Sunday, December 28, 2008

Mints and chewing gum are good for you!

For those people who chew gum, there is some good news! Saliva is a natural cleansing agent for teeth, and as people age, they do not make as much saliva. Additionally, many people, take medications that cause dry mouth, encouraging the growth of bacteria. But one simple way to inhibit bacterial growth and to fight dental caries is popping in a breath mint, or chewing gum, with a natural sugar called Xylitol. This "tooth friendly" compound helps in caries prevention. A recent study done in Finland revealed that there was a 70% reduction in cavities in children when they chewed gum. Also, chewing gum stimulates saliva and that facilities nature's process of cleaning your teeth.