Sugarless chewing gum

Reference information: www.toothclub.gov.hk/

Sugarless chewing gum uses sugar alcohol and sugar substitutes as flavour. These include xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, aspartame, etc. Although they taste sweet, they don't contain sugar.

Sugarless chewing gum and dental caries

w  Sugarless chewing gum doesn't cause dental caries because it only contains       sugar alcohol and sugar substitutes which cannot be metabolised by the bacteria inside our mouth.

w  Chewing sugarless gum will increase the production of saliva. Saliva neutralizes the acid in the mouth and replenishes the lost minerals. Therefore, it reduces the chance for us to get dental caries. Hence, chewing sugarless gum can help prevent dental caries

Points to note

w  It is essential to identify whether the chewing gum we choose contains sugar or not. Frequent use of chewing gums with sugar will not only fail to prevent dental caries but in fact increase the chance of getting caries.

w  One cannot solely rely on xylitol chewing gums to prevent dental caries. The most effective method in preventing caries is to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste every morning and at night, and to reduce the frequency of food/drinks intake.

w  Chewing gum for a long time will cause soreness in the jaw joint. It is not advisable for people with jaw joint problem to chew gum

It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Dentist for diagnosis and treatment.