DENTAL CHEWING GUM AND CARIES - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

There is good evidence that supports the use of sugarless dental chewing gum, containing Xylitol and/or Sorbitol, for caries reduction, particularly on the occlusal tooth surface. Gum chewing varied between 2-7x daily after meals for 5-20 min. There seemed to be no difference between Xylitol-, Sorbitol and Xylitol/Sorbitol Chewing Gum. Two trials showed no significant anti- caries effect as compared to the control. However, one trial (in situ) used an intensive chewing regimen of 5x daily for 20 min (for both dental- and sugar gums) thus increasing Saliva flow in both groups (CREANOR et al, 1992). The other trial confirmed no cariogenic effect of Sorbitol gum as compared to no gum chewing (GLASS, 1983). Based on the evidence found it can be concluded that dental chewing gum has a caries reducing effect.