Chewing Gum, the Cavity Fighter?
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Those four out of five dentists who recommended Trident for their patients who chew gum knew what they were talking about.
Actually, any kind of sugarless gum promotes better dental health, according to new research in the journal PLos ONE.
Research showed that a stick of gum captures about 10 percent of the microbial load in saliva or up to 100 million bacteria that can lead to cavities.
The amount of bacteria is about the same that’s removed through flossing although this method cleans out different regions of the mouth.
The researchers also discovered that gum captures most of the bacteria within 30 seconds because after that, it start losing its adhesive quality.
Bottom line: gum is good for your teeth. Just remember though that the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., which has something to gain from positive results, funded the study.
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