Dental Care

The effects of chewing gum on bad breath

People have been chewing gum mainly to get rid of bad breath, but nothing is good in excess. We all know that chewing gum is a sweet substance and we also know the harmful effects of sugar. Sugar-free gum can be recommended to get rid of the bad breath. Excessive use of chewing gum can affect your health in the following ways;

• It can cause plaque buildup on the teeth due to the sugar substance within the ingredients


• It can cause a condition called Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) causing pain in the muscles that allow jaw movement.


• Excess intake of artificial sweeteners in chewing gums like sorbitol can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating.

Instead, you can use the mouth fresheners that are recommended by the specialist such as sugar-free chewing gum, Non-alcoholic mouthwash, are recommended to get rid of the bad breath. To curb the issue, you can also use the natural ingredients like fennel, cinnamon, clove and cardamom, however these are temporary solutions.

To get rid of the bad breath, it must be an ongoing effort with various activities to be done regularly. One of the most reasons why people visit the dentist is being embarrassed by their bad breath. Regular dentist visits are highly recommended to ensure a healthy mouth. This must be coupled with healthy oral hygiene practice and healthy dietary habits.

Furthermore, Non- Alcoholic mouthwash, strong toothpaste and sugarless gum can be used to get rid of the bad breath. However, its always better to consult your dentist since sometimes the bad breath could be the result if an underlying health condition.

What are the steps that we should follow at home to maintain great oral hygiene?

• Brush & Floss – Brushing and Flossing are like two sides of a coin, Brush your teeth regularly twice daily for 2-3 minutes each time. The significance of flossing after brushing can’t be reiterated more. Both should be followed by each other as food particles tend to remain in between the teeth. That will cause a foul smell and consequently weakening of gum tissues (deep pockets) or tooth cavity and sensitivity.


• Clean your tongue – In order to remove the residue of any food that has been left on the tongue, buy a good tongue cleaner and like the flossing, cleaning of the tongue is a habit that people frequently tend to ignore.


• Eat healthy food – What you feed your body plays and important role in forming your general wellbeing. Reduce your sugar intake and acidic food such as onion, garlic and other food which causes bad smell. Consume food that is easy to be digested such as fruits and vegetables.


• Stay hydrated – Drinking enough amount of water can help you to control the bad oral odor. When your mouth is so dry, it serves as a suitable environment for the bacterial organisms causing the bad odor to grow. As soon as you wake up, drink water to make up for the time your mouth was dry during the night.