Saturday 7 July 2012

Chewing Gum and Oral Hygiene


The effects of chewing gum on the oral tissues, whether harmful or beneficial have been studied for many years. Many investigators believe that as most chewing gum is sweetened with sucrose, gum products might actually increase the cariogenic load, in addition to dietary carbohydrates. With better understanding of cariology, it is now known that gum chewing after food helps to increase the salivary pH to a safe level. Sugarless gum has an effective role in preventive dentistry. Chewing sugarless gum reduces the cariogenic load.
Chewing gum can help to maintain oral health in a number of ways. Chewing gum helps to reduce tooth decay by removing food debris from the teeth. The action of chewing stimulates the flow of saliva. Saliva neutralises mouth acids which cause decay. Saliva contains minerals that strengthen the teeth.  An adequate flow of saliva is essential for a healthy and comfortable mouth. The action of chewing gum on the teeth can help to remove plaque as it forms. This helps to prevent gingivitis which is caused by plaque and calculus. Snacking between meals can also be reduced. Less food particles around teeth will lower the risk of tooth decay. It helps to reduce or resist the urge to smoke. Smoking is a serious risk to oral and general health.
It is important to chew sugarless gum. Sugar is one of the main causes of decay and gum disease. There are chewing gums available that are sold as "dental gum". They are all sugar free. Most chewing gum manufactured today shares the same main ingredients:
A gum base which is made of man-made latex and divided into two major categories, chewing and bubble gum, with the latter having more elasticity. The main ingredients of a modern day chewing gum is a combination of powered cane or beet sugar (50-65%), chewing gum base (18-30%), corn syrup (12-20%), colouring and flavouring agents (1-2%) and softeners (0.3–3%) such as glycerin and vegetable oil.
Importantly more than half of its ingredients are sugar. The sugar used in sugared gum is sucrose, fructose and or hydrogenated glucose. Some gums have artificial sweeteners to replace sugar.  In sugar-free gums sugar-substitutes are used. The term sugar-free may be misleading.The sugar-substitutes commonly used may be bulk sweeteners like Sorbitol, Mannitol or Xylitol or intense sweeteners like Aspartame.
            When is the best time to chew gum? It is best to chew soon after eating. Chewing for about fifteen minutes removes food debris and plaque, and stimulates the flow of saliva. Remember that plaque starts to form again within half an hour of cleaning of teeth. And there's even better news when it comes to chewing sugar-free gum that is sweetened with xylitol. Sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol has the added benefit of inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans, one of the oral bacteria that cause cavities. In the presence of xylitol, the bacteria lose the ability to adhere to the tooth, stunting the cavity-causing process. With xylitol use over a period of time, the types of bacteria in the mouth change and fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on tooth surfaces.
For most people, chewing sugar-free gum (especially gum sweetened with xylitol) can be a good preventive measure in situations when tooth brushing and flossing aren't practical. But sugar-free or not, chewing gum should never replace good dental hygiene practices.
A chlorhexidine/Xylitol combination in chewing gum showed reduction in plaque and gingivitis and supported oral hygiene routines for an elderly population. Later, studies proved that Pycnogenol 5% an antioxidant incorporated in chewing gum significantly minimised gingival bleeding and plaque accumulation. Recently eucalyptus incorporated in chewing gum (0.6% i.e. 90mg/day) was suggested to be useful in inhibiting dental plaque formation  and promote periodontal health.
Although chewing sugar-free gum can be beneficial in most instances, there are some cases in which chewing gum is not recommended. For example, if you are experiencing any type of jaw pain or temporo-mandibular disorder symptoms (TMD), you should be away from chewing gum and talk to your dentist about what options are available to you.