Hey there! Have you ever seen those gum commercials that promise a fresher, cleaner mouth? Well, they might be onto something! Recent research suggests that chewing gum could be almost as good for your oral health as flossing. Let’s dive into how this works and why it’s important.
When you eat, tiny pieces of food can get stuck between your teeth or around braces and retainers. If these bits of food stay there too long, they can attract bacteria. This bacteria can cause cavities and infections, which are definitely things you want to avoid, especially since your mouth is so close to your brain. Keeping your mouth clean is super important, and it’s not just about brushing your teeth—flossing plays a big role too.
Flossing is great for getting rid of food particles from those hard-to-reach places, which helps reduce bacteria in your mouth. But here’s where gum comes in. Researchers had some students chew gum for different amounts of time, from 30 seconds to ten minutes. After chewing, they analyzed the gum to see how much bacteria it trapped.
They discovered that one piece of gum can catch up to 100 million bacteria! That’s about ten percent of the bacteria usually found in your saliva, which is similar to what flossing can remove. However, gum isn’t a perfect replacement for flossing. Flossing targets specific areas, and gum loses its stickiness after just 30 seconds, so it catches fewer bacteria over time.
Not all gum is the same when it comes to dental health. Sugary gum can actually feed the bacteria in your mouth, making things worse. On the other hand, gum with artificial sweeteners might help fight bacteria. If this research leads to new dental health gums, would you give them a try?
If you’re interested in more cool science topics, check out our sister show Test Tube. They’re close to reaching 250,000 subscribers and have a great video about whether college should be free. If you’re thinking about college and worried about the cost, it’s worth a watch. And remember to subscribe for more awesome science content every day!
Conduct a simple experiment to see how much bacteria different types of gum can capture. Chew a piece of sugar-free gum for a set amount of time, then place it on a petri dish. Observe and record any bacterial growth over a few days. Compare results with classmates who used different gums.
Design a poster that highlights the importance of oral hygiene. Include information about how chewing gum can help reduce bacteria in your mouth, and why it’s important to choose sugar-free options. Use colorful images and clear text to make your poster engaging and informative.
In groups, create and perform a short commercial that promotes the benefits of chewing sugar-free gum for oral health. Use props and costumes to make your commercial entertaining, and be sure to include facts from the article to educate your audience.
Research more about the benefits and limitations of both chewing gum and flossing. Then, participate in a class debate where one side argues for gum and the other for flossing. Use evidence from your research to support your arguments and listen to the opposing side’s points.
Prepare a set of questions about oral hygiene and the role of chewing gum in dental health. Interview a local dentist or dental hygienist, either in person or via video call. Share your findings with the class and discuss any surprising insights you learned from the expert.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
—
This may look a bit surprising, but it’s actually beneficial for you! Hello everyone! Amy here with you on DNews today. You know how gum commercials often claim that their product can give you a fresher, cleaner mouth? Well, that’s not entirely untrue. New research published online in PLoS ONE suggests that chewing gum can be as good for your oral hygiene as flossing.
When we eat, small bits of food can get stuck between our teeth or behind permanent retainers that many people have these days. If that food remains there for too long, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. That bacteria can lead to cavities and infections, and really, isn’t an infection in your mouth, which is close to your brain, something you want to avoid? Oral hygiene is important! It’s not just about brushing your teeth but also about flossing.
Flossing is an effective way to remove those lingering bits of food from tight spaces, reducing the overall amount of bacteria in your mouth, but it seems that chewing gum can help too. Sort of. The researchers who conducted the study enlisted five biomedical engineering students to chew gum. They had the students chew for various lengths of time, ranging from 30 seconds to ten minutes. When the time was up, the students spit the gum into a cup of sterile water, which was then analyzed.
From analyzing the chewed gum, the researchers found that a single standard piece of gum can trap up to 100 million bacteria, which is roughly ten percent of the microbes typically found in saliva. This is about the same amount of bacteria that is usually removed by flossing. However, before you decide to chew gum all day, there are a few important points to consider. Chewing isn’t exactly the same as flossing since flossing targets different areas of the mouth. Additionally, after just 30 seconds, a piece of gum starts losing its stickiness, meaning it traps fewer bacteria.
Not all gum is created equal when it comes to dental health. Sugary gum can actually feed the bacteria in your mouth, while gum with artificial sweeteners may have some antimicrobial properties. If these findings lead to a new line of dental health gums, would you consider trying them? Let us know in the comments below, or you can find me on Twitter as @astVintageSpace.
Also, a reminder that our sister show Test Tube is close to reaching 250,000 subscribers, so check out this video about whether college education should be free. If you’re in college or considering it but are concerned about the financial aspect, definitely take a look at this video. And don’t forget to subscribe for more DNews every day of the week!
—
This version maintains the original message while removing any potentially inappropriate or informal language.
Chewing – The act of using your teeth to break down food into smaller pieces. – Chewing your food thoroughly helps with digestion and nutrient absorption.
Gum – The soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and covers the jawbone. – Keeping your gum healthy is important to prevent oral diseases.
Oral – Relating to the mouth. – Oral health is crucial for overall well-being and can affect other parts of the body.
Hygiene – Practices that help maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases. – Good oral hygiene includes brushing and flossing your teeth daily.
Bacteria – Microscopic organisms that can be found in various environments, including the human body. – Some bacteria in the mouth can cause cavities if oral hygiene is not maintained.
Flossing – The act of cleaning between your teeth with a thin thread to remove food particles and plaque. – Flossing daily helps prevent cavities and gum disease.
Cavities – Holes in the teeth caused by decay. – Eating too many sugary snacks can lead to cavities if you don’t brush your teeth regularly.
Infections – Diseases caused by harmful microorganisms entering the body. – Oral infections can lead to serious health issues if not treated promptly.
Sweeteners – Substances used to give a sweet taste to food or drinks. – Some sweeteners can be used as a healthier alternative to sugar in your diet.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury. – Regular exercise and a balanced diet are important for maintaining good health.
