Show of hands: How many of you brush or floss after every single meal? 

Yeah...us, too. 

Although we've heard since kindergarten that grabbing a toothbrush after every meal is essential to maintaining optimal dental hygiene, most of us clean our teeth in the morning and at night. That leaves a full 12 hours for bacteria to feast on our enamel. (Find out what happens if you brush only once day.)

All that feasting leads to cavities, root canals, capped teeth, and maybe even dentures down the road. The good news? Researchers say a simple (and incredibly cheap!) trick could possibly save you hundreds, or maybe even thousands, in dental work. 

The trick: chewing sugar-free gum.

It's the next best thing to brushing every time you eat. In fact, a recent UK study about tooth decay found that the National Health Service, England's public health system, could save more than 8 million pounds—the cost of more than 360,000 dental checkups—a year if every 12-year-old starting chewing gum after eating.

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While the study was backed by the Wrigley Company, which sells gum, there's still definitely something to it. "Anything we can do to reduce the amount of acid and bacteria in your mouth will help prevent tooth decay," says Matthew Messina, DDS, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. "And that means less dental work over time."

Eating or drinking anything (other than water, of course) leaves residue that feeds bacteria. As bacteria eat the sugars that hang out in your mouth, they produce acids that then wear away your enamel. Chewing gum not only loosens the bits of food that get stuck in your teeth, it also starts up your saliva glands and floods your mouth. The saliva washes over your teeth, picking up bacteria and acid as it goes, which you then swallow. And voilà—you have less enamel-eating acid in your mouth. 

For best results, Messina says, chew gum for at least 20 minutes after eating. And make sure it's sugar-free. Chewing gum that contains natural sugars will only fuel the bacteria. (Want healthier habits? Sign up to get healthy living tips delivered straight to your inbox!)

Just remember—gum is a complement to your dental routine, not a replacement. "There's no better way to take care of your teeth than the usual brushing, flossing, and occasional check in with your dentist," says Messina.