Healthy Smile: 3 Natural Chewing Gum Options
Believe it or not, you can improve your oral health and show that you care for the earth at the same time. The secret lies in the type of chewing gum you choose. There are 3 types of natural gums that are great for your teeth as well as the earth. And the following guide will help you choose the right natural gum.
Why Choosing The Right Gum Matters
Most commercially-made gums have a chewy base that is artificial and made from a petrol-based polymer. This latex-like substance is not harmful to you, but the earth has a hard time breaking polymer gums down to recycle the material.
Eating the following should help the earth because the materials are natural and turn into compost for the earth's soil.
1. Chewy Honeycomb
One of the sweetest options to chew on is natural honeycomb because it contains several tooth-friendly ingredients. The first is the honey itself, which contains enzymes that halt the reproduction of oral pathogens. Honey also has a highly osmotic nature that should help dehydrate and kill the dangerous pathogens trying to wreak havoc on your teeth.
The other reason you should chew on the honeycomb is the beeswax contains a significant amount of propolis. Propolis is an active ingredient in the honeycomb that kills all bacteria that attempt to infiltrate the bees' honey. Studies have confirmed that propolis should reduce your chances of tooth decay.
You can chew on the honeycomb, and eat it. Or, you can place it on the soil when you are done chewing so that it turns into fertilizer for the earth.
2. Mastic Gum
You can consider adding mastic gum to your chewing options, which is usually cultivated in parts of the Middle East and in Greece. Mastic gum comes from the sap of the mastic tree, which bleeds through the bark and is slowly sun-dried. This type of gum contains mastic oil, which can help mask malodors, should you suffer from bad breath. And it is also highly antibacterial, which should help keep the population of oral pathogens in your mouth low.
3. Chicle
The last type of chewing gum that you should consider is natural chicle, which comes from the trees in Southern America. The sap--which is also biodegradable--contains some proteins, but it is also rich in lipids. These proteins and lipids are released when you begin to chew on the gum. Lipids are not directly associated with teeth, but they do help your body transport vitamins and minerals all around your body. So lipids will help your body send calcium and other minerals to your teeth when they need to be remineralized. Not to mention that chewing gum helps produce more saliva, which is full of antibacterial and remineralizing properties.
Remember that these gums are not meant to replace your dentist's advice nor are they meant to cure any dental ailments. So be sure to keep up with regular dental visits. If you're looking for a dentist in your area, visit Arrowhead Family Dentistry.
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