CHEWING
GUM: IS IT BAD FOR YOUR TEETH?
by Kim Loos, DDS
Is chewing gum bad for your teeth or can
it help fight cavities like the advertisements claim?
Some studies show
that chewing gum can have an indirect positive effect on
your teeth. Gum can stimulate production of saliva and increase
salivary flow. Saliva is a natural buffering agent which
washes the teeth and neutralizes some of the acid produced
by bacteria. It is the acid which erodes enamel and eventually
causes cavities. Also, some people do not produce sufficient
saliva. One study showed that after chewing gum for 10 minutes
each waking hour for two weeks, participants increased their
salivary flow to a functional level and increased salivary
pH and buffering capacity.
On the other hand, gum typically contains
some type of sweetener. Brands of gum containing sugar can
be harmful to your teeth if these types of gum are chewed
too often or are removed from the mouth too soon. In fact,
studies have shown that if a person chews gum containing
sugar, it should be chewed for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
After this time, the sugar is gone, but the saliva is sufficiently
stimulated to rinse away some of the sugar residue.
Vogel et al., (1998) found significant
increases in pH, free calcium, and phosphate concentrations
in plaque and saliva when an alpha-tricalcium-phosphate-containing
gum was chewed after a sugary meal. The results of the study
suggest that this experimental gum may be more effective
than conventional gum in reducing the cavity causing effects
of sugar.
One artificial sweetener called Xylitol
(e.g. Xylifresh gum) is proving to be quite beneficial.
This ingredient may directly prevent cavities. One study
from Finland shows not only a reduction in decay in children
who have chewed gum with this ingredient, but extremely
small lesions have actually been reversed. The exact mechanism
of action of Xylitol is unknown, but it appears to inhibit
bacterial growth, including growth of Streptococcus mutans
-- the main bacteria implicated in dental decay. Perhaps
it causes Streptococcus mutans to lose a competitive edge
in the oral ecosystem.
The proper protocol for cavity protection
is to chew two pieces of gum three to five times daily for
at least five minutes per chewing session. Any less time
will decrease the effectiveness of the Xylitol. Xylitol
appears to be the only artificial sweetener which is not
fermented by Streptococcus mutans, although the other sweeteners
are fermented at a much lower rate than sugar.
One eight-week crossover clinical study
conducted at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
found that BreathAssure Dental Gum reduced the accumulation
of plaque on the test subjects' teeth by 35 percent. Volunteers
chewed the gum three times a day for 20 minutes, while a
control group chewed a placebo gum. All test subjects practiced
regular brushing and flossing routines during the study.
The results of this study were made public on February 2,
1999.
One drawback to chewing gum is the potential
for TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems. Gum chewing
may result in muscle fatigue and pain--especially if it
is done frequently and/or for long periods of time. In one
survey of orthodontists and oral surgeons, 46 percent believed
that infrequent gum chewing could lead to TMJ concerns.
This statistic increased to 65 percent for frequent gum
chewers. Orthodontists appeared to express more concern
than oral surgeons. Perhaps they are also worried about
the effects of gum chewing on orthodontic appliances. Research,
however, has not really established the relationship between
gum chewing and development of structural changes within
the jaw joint, which could lead to fatigue and/or pain.
Gum chewing is an individual choice. If
you chew gum, I strongly recommend a sugarless gum. It is
a good idea to brush your teeth, or at least rinse your
mouth with water after chewing gum. If you are susceptible
to decay, gum containing Xylitol may have some benefit for
you. If you experience muscle fatigue, jaw joint pain, or
headaches from chewing gum, perhaps infrequent chewing or
excluding gum altogether may be the best solution.
References:
Just et al., "Treating TM disorders:
A survey on diagnosis, etiology, and management" Journal
of the American Dental Association (Sept. 1991) pp. 55-60.
Vogel et al., "Composition of plaque
and saliva following a sucrose challenge and use of an alpha-tricalcium-phosphate-containing
chewing gum" Journal of Dental Research (1998) 77(3):518-524.
Anderson et al. "Modern management
of dental caries: The cutting edge is not the dental bur"
Journal of the American Dental Association (June 1993)pp.
37-44.
Newbrun et al.,
"Preventing dental caries: Current and prospective
strategies" Journal of the American Dental Association
(May 1992) pp. 68-72.
Source:
http://parenting.ivilliage.com
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