Happy National Chewing Gum Day, September 30, 2015

Have a chew! (photo: Y. Mikalopas)

Chew on this….

It took a little web surfing to verify that this is even actually a “national day” and then I figured, even if it's not, why not write about the benefits, and potential detriments, of chewing gum.

1- Hold the sugar

Benefits gained by chewing gum are with “SUGARFREE” or “SUGARLESS” gum only.  These gums contain sugar substitutes such as sorbitol or xylitol (which is becoming very popular these days and being added to lots of “diet” products.) Sugar contributes to the creation of cavities so it is NOT a good idea to chew gum that contains sugar. Ever. Sorry.

Potential detriment: Sugar substitutes can cause stomach upset, so go easy with the amount of gum you chew. If you are sensitive to these types of products, you might want to skip it.

2– Have a chew after meals

According to the American Dental Association website (ada.org), chewing gum for twenty minutes after a meal stimulates saliva.  The more saliva you have, the better for your mouth. Saliva helps to wash away the sugars that the plaque bacteria in your mouth need to live and grow and helps to return your mouth to normal pH levels. Saliva also contains potassium and calcium, which along with fluoride, helps to re-mineralize your teeth.

Caveat: If you have jaw problems or “TMJ” chewing for twenty minutes might not be for you. If you have braces, loose fillings, bridgework or dentures, also not for you. And if you have loose fillings or bridgework, please get yourself to the dentist.

3- Stop smoking and lose weight!

The Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org) suggests that chewing gum can assist with smoking cessation as well as forestall the urge to eat, decreasing your total intake of calories. It’s a win-win and there is research that backs up these assertions.

I don’t see any negatives here. I’d rather see people chewing gum like cows than smoking.

4 – Four-Step Program

Dental hygienists have proposed a four-step process for a healthy mouth: Floss, Brush, Rinse, and…you guessed it – Chew. (Adha.org)

Please note that chewing gum does not allow one to skip the brushing or the flossing. Ever. Sorry.

5- Smarty pants

There have been multiple studies which seem to indicate that chewing gum may increase memory and improve test performance.

Unfortunately, chewing gum in school – kind of frowned upon.  Too many wads wind up stuck under the desk, in carpet, or in hair. But if you’re studying at home, it can’t hurt.

If you’d like to see a list of sugar-free chewing gums that get the stamp of approval from the American Dental Association – yes, the “four out of five dentists” endorsement is a real thing – visit this page on their website:

http://www.ada.org/en/science-research/ada-seal-of-acceptance/ada-seal-products/product-category/?category=Sugar+Free+Chewing+Gum+for+Reducing+Cavities

Finally: Brush, floss, rinse and chew to get those teeth clean and shiny in preparation for World Smile Day, this Friday, October 2, 2015.

The Predictive Power of Spit

Research presented at the 2015 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Sunday suggests that it may be possible to use saliva as a diagnostic tool in predicting Alzheimer's disease.  Alzheimer's causes changes in the body years before any symptoms occur and early diagnosis is key, as it is in other diseases, for early treatment and better outcomes.

While this particular study is preliminary and needs to be reviewed and replicated, the predictive power of spit has already been harnessed for other diseases and conditions.  Saliva tests for HIV have been used by medical professionals since the early 2000s and in 2012 the FDA approved a home testing kit for consumers.  According to the National Institutes of Health there are also saliva tests available for hormonal problems and to screen for substance and alcohol abuse.

Oh, spit! 

(photo: Y. Mikalopas)

In dentistry, the importance of healthy saliva has long been recognized as critical for oral health.  In addition to keeping the mouth moist and aiding in digestion of food, saliva contains a host of substances including immune factors, proteins, bacteria, and minerals.  Saliva tests that examine the type of bacteria in the mouth can be used to suggest treatment options for patients at risk for cavities and gum disease.  There are also tests that look at salivary flow, which can aid in treatment of dry mouth.

Saliva tests that examine protein markers, like the preliminary one for Alzheimer's, could potentially be predictive of systemic diseases like cancer.  A study of head and neck cancers at John Hopkins used saliva and blood testing which reliably found DNA markers in the saliva of patients with these cancers.  Changes and differences in proteins in the saliva have also been found in other patients with cancer, such as women with breast cancer.

There is no downside to saliva testing as a diagnostic tool.  Saliva tests that currently exist are easy to use, non-invasive, reliable and relatively inexpensive.  Imagine a future without the need for invasive procedures like biopsies or uncomfortable screenings like mammograms - where a yearly saliva test, done quickly in a doctor's office or at home, could reliably predict disease and result in early intervention and treatment.  

Sources: Alzheimer's Association International Conference (2015). Researchers Report New Ways to Predict the Development of Alzheimers Disease (Press Release). Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/aaic/releases_2015/Sun-8amET.asp; National Institutes of Health, Fact Sheet, Salivary Diagnostics; Y. Wang, S. Springer, et al. "DNA Shed from Head and Neck Tumors Detected in Blood and Saliva," Hopkinsmedicine.org, 24 June 2015; A. Nieves, W. Fitzgerel-Blue. "Saliva: Of Emerging Importance in the Medical and Dental Worlds," rdhmag.com.

This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Please see your dental or medical professional for treatment and advice.