Chewing gum is an indulgence that North Tonawanda folks are prone to for a number of reasons. Some people love having minty gum on hand to keep their breath fresh. Others chew sugar-free xylitol gum to help keep their teeth healthy between brushings. Chewing gum is taboo in many situations, but that may be changing soon! Did you know that chewing gum has been clinically proven to improve memory and brain performance? Dr. Melody Greenberg and the rest of us at North Tonawanda Family Dentistry love spreading exciting news, so here’s some information that just might have you craving a piece of gum.
Chewing Gum at School is Good?
According to researchers at the University of Northumbria, in Newcastle upon Tyne, it just might be. Once you’ve had a little time to process the vindication for every time a teacher scolded you for chewing gum in class, take a look at why North Tonawanda educators may soon be telling students to chew gum at school:
Chewing Gum Improves Brain Function
Dr. Andrew Scholey, lead researcher of the study, found that among three groups of 25 volunteers- a group with no gum, a group pretending to chew gum, and a group actually chewing gum- the gum chewers performed 35% better on short-term memory tests. Unfortunately the study did not confirm gum fanatics’ long-held belief that chewing gum improves concentration, but the benefits to kids are clear. In fact the Volkenschwand school, in the Bavarian state of Germany, has recently gained quite a bit of publicity for encouraging their pupils to chew gum during tests, class, and on breaks.
Is Gum Good For Dental Health?
Dr. Melody Greenberg wants every North Tonawanda resident to know that chewing sugar-free xylitol-based gum (with xylitol as the first or second ingredient) is not only safe, it actually helps prevent cavities. To find out more about chewing gum or if you’d like to visit us for a cleaning, give North Tonawanda Family Dentistry a call today!
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