Is chewing gum a bad habit? Should I let my child chew gum?

Lately, I have been asked this question by many parents. Therefore to get straight to the point, chewing gum is not a bad habit! However, too much of anything can lead to its abuse, which is definitely not good.

Studies have suggested that chewing gum stimulates salivary flow and inhibits bacterial activities that cause tooth decay. Chewing gum right after your meal can be considered a good habit, as in addition to protecting from tooth decay; this can help reduce that pungent mouth odour after a meal.

Dentists would not recommend chewing gum for:

-  Those who have bad TMJ problems, so that one doesn’t aggravate their problems further

-  Those who experience muscle fatigue or jaw joint pain from chewing

-  Young children, who might choke themselves with wad of gum

-  Those who get headaches due to the stress of chewing

You ought to pick a sugarless gum, that's a no brainer. In fact, gum with Xylitol has proven to be particularly beneficial. Here is a link to a research article for further reading – talking on the “Policy on the Use of Xylitol in Caries Prevention”. However if your chewing gum contains sugar, it should be chewed for at least 15 to 20 minutes, as only after this time, the sugar is gone, but the saliva is sufficiently stimulated to rinse away some of the sugar residue.

You may be able to spot some chewing gums containing fluorides, which can be a good thing for kids or adults who are prone to high cariogenic (caries forming) activities. However, you are advised to consult your dentist on this before starting to consume fluoride contacting chewing gums.

Be informed and remember not to give Xylitol to dogs, it can be lethal for them.

About the author:

Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.

The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.

She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.

E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com

Wisdom can be painful – talking of Wisdom Tooth!

The third molar is known as the “Wisdom Tooth” which most of us get in our late teens or early twenties. Rarely these teeth can be a valuable asset (only if healthy and properly aligned), but most often, they are misaligned and require extraction.

Most of us are inclined to comfortably hold a set of 28 teeth out of the 32, and thus the new entry for a wisdom tooth seldom has any space for it. The lack of space further adds to the problem as the eruption of wisdom tooth are strained to be misaligned - they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward the jaw line. Misaligned teeth crowds around the adjacent teeth and increases the probability of damage to these teeth. The damage can advance to the jawbone and sometimes to the nerves. Wisdom teeth that lean toward the second molars make those teeth more vulnerable to decay, by entrapping plaque and debris.

Other notable problems with a wisdom tooth are that, it can be entrapped completely within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone. These erupt only partially through the gum, and are termed as "impacted". A wisdom tooth that partially erupts allow an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Partially erupted teeth are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease because they are hard-to-reach and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.

The painful condition warrants an immediate removal of the wisdom tooth, though sometimes it is advisable to go for an extraction immediately. It is important to understand that your wisdom tooth has no function in the modern times, and it can only increase your problem. It is believed that the skulls of human ancestors had larger jaws with more teeth, which were possibly used to chew down plants to compensate for a lack of ability to efficiently digest the cellulose. As human diets changed, smaller jaws gradually evolved, yet the third molars, or "wisdom teeth", still commonly develop in human mouths.

During your check-up, your dentist may take an orthopantomogram x-ray to diagnose the need for removal of the wisdom tooth. This x-ray gives the dentist a clear view of the area around the wisdom teeth, to determine the type of extraction necessary for each tooth.

An extraction of wisdom tooth is mandated when:

-          They are erupting into an abnormal position, such as tilted, sideways or twisted

-          They are trapped below the gum line due to lack of space

-          An infection has developed from trapped food, plaque and bacteria, known as pericoronitis

-          The way the teeth bite together has changed, causing misalignment of the jaws

-          The erupted wisdom tooth lacks proper hygiene, because it is hard to reach, resulting in tooth decay

Some believe that the extraction of wisdom tooth can be a painful encounter, as this part of the mouth is not easy to access and this being the third molar has deep roots which will make it difficult to extract. However it is important to give credit to the latest developments and sedation dentistry which can make this experience completely contrary to one’s imagination.

Life is not always about being able to bear the pain!

About the author:

Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.

The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.

She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.

E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com