Last week when talking with a patient I was remarking on how the condition of his mouth had improved. He stated that he had been chewing gum with xylitol.

This reminded me that studies have proven the effectiveness of chewing sugar free gum. Chewing gum is known to stimulate saliva flow. This helps to remove food particles and neutralize dental plaque acids and helps reduce dental decay.

A simple way to decrease the risk of cavities is to chew a piece of sugar free gum after meals.