylitol has been used as a sweetener in foods since the 1960s. Xylitol occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables and is even produced by the human body during normal metabolism. It has the same sweetness, bulk and caloric value as sucrose without its decay-producing side effect. Xylitol is approved as a direct food additive for use in foods for special dietary needs.

When we chew,this makes the mouth produce saliva.This does a few things.Saliva helps to clean the teeth and remove debris from food. Saliva also helps the remineralization process that is so important for the teeth. This helps to replace the minerals that are lost in the tooth. As long as this is done quiker than they are lost then tooth decay will not occur. Chewing gum makes the act of chewing constant. This way even more saliva is produced than through normal eating making the cleaning and remineralization process even more effective.

The act of chewing itself actually helps to remove plaque from teeth and gums. This is highly useful in a variety of ways. It hels to reduce the staining that plaque can bring. It will help in keeping the amount of bacteria in the mouth low. It will prevent plaque from staining, turning into tartar or calculus deposits. Finally it will also help prevent gum diseases such as ginivitis.

There is evidence to support that chewing gum reduced the urge to smoke. Smokers who chew gum find it easier to cut down and eventually quit. Smoking is highly damaging to the teeth and mouth.

To achieve the best possible results one should chew gum after eating meals. This is the time at which your teeth are most vulnerable. The extra saliva flow will help to remove any remaining food particles that remain behind. It is also important to remember that chewing gum is not in any way a replacement for brushing and flossing. These two things still need to be practiced regularly. Gum will only help aid the process of cleaning not take it over entirely.

Choosing the right toothpaste

Going down the toothpaste aisle and choosing a suitable toothpaste can be a difficult task in today's marketplace. Most experts would agree that as long as your toothpaste contains fluoride, the brand you buy really doesn't matter. All toothpastes with fluoride work effectively to fight plaque and cavities. Of course, they also clean and polish tooth enamel.





If you have sensitive teeth, a desensitizing toothpaste should be used because the key ingredient, stronium chloride or potassium nitrate, protects the tubules in the teeth that are connected to the nerves.





In tartar-control toothpaste, the key ingredient is sodium pyrophosphate. This type of toothpaste will not remove tarter. It will only keep it from forming above the gum line. Prolonged use of this type of toothpaste may cause sensitivity in some people.








In baking soda toothpastes, the key ingredient is baking soda. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and may cause gum irritation after prolonged use. The only benefit to this type of toothpaste is that it leaves you with a fresh feeling in your mouth which can be an incentive to brush longer.





Whitening toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that lighten teeth. These ingredients may cause gum irritation and sensitivity to teeth. They are also not as effective as the bleaching kits found in your dentist's office.





In an antimicrobial toothpaste the key ingredient is triclosan, an antibacterial agent. This type of toothpaste is supposed to remove bacteria that can cause gum disease but it will not remove existing tartar.

Products For Sensitive Teeth

WHY TEETH HURT?

Sensitive teeth are a major problem for many people. More than 80% will experience pain from hot or cold liquids and foods at some point in their life, and about a quarter will experience this sensitivity frequently. The hypersensitivity arises when the dentin of the tooth -- which is normally covered by enamel or gum tissue -- is exposed to the oral environment. Small "tubules" in the dentin can then transmit fluids that excite nerves in the pulp of the tooth, causing pain.


Sensodyne is the No. 1 dentist recommended brand worldwide to treat dentin hypersensitivity. Used every day, Sensodyne relieves sensitive teeth by building a barrier that blocks the pain of hot and cold and keeps it from coming back.




SootheRx Therapy for Sensitive Teeth

SootheRx utilizes NovaMin® (calcium sodium phosphosilicate).
NovaMin is a material that can induce the formation of new hydroxyapatite (crystalline calcium phosphate) which is almost identical to the tooth mineral that is naturally replenished by saliva, the rapid release of mineral-building ions quickly occludes dentin tubules for fast relief from sensitivity, sustained-release, mineral-building ions provide continual relief from sensitivity, pleasant taste and weekly maintenance program enhances compliance.

Orajel^® Advanced Tooth Desensitizer

Orajel ® Advanced Tooth Desensitizer is a state-of-the-art treatment that provides significantly faster and longer lasting relief from dentinal hypersensitivity than sensitive teeth toothpastes. Just one treatment of this exciting product (3 applications takes just minutes) relieves pain from sensitive teeth and lasts for up to three months. Easy-to-use Orajel Advanced Tooth Desensitizer is applied to the affected teeth using a convenient unit-dose applicator. People who use Orajel Advanced Tooth Desensitizer are able to continue using their favorite good-tasting family toothpaste.