Kristy's Blog

It’s well known that I have an aversion to being around people chewing gum. The sound of someone chewing their gum with their mouth open drives me so crazy that I can’t even think straight. Plus it looks decidedly uncouth! Recently, I had a long discussion with someone who maintained that chewing gum was good for you, and invited me to research it. I really think gum has no place in society. But of course I had to check it out. So Ed, this is for you!

According to this study:

http://crobm.iadrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/10/3/405

Clearly, sugar-free chewing gum has no relevant mechanical tooth-cleaning effect, but the saliva stimulated by mastication will effectively dissolve and remove soluble fermentable substrate from the oral cavity, raise plaque pH, and promote remineralization. Thus, the chewing of tooth-friendly chewing gum after meals and carbohydrate-containing snacks is strongly recommended if no mechanical oral hygiene can be performed. The admixture of mineral salts to chewing gum formulations aimed at enhancing the pH-raising effect of chewing gum has been proven less effective than the incorporation of carbamide for the same purpose. Carbamide-containing chewing gum can be consumed for pleasure alone, but it is also specifically recommended for persons with high caries activity, especially in connection with hyposalivation and in patients with active tooth erosion (Imfeld, 1996).

My solution: Carry a toothbrush with you! 😆 72.222.140.152