Chewing gum

I had a young lady come in for her first visit with us yesterday, a very nice 17 year old. She had a pretty smile, but there was decay on the deep grooves of her back teeth. Unfortunately, she will need several fillings. When I discussed her diet with her, she told me she chews a lot of gum, but it turned out it was not sugarless. She figured out on her own, immediately, that she needed to chew only sugarless gum.
Sugarless gum actually can help prevent cavities. Chewing gum makes your mouth increase the production of saliva. Saliva contains many minerals that help stop the progress of cavities. Saliva is also basic, where the medium of cavity formation is an acid (sugar plus bacteria create an acid that starts breaking down the minerals in the enamel of teeth) So saliva also helps neutralize the acidity of the area as well.
Regular, full leaded (sugar) gum on the other hand provides a steady stream of sugar to the mouth that can interface with the bacteria and cause decay.
So, I say, chew sugarless gum when ever you want, and if you can not brush your teeth after a snack or meal, sugarless gum and rinsing your mouth with water can help reduce the incident of cavities in your mouth.