Chewing Gum after Eating

If you are a gum chewer, the type of gum you chew can make the difference between helping and harming your oral health. While you might think that stick of mint gum is freshening your breath, it could also be contributing to cavity formation. In fact, chewing gum made from xylitol, which is a natural sweetener, right after you eat is one of the most effective to improve digestion.

 

As you get older, your body produces less and less stomach acid to help you digest properly. Chewing gum at the appropriate times, like after a meal, can actually help give your digestive system a boost and help you digest your meals more efficiently. Chewing gum with xylitol helps create saliva which ultimately helps your body build up the amount of acid that is in your stomach. This acid helps contribute to breaking down foods and improving overall digestion.

Oral Hygiene and Heart Disease

Your oral hygiene affects more than just your smile. Now dentists and patients alike are gaining a better understating of how periodontal health problems that result from poor oral hygiene can have a serious impact on overall health and longevity. The reason for this is a problematic substance known as plaque.

 

Plaque forms between the teeth and around the gums when bacteria proliferation is not controlled through brushing, flossing and professional dental cleanings. This plaque buildup causes inflammation of the gums and frequently results in soreness and bleeding. As the plaque causing bacteria enter the bloodstream as a result of gum inflammation, there is a possibility that they can cause the same plaque buildup in the circulatory system. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other serious issues, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

 

While experts are still exploring the link between oral and systemic health, we here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania encourage all of our patients to take care of their teeth and gums, because maintaining a beautiful, health smile could mean a longer, healthier life.   

Can Cheese Prevent Cavities?

Consuming dairy products is extremely important to your overall health; many people do not know that these dairy products, like cheese, can be very beneficial when it comes to preventing cavities. Studies have shown that eating cheese increases the amount of saliva in the mouth. Salvia is the body’s natural way of maintaining a healthy pH level.

 

The study sampled 68 subjects ranging in age from 12 to 15, and the authors looked at the dental plaque pH in the subjects' mouths before and after they consumed cheese, milk, or sugar-free yogurt. If the pH level is lower than 5.5, they would be at risk for tooth erosion. If the pH level is above 5.5, there is less risk of developing cavities. Researchers instructed the first group to eat cheddar cheese, the second group to drink milk, and the third group to eat sugar-free yogurt. Each group consumed their product for three minutes and then swished with water. Researchers measured the pH level of each subject's mouth at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consumption.

 

Researchers found that the fermented dairy product made the mouth more alkaline, which in turn reduced the need for dental treatment. They also discovered that cheese created a protective film around teeth. The results suggest that cheese has the highest anti-cariogenic property among the dairy products studied, and that milk and yogurt can be considered as non-cariogenic.