Remineralization of enamel subsurface lesions in situ by the use of three commercially available sugar-free gums.
BACKGROUND
Commercially available sugar-free chewing gums have been claimed to provide oral health benefits.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this randomized, double-blind crossover in situ study was to compare the efficacy of three commercially available sugar-free chewing gums: Trident White, Orbit, and Orbit Professional, in remineralizing enamel subsurface lesions in situ.


METHODS
Specimens containing enamel subsurface lesions were sectioned into test and control half-slabs with the test half-slabs inserted into removable palatal appliances. For each test chewing period, subjects were randomly allocated one of three test gums. Subjects (n = 10) chewed the randomly allocated gum for a 20-min period four times per day for 14 days. Each subject chewed all three test gums, with a 7-day washout period between crossovers. After each 14-day cycle, test and control half-slabs were paired, embedded in resin, sectioned, and subjected to microradiography to determine remineralization.


RESULTS
The gum TW produced significantly greater remineralization (18.4 +/- 0.9%) than Orbit (8.9 +/- 0.5%) and Orbit Professional (10.5 +/- 0.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
The superior remineralization activity of the TW gum in situ was attributed to the presence of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomplexes.
Manton
David J
DJ
Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Science, School of Dental Science and The Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Walker
Glenn D
GD
Cai
Fan
F
Cochrane
Nathan J
NJ
Shen
Peiyan
P
Reynolds
Eric C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002364:Caseins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002638:Chewing Gum / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003720:Densitometry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014089:Tooth Remineralization / Q000379:methods*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002364:Caseins; D002638:Chewing Gum; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C447032:casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomplex