Chewing gum fights gum disease!

Toothbrushing and flossing have always been the mainstay for healthy gums, new research is indicating additional benefits from chewing a sugarless gum. Multiple studies showed a significant reduction in dental plaque and gingivitis from chewing Arm & Hammer Dental Care Baking Soda Chewing Gum. Most people miss approximately 40% of tooth surfaces during brushing, chewing Baking Soda sugarless gum once a day for 20 minutes showed a significant reduction in plaque, resulting in a reduction in gingivitis in those hard to reach areas. 

Plaque is composed of bacteria that forms a sticky film to help it adhere to the teeth. Toothbrushing with toothpaste remains the most common method of plaque removal, however most people spend too little time brushing. Chewing gum is generally pleasant and therefore done for extended periods of time causing both mechanical plaque removal and increased saliva production to wash away the loosened plaque.

A second benefit to baking soda sugarless gum was removal of tooth stain. Forty-eight subjects with measurable tooth stain were broken into two groups. One group chewed sugarless baking soda gum the other sugarless gum without baking soda for 20 minutes twice daily for four weeks. The baking soda gum group showed a 70% reduction in tooth stain while the non-baking soda gum group showed no reduction in stain. 

A different study evaluated the effectiveness of Baking Soda chewing gum in reducing bad breath (oral malodor). Previous studies found baking soda toothpaste reduces malodor by reducing volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in the mouth. Accumulation of dental plaque on soft tissues in the mouth such as the tongue gives off the VSCs that cause bad breath. Since brushing is usually not done to the soft tissue surfaces, neutralization of the VSCs is difficult. Chewing Baking Soda gum removed plaque in areas not reached by brushing and the sodium bicarbonate had the effect of neutralizing the VSCs thereby reducing oral malodor.

In conclusion the battle against gum disease is fought on many fronts. Regular dental care is extremely important, as is effective home care. If a pleasurable habit such as chewing gum helps fight gum disease while providing whiter teeth and fresher breath, it should be used in the battle.
John Reitz DDS

Information on the above can be found in the “Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry,” July 2001/Vol.22, No7A

John V. Reitz, D.D.S., F.A.G.D.
Signature Dental Care
30 Commerce Drive
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Phone: 610-320-9993
E-mail: jreitz@reitzdds.com

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