Why is gum bad

Is chewing gum good for you? The good news is gum-chewing can provide positive health benefits depending on the type of sweetener used, when you chew it and how much you chew. There is a positive link between chewing gum and dental health, as long as the gum you chew does not have sugar. As a general rule, sugar is not good for your teeth because it can cause cavities and tooth decay.

Bacteria uses sugar to produce acids that can weaken tooth enamel. If you do, you should always opt for a sugar-free variety. Stick to no more than a few pieces a day, and if your jaw begins to hurt, stop immediately.

When used responsibly, sugar-free chewing gum can be a safe and fun addition to your at-home dental care products. You can also contact us through online chat or by sending us a message. Elston Wong completed his dental degree at The University of Toronto in before arriving in Barrie in After graduating, he continued to learn everything he could about dentistry.

Now he has taken the time to share important information for anyone to read. A timely appointment on your preferred day and time is not guarenteed. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. Chewing gum on a regular basis as a habit can also lead to excessive wear on the tooth enamel, and even lead to changes in your bite alignment.

Specifically, the upper molars may spread apart gradually, while the lower molars begin to gradually drift backward leading to an overbite. If the behavior continues and is left unchecked, these changes can eventually lead to the need for orthodontic care to correct them.

Additionally, if the enamel is allowed to gradually wear down, the teeth may become sensitive to hot or cold foods and beverages, or acidic foods. Some gum chewers, especially younger people such as teens in high school have experienced headaches as a result of excessive gum chewing. This is a result of the jaw muscles becoming fatigued. These headaches are usually the result of a student chewing gum as a way of dealing with stress, such as when studying for or taking an important test.

This stress tends to lead to chewing harder and faster as well, which further exacerbates the problem, leading to a tension headache. Dentists generally recommend sugar-free gum. However, if you chew gum which is not sugar free, while you might avoid some of the potential pitfalls that come with artificial sweeteners assuming only sugar is used and not a combination of artificial and natural sweeteners , you may put yourself at an increased risk of developing cavities due to exposing your teeth to sugar for a prolonged period of time.

This risk is worsened if you develop a regular habit of chewing sugary gum. Are you one of the millions of Americans who enjoy chewing gum? Chewing gum has become a common habit for a number of reasons, including stress reduction, to help quit smoking, reducing food cravings, and just plain enjoyment. Unfortunately, this seemingly harmless habit can have a number of negative side effects on your health and can even damage your health.

Chewing gum can expose your teeth to high levels of tooth decay-promoting sugar. Sugar-free gum is not much better for your teeth, but for a different reason. While all gums contain flavorings, sugar-free gum often contains higher concentrations of acidic flavorings and preservations, which can cause dental erosion.