Monday, January 26, 2015

Study: Chewing Gum For 10 Minutes May Remove Up To 100M Bacteria.

Study: Chewing Gum For 10 Minutes May Remove Up To 100M Bacteria.

Medical Daily (1/24, Borreli) reports that a study recently published in the journal PLOS ONE found that “chewing gum for up to 10 minutes can remove 100 million bacterial, or 10 percent of the microbial load in saliva,” meaning that “gum could possibly be just as effective as flossing, even though they each target different areas of the mouth.” Still, “chewing gum does not remove bacteria from the same places of the dentition as does brushing or flossing” and “the findings place more emphasis on gum’s long-term effect than the immediate effects of brushing or flossing.” Moreover, the American Dental Association has warned that the study’s findings should not be misconstrued as an excuse to chew gum instead of brushing or flossing as “brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and cleaning plaque from between your teeth once a day with either dental floss or other dental cleaners is recommended.”
        The International Business Times (1/24, Ross) also reported on the study, adding that “after several rounds of gum chewing, researchers found that after about 30 seconds, the gum’s bacteria-trapping abilities began to wane” and “recommend keeping the chewing to less than 10 minutes.” Moreover, the International Business Times reported, “Chewing sugarless gum increases saliva production, which helps remove food debris from the mouth, neutralizes bacterial acids and spreads disease-fighting elements around the mouth, according to the American Dental Association.” However, the International Business Times also points out that the ADA warned against substituting gum chewing for a proper oral hygiene routine.

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