Effects of fluoride chewing gum on stimulated salivary flow rate and fluoride content.
BACKGROUND
The purposes of this study were to measure the stimulated salivary flow rates generated by sorbitol gum, fluoride gum and paraffin wax control, and to assess the salivary fluoride clearance pattern in fluoride chewing gum.


METHODS
Six healthy subjects were instructed to chew paraffin wax control and sorbitol gum and fluoride gum (0.1 mg F/stick) 5 times per day for the experimental periods--21 days. Stimulated saliva samples were collected for each subject at 7, 14, 21 days at 3 pm after chewing of the gum. The saliva was collected at 1, 3, 5, and 8 minutes after the subject started chewing the wax or gum. Flow rates for each group and salivary fluoride content of the fluoride chewing gum were measured.


RESULTS
The overall mean salivary flow rates for the control, sorbitol gum and fluoride gum were 1.7 +/- 0.6, 2.0 +/- 0.6, and 2.1 +/- 0.7 ml/min respectively. The mean stimulated flow rate for fluoride gum was found significantly higher than that of the control (p = 0.002). However, no significant differences appeared between the control and sorbitol gum (p = 0.104), and sorbitol gum and fluoride gum (p = 0.563). The mean fluoride concentrations at different intervals during eight minutes of chewing fluoride gum were between 1.8 and 4.2 ppm.


CONCLUSIONS
Chewing fluoride-containing chewing gum releases fluoride at a low concentration in saliva. Fluoride chewing gum combining a salivary stimulator and caries prevention agent is a perspective method of caries prevention.
Lin
Y T
YT
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niaosung Hsiang, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C. Joe0430@ms13.hinet.net
Lin
Y T
YT
Lu
S Y
SY
D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology
D002638:Chewing Gum; D013012:Sorbitol; D005459:Fluorides