Chewing gum is the world’s most popular habit with an incredible 100,00 tons of it being chewed each year. Previously thought of as an unpleasant habit, the traditional image of chewing gum as a nuisance that was stuck under tables and on pavements everywhere is beginning to change.

Recent studies have shown that chewing gum can have several positive benefits on the health of your teeth. Chewing after meals helps to stimulate saliva production neutralising the decay-causing plaque acids that build up in the mouth. This plaque acid is formed by toxins released by decaying bacteria and attacks the tooth enamel, eroding it and causing dental cavities. Saliva is our natural defence against plaque acid so the more of it we can produce the better. Decaying bacteria in the mouth is also responsible for 90 per cent of cases of bad breath so chewing gum helps to keep your breath fresh. Chewing can also help to relieve pressure that builds up in the jaw, ears and sinuses.

Chewing gum was previously thought of as bad for the teeth because of its high sugar content. Many gums are now available in sugar-free varieties, which stimulate saliva production ten-fold and cause no damage to the tooth enamel themselves. Saliva also contains minerals such as calcium, which can help to repair damage caused to the tooth enamel.

Dentists now recommend that chewing gum for fifteen to twenty minutes after each meal to stimulate saliva production and neutralise plaque acid. Gums with artificial sweeteners like Xylitol are particularly good for the teeth because they have no natural sugars. Leeds dentist now recognise these sugar-free gums as an important weapon in the war against tooth decay and gum disease.