|
Can Chewing Gum Help Dental Hygeine? Every time we eat, particles of food are lodged between and around the teeth, and in pockets that form between the teeth and the gums. These food particles provide nourishment to bacteria that thrive in the mouth’s warm and moist environment. These bacteria then create plaque acids by digesting the food and a film begins to form on your teeth that becomes tartar and eventually hardens into plaque. If allowed to continue, the plaque formation process eventually creates problems that can lead to things like gum disease, periodontal problems and the acids eat away at the tooth enamel creating a ground for decay. Once the situation has advanced to the point of actual problems, the only real solution is costly and time-consuming treatments at a dental office. It is therefore of great benefit to all of us to understand this process and to practice the essential steps of oral hygiene on a regular basis to maintain a clean and healthy mouth environment. Dentists will tell you that the essential steps include regular brushing and flossing. While most people brush in the morning and in the evening, few of us have the time and focus to brush after each meal. It is certainly not always convenient to break away after eating for brushing and there are few who actually brush 5 times a day! So what can we do between meals if we are not brushing this frequently? More and more, the benefit of chewing a sugar-free dental gum, specifically designed for oral hygiene, is being discussed. In 2007, the American Dental Association gave, for the first time, its seal of approval to several chewing gum products, specifically noting their benefits: “The ADA said its independent review of the studies confirms those three gums have been shown to help prevent cavities, reduce plaque acid and strengthen teeth.” These products from the Wrigley Company had the advantage of huge financial resources to both conduct the studies needed and pay for the ADA review. The principles utilized by these products are found in other manufacturers’ products as well. In the late 1990’s Arm & Hammer launched a Sugar Free Dental Care gum that they indicated “reduces plaque by 25%.” Arm & Hammer’s product included baking soda as a primary ingredient, which they indicated added cleaning and whitening benefits as well. Arm & Hammer also undertook studies which supported their claims. Some companies take the approach of using xylitol as a sugar-substitute in their products due to some studies out of Europe that indicate strong plaque-reducing benefits from regular xylitol intake. Still other products include anti-oxidants to provide support to the gum tissues of the mouth and provide general anti-oxidant protection to the whole system. The benefits of Vitamins A, C and E for overall health and well being are well-documented. Getting sufficient anti-oxidants on a daily basis is clearly an enormous benefit to the body to help it maintain its health, strength and resistance. In each case, the use of a sugar-free chewing gum formula is supplemented with specific strategies to enhance the oral hygiene benefits of the product. The potential for including a sugar-free chewing gum with added targeted ingredients is clearly being recognized. It should be noted however that not all “sugar free” chewing gums are the same. Some manufacturers use various artificial sweeteners which have caused enormous concern about their effect on hormone systems and, in the case of saccharin, possible link to cancer. Clearly, the ideal “sugar free” method is to replace sucrose and high fructose corn syrup with other natural sweeteners, rather than include these artificial sweetening agents. Similarly, some mainstream chewing gum products include lots of other ingredients, such as artificial colors that add nothing to the benefits, but increase the chemical load that people have to bear in today’s world. Eco-Dent* Between! Gum is a sugar-free gum, sweetened by use of xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol and glycerin, which uses baking soda, xylitol and anti-oxidants to combine together into a multi-faceted approach to between-meal oral hygiene. The product avoids the controversial artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or saccharin. No dyes or colors are added. Eco-Dent* Between! Gum was developed originally in the mid 1990’s as the science in this area was becoming known and sales have continued to grow consistently since that time as more and more consumers have discovered the product and its benefits. Between! Gum can be found at leading Natural Food stores nationwide. For more information contact: Eco-Dent ® Between! Dental Gum , can be found at most major health food stores, as well as online at internatural.com. For more information call the manufacturer hotline at 888 ECO-DENT or visit us online at www.eco-dent.com Press Contact: Shanta Krinsky Website: www.eco-dent.com
|
