Generally speaking , chewing gum does not harm teeth or mouth. However, if children eat gum , it can cause problems in the throat. According to the American Dental Association in clinical trials , chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating helps prevent tooth decay. This is because of the presence of bacteria in the gums. Acid comes out of them. If acid accumulates for a long time, it destroys tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Chewing gum now produces a lot of saliva , which neutralizes or washes away the bacteria-secreted acid. In addition, excess saliva contains a lot of calcium and phosphate , which helps to harden tooth enamel. The question is , does sugar chewing gum have that benefit ? Chewing gum with sugar also makes saliva come out , but the problem is that sugar makes acid. So sugar-free chewing gum is better. References