Your smile may not be getting the care it needs. Even if you continue to brush twice per day and floss once a day, there may be times when food and debris can cause damage to your teeth and gums. This can be especially true after eating. However, you should wait until 30 minutes after eating before you brush, since your saliva needs to time to neutralize the acids from your meal or snack.
Through the use of an oral hygiene routine that includes chewing gum after meals, you can help lower your risk for dental erosion that occurs immediately after eating. Studies have shown that by chewing sugarless gum after meals, you can help prevent and protect your smile from the risk of cavities, which is not because of ingredients in chewing gum, but rather the processes it creates. By chewing gum, you can help promote the formation of saliva. When saliva is present in your mouth, it adds an additional layer of oral health protection for your teeth and gums by washing way food debris and neutralizing acids that contribute to dental erosion.
Chewing gum after meals has even been proven effective in the treatment and prevention of heartburn. Heartburn can lead to dental erosion because stomach acids travel up your esophagus and into your mouth. Chewing gum can help neutralize and wash away these acids and lower your risks for them eating through your tooth enamel. However, do not use chewing gum if you suffer from any sort of jaw and joint pain or a TMJ disorder. Also, make sure that any chewing gum you use is sugar-free.
No matter the oral health care treatment options you need, Dr. Tom G. Schleicher and the team at our office are here to help you in every way we can. If you would like to set up a treatment to improve your smile, come see us in Colonial Heights, Virginia. Please call us 804-526-0231 to speak with a member of our team.