CHEWING SUGARLESS GUM
(An Article from the American Dental Association)
What is chewing gum?
Chewing gum in various forms has been around since ancient
times. Today,
the base used for most gum products is a blend of synthetic materials
(elastomeres, resins and waxes in various proportions). Chewing gum is quite popular and consumers may be used to thinking
about chewing gum as a kind of candy.However, those chewing gums with the ADA Seal
recognizes chewing gum that has demonstrated scientifically that it can
protect the teeth.
What does chewing gum do?
The physical act of chewing increases the flow of saliva in
your mouth. If you chew after eating, the increased salivary flow can
help neutralize and wash away the acids that are produced when food is
broken down by the bacteria in plaque on your teeth. Over time, acid
can break down tooth enamel, creating the conditions for decay.
Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to
help strengthen tooth enamel. Clinical studies have shown that chewing
sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth
decay. In the future, look for chewing gum that delivers a variety of
therapeutic agents that could provide additional benefits to those
provided by the ability of gum to mechanically stimulate saliva flow.
For instance, some gum might contain active agents that could enhance
the gum’s ability to remineralize teeth and reduce decay, or enable gum
to help reduce plaque and gingivitis.
Does chewing gum replace brushing and flossing?
No, chewing gum is an adjunct to brushing and flossing, but
not a substitute for either. The ADA recommends brushing twice a day
with a fluoride toothpaste and cleaning plaque from between your teeth
once a day with dental floss or other interproximal dental cleaner.
What is in chewing gum and how is it made?
Chewing gum typically consists of:
- Gum base
- Artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame, sorbitol or mannitol)
- Softeners (glycerin or other vegetable oil products)
- Flavorings and colorings
The process for making chewing gum has six basic steps:
- Gum base ingredients are melted together
- Other ingredients are added until the warm mix thickens like dough
- Machines called extruders are used to blend, smooth and form the gum
- The gum is shaped (flattened or molded into tablet shapes and coated)
- The gum is cooled for up to 48 hours in a temperature controlled room
- The gum is packag
How does chewing gum get the Seal?
A company earns the ADA Seal for its product 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. Studies must also show that the gum is safe to oral
tissues. The manufacturer must provide the results of both laboratory
studies and clinical studies in humans.
Does the ADA award its Seal to sugar-containing gum?
To date, the only gum with the ADA Seal are sugarless. They
are sweetened by non-cavity causing sweeteners such as aspartame,
sorbitol or mannitol. Chewing sugarless gum has been shown to increase
the flow of saliva, thereby reducing plaque acid, strengthening the
teeth and reducing tooth decay. Of course, chewing sugar-containing gum
also increases saliva flow, but it also contains sugar which is used by
plaque bacteria to produce decay-causing acids. Further research needs
to be done to determine the effects of chewing sugar-containing gum on
tooth decay.
Why look for chewing gum that displays the ADA Seal?
The Seal is your assurance that the Sugar-free Chewing Gum
has met the ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness. You can trust
that claims made on packaging and labeling for ADA-Accepted products are
true, because companies must verify all of the information to the ADA.
Look for the ADA Seal because products with the ADA Seal say what they
do and do what they say.