Gum-Chewing promotes good oral health
July 03, 2009
For years
chewing gum manufacturers have been stating claims that their gum is “dentist-recommended” and “clinically proven”. However, it looks like today some of those claims might be true.
The American Dental Association has given their seal of approval to two chewing gum manufacturers: Cadbury Adams (maker of
Trident,
Dentyne, and Stride) and Wm. Wrigley Jr. (of Wrigley’s Extra and Orbit fame). According to the ADA Seal of Acceptance Program, a product earns the seal by “showing with scientific evidence that the chewing gum is effective for one or more specific indications, such as reducing plaque acids, promoting remineralization of tooth enamel, reducing cavities and/or reducing gingivitis.” In other words, it has been proven to be beneficial for your teeth.
The chewing gums that currently have the ADA seal are Dentyne Ice Sugarless Gum, Stride Sugarless Gum,
Trident Sugarless Gum, Wrigley's Extra Sugarfree Gum, and Wrigley's Orbit Sugarfree Gum.
However, just because the ADA has not put their seal on a product doesn’t mean that the product is bad. There are a lot of non-ADA approved gums and mints that are sugarfree and contain
xylitol, a naturally derived sweetener, which is clinically proven to fight plaque and decay.
In fact chewing gum in and of itself promotes good oral care. Chewing increases the production of saliva, which has its own natural calcium and phosphate, which
strengthen tooth enamel. The ADA’s actual statement on gum labels says “the physical action of chewing” gum for 20 minutes after eating “stimulates saliva flow, which helps to prevent cavities by reducing plaque acids and strengthening teeth.”
If you’d like to read some info about xylitol in gum, check out
http://www.dentist.net/xylitol-benefits.asp
Dentist.net also sells a large selection of chewing gums that promote good dental hygiene, including Sugarless Trident, and Spry Sugarless gum with Xyltiol.
