Can I chew gum while breastfeeding?

Chewing gum has the effect of freshening breath, and it is quite pleasant to chew gum when you have nothing to do. For ordinary people, there is definitely no problem with chewing gum, but if you are breastfeeding, the mother's body is very special. When chewing gum, the first thing to consider is whether it will affect the newborn. Many people are not sure. So, can you chew gum during breastfeeding? Let’s take a look below.

You can chew gum during breastfeeding.

Benefits of chewing gum during breastfeeding: Chewing gum is a type of sugar that is made from natural gum or glycerin resin as a colloid, with syrup, mint, sweeteners, etc. blended and pressed. Breastfeeding mothers can chew a piece of gum after a meal to remove food debris on the surface of their teeth and prevent oral problems.

First, try to choose sugar-free or xylitol chewing gum.

The cariogenic bacteria in the mouth can use sucrose to produce acidic substances, which in turn corrode the teeth. Xylitol cannot be used by cariogenic bacteria and cannot provide the nutrients that bacteria need to survive. At the same time, xylitol is helpful for early-stage caries and can play a role in natural repair, thus preventing the occurrence of caries. The higher the xylitol content in chewing gum, the better the anti-caries effect. Consistently chewing gum that contains more than 50% xylitol can reduce the incidence of tooth decay by 85%.

Second, choose to chew gum after meals and snacks.

After eating sugary foods and drinking drinks, the acidity of dental plaque in the mouth increases. At this time, chewing sugar-free or xylitol gum can stimulate saliva secretion, neutralize acidic substances, and help remineralize teeth.

Third, don't chew gum for too long.

If you chew gum for too long, your chewing muscles will always be in a tense state, which may lead to a habit of grinding your teeth at night. In addition, if teenagers chew gum during their physical development period, it may over-exercise the masseter muscles, stimulate the development of muscles and bones at the mandibular angle, and eventually result in a "square face" appearance, which affects the shape of women's faces. Therefore, each time you chew gum, you should limit yourself to less than a quarter of an hour.