A New Way to Prevent Cavities

We all know how important brushing and flossing is in preventing cavities and maintaining healthy gums. The big news is that you can further reduce your chances of getting cavities by chewing gum! According to Dr. Leslie William Jow, a Diamond Certified dentist, Xylitol, an artificial sweetener in some gums and breath mints, has been proven to have an anti-bacterial effect in the mouth. Dr. Jow says it's bacteria which produces an acid that breaks down tooth structure and causes cavities.

Another benefit of chewing gum is that it increases salivary flow. It's the minerals in your saliva that repair the damage caused by acid. Saliva re-mineralizes your teeth and helps to reduce the effect of the bacteria. In addition to finding a chewing gum with Xylitol high up on the ingredient list, you can also fight tooth decay by using anti-bacterial rinses, toothpaste and mouthwashes with fluoride. And, of course reducing sugars in your diet is beneficial.