Did you know that chewing gum is good for your teeth?
Any sugar-free gum or candy with the ingredient xylitol can actually protect your teeth against cavities!
Xylitol helps promote good oral health:
Cavity-causing bacterial found naturally on teeth aren't able to digest this sugar substitute, which reduces the bacterial growth since they aren't being fed
Promotes saliva formation which helps remineralize and harden teeth
Helps neutralize the acidity in your mouth
Tips for getting the most out of xylitol:
Chew xylitol gum for 2-3 minutes
Try to use xylitol products five times a day especially after eating: "strive for five!"
We recommend that parents chew xylitol gum to reduce the bacteria that can be transferred to babies
The best benefits come when xylitol is the only sweetener and the first ingredient listed
Some familiar brands that contain xylitol are Ice Breaker, Trident, Orbit, Stride and are approved by the American Dental Association
Xylitol naturally occurs in fruits and plants, so is safe for pregnant or nursing women
Don't feed xylitol to dogs
You can even buy xylitol as a sugar substitute to bake with (but it'll prevent yeast from rising)
