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Most people who undergo through orthodontic surgery have always been warned that chewing gum severally or eating candy is not good for their dental health. One of the main reason as to why patients with braces on their teeth were being warned of chewing gum, is that there was a possibility that the gums could get hold of the wires of your braces or bend them. After all, sugar creates cavities. Well, in this article, you’ll get to know the benefit of chewing gum with braces.

It’s true that sugar, and carbohydrates in general, are bad for your teeth because they feed the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth. The bacteria then produce an acid which corrodes your teeth over time. One of your secret weapons against tooth decay, however, is nothing more than ordinary saliva. The saliva contains minerals which help replace the parts of your teeth worn away by bacteria. Saliva also provides antibodies to help fight the bacteria, and, lastly, the saliva helps to wash away the debris from your teeth.

What does this have to do with chewing gum? A lot. Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which is very good for your teeth. However, there is one caution you should keep in mind. If you chew gum until the sugar is gone, then this will not give you the same kind of benefit. You’ll be getting a sugar rush which is very bad for your teeth, and you probably will not produce saliva very much in the process.

On the other hand, if you continue to chew the gum for a while, then your body will continue to produce saliva, which as we’ve already explained above, is quite beneficial for your mouth. The gum itself, now devoid of sugar, is not harmful to your teeth because bacteria cannot digest it.

So next time you feel like you shouldn’t chew a stick of gum in between meals, you may be doing yourself a favor as long as you keep chewing gum well past the sugar part of the gum. So it looks like you can enjoy some sweets after all! Then again, maybe you should pass on that piece of chocolate cake as mom told you to!

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