Is chewing gum bad for your teeth? There’s good news and bad news for gum chewing enthusiasts, but as long as you follow a bit of advice from Oahu Dental Care in Hawaii, chewing gum can actually be a healthy part of your dental hygiene habits.

Here are three key points about gum chewing from the family dentist at Oahu Dental Care, a trusted cosmetic dentistry provider:

• Chewing Gum Is Okay In Moderation: After a meal, chewing on a piece of gum can stimulate the production of saliva, which helps to wash away the leftover debris of your meal that can otherwise settle between your teeth and can even have a subtle teeth whitening effect. Because of this, chewing gum in moderation can be a helpful way to keep gum disease at bay as part of a healthy dental regimen of brushing and flossing.
• Pick The Right Kind Of Gum: To take advantage of these dental health benefits, you must choose a healthy sugarless gum, not a bubble gum or any other variety that contains sugar. For suggestions on which kind of gum to purchase, ask the dentist at Oahu Dental Care for healthy options.
• Too Much Of A Good Thing Is A Bad Thing: Be careful with your gum chewing habit and ensure that your chewing is confined to an after-meal treat. Too much gum chewing can lead to various negative effects on your body, from stomach aches to jaw pain. For more advice on how to achieve appropriate moderation in your gum chewing, just ask Dr. Lum during your next checkup at Oahu Dental Care.

Oahu Dental Care is a family and cosmetic dentistry practice that has been serving the island for more than 25 years. To learn more about their range of services, from preventative care to teeth whitening, call the dentist at (808) 732-2821, or visit their website.