The act of chewing produces saliva, which is good for your teeth. “It flushes out acid so teeth don’t dissolve,” says Dr. Tony Iacopino, dean of the University of Manitoba’s faculty of dentistry. “It also contains calcium and phosphate ions, which are the building blocks for enamel. They are required to rebuild enamel and actually help re-mineralize the tooth after an attack by acidic foods. And saliva also contains a whole range of antimicrobial and antifungal compounds that can help to prevent infections.”