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Ask the Bridge
Will chewing gum really clean your teeth, freshen your breath, or even whiten your teeth as some now claim? Is chewing gum a good thing?
“Chewing gum does not really clean teeth,” says Judith Jones, an SDM associate professor and chair of the department of general dentistry. “Some gums have an antimicrobial in them that acts against bacterial growth, which might help decrease plaque buildup. But once the plaque is on the teeth, it needs mechanical removal. In some studies, chewing gums containing Xylitol and sugar alcohols instead of sugar have been shown to prevent cavities. These gums may also prove to be particularly useful for people with low salivary flow rates, as chewing the gum can stimulate the production of saliva. Saliva provides a natural reservoir for calcium and phosphate ions, which help, especially in the presence of fluoride, to remineralize tooth structure. I don't know of any substance to the teeth-whitening claims made by some chewing gums. Others, which claim to freshen breath, may help to make a clean mouth feel cleaner. But for someone who has bad breath caused by gum disease, that would be like spreading a sweet-smelling deodorant over a body with bad odor — the odor would still be there. So will the bad breath. One final bit of advice for gum chewers: if you're going to chew, choose sugarless gum to avoid an increase in tooth decay.”
27
February 2004
Boston University
Office of University Relations