The World Health Organization recently issued a warning that the artificial sweetener aspartame is “possibly carcinogenic,” and that has many concerned about its use in gum, candies and diet sodas. The FDA and industry experts say it doesn’t pose a cancer risk, but is it harmful for our teeth and gums? Dental health experts say no.
The American Dental Association’s website says chewing gum after meals is beneficial for the teeth because it increases saliva production, which helps to “dilute and neutralize acids produced by the bacteria in plaque on teeth.” But that’s only for sugar-free gum, because gum containing sugar can potentially lead to cavities.
Sugar-free gum often contains aspartame, but dentist Fatima Khan notes that aspartame doesn’t cause dental decay like regular sugar, but dentists warn that other ingredients in the gum could cause tooth decay:
- Sugar-free gum contains ingredients like carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and fumaric acid, all of which are also found in diet sodas, according to Khan.
- These acids lower the pH in your mouth and when it goes below 5.5, she says “your enamel weakens and breaks down, and your teeth erode.”
- Dr. Sean Kutlay, a general dentist, explains that sugar and acid are two big causes of tooth decay.
- That’s why dental experts recommend sugar-free gum to stimulate more saliva, which helps reduce the acidity of the mouth, especially after eating.
- For anyone concerned about the aspartame in gum as a possible carcinogen, Kutlay says the average person would have to ingest about 450 sticks of sugar-free gum to surpass the suggested daily limit.
- Even though aspartame doesn’t cause tooth decay or cavities, dentists recommend a different sugar-free option: xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener found in plants.
- Khan says xylitol “decreases cavity-causing bacteria, increases saliva production and helps remineralize teeth.”
Source: NY Post
Scott's Thoughts:
- So unless you’re drinking dozens of diet sodas and eating hundreds of pieces of sugar-free gum every day, you probably don’t need to worry?
- I only sweeten my coffee and other things with Stevia. Please don't find anything wrong with that!
- I try to avoid sugar and foods with processed flour.