sugarfee gum
INTRODUCTION TO SUGARFREE GUM By Michael Edgar, DDSc, PhD, FDS, RCS (Eng)
The major components of oral health promotion – the 6-monthly check-up, effective plaque control, dietary advice and appropriate fluoride therapy – can now include the mobilisation of salivary defence actions. It has long been established by numerous laboratory studies and clinical trials that saliva is of paramount importance for oral health, but increasingly it is clear that patients can help themselves by encouraging saliva flow by the use of masticatory and gustatory stimuli. Of these the most practical (and most frequently studied) is sugar-free chewing gum.
The chewing of sugar-free gum elicits an increase in saliva flow rate of up to 10-fold. In addition to the more effective clearance of carbohydrate from the mouth, the stimulated saliva contains higher concentrations of bicarbonate to buffer the acids formed in plaque, and is more saturated with respect to tooth mineral to remineralise damaged enamel crystals.
The use of sugar-free gum after eating meals and snacks promotes the in vivo remineralisation of enamel lesions, and has been shown to reduce clinical caries development – in one study by up to 40%. Such a benefit could clearly provide a valuable contribution to oral health, and this web site has been established to promote the rational use of sugar-free gum for caries prevention, with information aimed at consumers, dental professionals and the media.
The dental team can form a primary source of informed advice to the public, and it is hoped that the factual background provided through the web site, as well as through other modes of communication, will be of value to all professionals in providing advice to their patients.