What is inside your purse? To this day I can remember what was inside my mother's purse. Besides her wallet she also had a wide array of first aid gear including : tissues, band aids, chapstick, baby wipes, and nail clippers. As a child the most important item in her purse was gum that was readily available. Little did she know she was helping us improve our oral hygiene.

Are you a gum chewer? Do you have fewer cavities than normal? Research shows that there are many benefits of chewing gum. The only clincher? It needs to be the right kind.

Some gum is sweetened with high amounts of sugar. This is not the right kind. Obviously it would not be a good choice to put something sugar laden in your mouth and chew on it for any amount of time.

Now that we have the "what not to chew" out of the way we can get on to the good stuff. Sugar free gum can actually help prevent cavities in children. An even better choice would be gum with Xylitol (a natural sweetener found in fruits and vegetables).

The human mouth hosts many different kinds of bacteria. When the bacteria encounters sugar, it produces acid. These acids are harmful and prolonged exposure can damage the protective enamel on the teeth (this process is called demineralization).

Chewing gum stimulates one of the most powerful defense mechanisms from the body- saliva. Saliva is a wonderful combatant to this bacteria, and chewing gum causes the mouth to produce extra saliva. More saliva combined with less acid can actually help cause teeth to remineralize (this actually strengthens teeth!).

If that wasn't enough, here are some other great benefits to chewing gum:

• Whitens teeth by reducing stains and preventing additional staining.

• Kills the germs that cause bad breath.

• Neutralizes acid formed by bacteria.

• Alleviates dry mouth discomfort.

• Helps reduce plaque.

• Reduces gingivitis to maintain healthy gums.

• Cleans out any food debris.

• Helps reduce cavities.

• Reduces stress.

• Improves digestion.

Let's not forget that chewing gum can help you connect with your inner child, especially when you blow bubbles! Chewing gum as an adult can give us a conscious or subconscious feeling of nostalgia. Sometimes it is important to feel like a kid again, and to remember not to take life too seriously. What are you waiting for? Find your favorite flavor and go for it!

Just as a side note, it is important to remember to chew with proper etiquette. Even if it is healthy for your teeth, it may not be healthy for social relationships if you chew like a horse.

You can find information at www.gumisgood.com. Keep in mind that this is obviously research done by a gum company, but the information is interesting nonetheless. There are also other more scientific sites, but this one just seemed more fun.

Dr. Logan Hazard recently opened Heartwood Family Dental in Post Falls. At Heartwood we offer free exams and X-rays for new patients, treatment for the entire family, a wonderful team, and preferred providers for all insurances in the area. Call Justine today at (208) 777-1542.