Welcome to my site! My name is Verity. I work as a receptionist in a dentist office. Every day for the past 20 years, I have come in to the office, worked on paperwork, and greeted patients. I love my job, because it has helped me meet a lot of really wonderful people. I have seen families grow up! But an added benefit from my job is that I have also picked up some small information about dentistry. I'm not one of the dentists, but I do know quite a bit about simple procedures and basic dental hygiene. Hopefully this blog can teach you something, but remember to always consult with your actual dentist for real professional advice!
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Too Much Chewing Gum Isn't A Good Thing: 2 Ways Chewing Gum Could Be Causing You Dental Problems
Eleanor Crawford
Do you chew more than just a couple pieces of gum a day? If you do, you could be damaging your teeth and jaw. Even if you've switched to sugar-free, your teeth could still be paying the price. If you chew more than five pieces of gum each day, here are two ways you could be harming your teeth.
Increased Risk of TMJ
Every time you chew a piece of gum, you stretch the muscles in your jaw. The more those muscles move, the more strain you put on your jaw bone. This can increase your risk of developing
Gum chewing can also lead to an increase in TMJ associated headaches, especially in children. In a recent study, gum chewing was linked to chronic migraines in children between the ages of six and 19 years of age.
Tooth Damage
When you chew gum, you are soaking your teeth in sugar. That sugar can eat away at your teeth and lead to tooth decay. If you've switched to sugar-free chewing gum, you could still be putting your teeth in danger. Sugar-free gum contains acids that can eat away at the enamel on your teeth. Prolonged use of sugar-free chewing gum can lead to tooth erosion or decalcification.
How to Reduce the Damage
You don't have to give up gum-chewing altogether. In fact, chewing a piece of gum after meals can actually help your teeth. Here are some simple ways to reduce the harmful effects of gum chewing.
Limit the Amount of Gum You Chew
Limiting the amount of gum you chew is the easiest way to reduce the TMJ-related symptoms you or your child may be experiencing. Try limiting your gum-chewing to one piece after each meal. This will provide you with the benefits of gum chewing – increased saliva production and removal of food particles- while reducing the amount of time you are stretching your jaw muscles.
Rinse Your Mouth with Water
You can prevent damage to your teeth by removing the sugar and acids from your mouth. Simply rinse your mouth with clear water each time you chew a piece of gum. This will keep the sugars and acids from sitting on your teeth for too long.
If you're chewing an excessive amount of gum, you could be causing dental problems. Reducing the amount of gum you chew, and rinsing your mouth with water can help prevent the harmful effects of chewing gum. To learn more about this, speak with your general dentist.
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