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Chewing Gum
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:41 am
by vak103
Hey ALL,
Just wondering about chewing gum. My Ortho said sugar free gum was fine...but some previous brace wearers said NO!
What's Your Opinion!

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:50 am
by catgyrl
You will find many different opinions on this subject. I, and many others on here, do chew gum. It's especially helpful after adjustments, or any other time your teeth are sore. It gets the blood flowing and really helps the pain go away faster. I'm a gum-chewing FIEND for a day or two after my adjustments, especially if I have a new wire of powerchain.
Sugarfree is your best bet. Heck, I didn't even know that all the gum I've been chewing has been sugarfree.
-Cathy
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:02 am
by vak103
Thanks catgyrl,
For your reply..... Have you tried the "Strawberry Shortcake" by wriggleys. Its very good....During Halloween, Sams Store were giving out candy with regular bubble gum, and I was chewing it and what a mess. It started sticking to my braces. I immediately spit it out. I'm waiting on the new "Key Lime Pie" flavor.
Regards,
vak103
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:21 am
by fosterp
gum with xylitol will help prevent cavities
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:26 am
by ashesgap
I pick up 4 or 5 packs everytime i'm at the store. Lucky for all of us most chewing gum is sugar free now. My ortho told me he tells kids not to chew gum because it goes from gum to sticky junk. He said it actually helps to make your teeth feel better.
I look for new flavors all the time. Strawberry shortcake sounds good.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:52 am
by Chicagogal
I don't miss gum all that much, but after advice on here I definitely still pop in a few pieces after adjustments. I now think of gum in relation to pain though, ha! It does help the soreness though and for the teeth to more quickly adjust to the new mastication pattern. i have had a "sticky situation" before though when I didn't chew a big enough piece and it got lost back there. yuck.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:01 pm
by catgyrl
Chicagogal-
That happened to me, too! I usually chew Stride (which are very tiny), but I didn't have very many left, so I tried to chew just one piece... and it got lost in my extraction gap! Ya know... the one with a wire and TWO powerchains across it. Boy, that was fun to try to fish out.

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:28 pm
by catgyrl
Chicagogal-
That happened to me, too! I usually chew Stride (which are very tiny), but I didn't have very many left, so I tried to chew just one piece... and it got lost in my extraction gap! Ya know... the one with a wire and TWO powerchains across it. Boy, that was fun to try to fish out.
-Cathy
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:28 pm
by catgyrl
Sorry for the duplicate post. Having computer lagging problems here...
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:23 pm
by RedDress
Have not had a cheving gum in years. This habbit tooks sooo low-life to me.

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:55 pm
by catgyrl
RedDress-
You think chewing gum is low-life? That's a bit harsh, I would say...
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:00 pm
by ashesgap
RedDress wrote:Have not had a cheving gum in years. This habbit tooks sooo low-life to me.

Wow. Just Wow.
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:11 pm
by RedDress
catgyrl wrote:RedDress-
You think chewing gum is low-life? That's a bit harsh, I would say...
Wiell, it depends. If you do that in private because your doc recommended it and it's good for your teeth - is one thing. If you talk to people with a gum in your mouth - then yes, that's what I call harsh. No better than biting nails I would say, but then again - some people find that ok.
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:52 am
by Donna
I haven't had a piece of gum in 2 years as it's practically illegal here in Singapore. I don't really miss it...
Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:20 am
by VA5
Gum is practically illegal in singapore? That's really weird, why is that??
I actually don't like seeing people chew gum, I will agree w/reddress that it doesn't look good to do it.. Especially when people chew with their mouths open, lol... it's kind of like seeing somebody eat w/their mouth open in a restaurant, doesn't look good.
But, I do chew gum so I'm a hypocrite.. I just know it doesn't look great. But, I only do it b/c I'm trying to build up some muscle in my face.
I didn't know it also helps w/the soreness, that's good to know!