Gum vs. mints
Which is more beneficial to your oral health: chewing gum or mints? Experts, including Matthew Messina, D.D.S., a dentist and consumer advisor spokesperson for the American Dental Association, have examined whether gum and mints just provide fresh breath or actually help the oral cavity.
Dr. Messina suggested that chewing gum can stimulate the production of saliva and spread it around the oral cavity to strengthen tooth enamel, according to a news article from Today. Conversely, breath mints can promote harmful bacteria in the mouth to create acids that can dissolve tooth enamel. In addition, consuming multiple mints per day can increase an individual’s calorie intake. The mechanical chewing and swallowing actions related with gum chewing could also help minimize the desire to snack as well as smoke.
Despite these benefits of chewing gum over breath mints, Dr. Messina urged individuals to select sugar-free gum that contains ingredients such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol and aspartame to prevent the formation of cavity-causing acids. If individuals prefer mints over gum, they should look for sugar-free mints.
Consumers were also urged not to substitute their oral hygiene routine for chewing gum and to continue flossing once daily, brushing their teeth twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste and visiting their dentists regularly.
Read more: Today
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.