When standing in line at the gas station or grocery store, we often find ourselves faced with rows of chewing gum. These long-lasting candies have been a time-honored impulse buy for generations, but in an effort to stay relevant, many brands of chewing gum have encroached into dental hygiene territory. It’s no longer enough to be sugar- free; nowwe see packaging that claims certain brands of chewing gum are “good for your teeth.” While any sugarless gum can clean teeth by removing food particles, some brands are going a step further. By adding the naturally occurring protein casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP, though more commonly known as the trademarked name Recaldent) to their gum, some brands claim they can fight decay by hardening tooth enamel. To test these claims, researchers from the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, attempted to determine if chewing gum containing CPP-ACP could promote an increase in specific bacteria species associated with dental health, including Streptococcus sanguinis. Researchers conducted a three-leg cross- over, randomized, controlled clinical trial with 19 participants. The participants were randomly divided into three groups: a group that chewed sugar-free gumwith CPP-ACP, a group that chewed sugar-free gumwithout CPP-ACP, and a group that did not chew any gum. The chewing
gum groups were instructed to chew gum six times a day for 20 minutes over the course of two weeks. During the trial, participants abstained from oral hygiene. Participants had washout periods of two weeks between intervention periods. After each intervention, supragingival plaque was collected. Researchers analyzed the plaque for bacterial composition by sequencing the V4 variable region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the data. The results showed that when compared to participants who did not chew gum, participants who chewed CPP- ACP gum did experience a significant increase in the presence of health-associated bacteria:
Study Suggests CPP-ACP Sugar-
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S. sanguinis (112%)
Rothia dentocariosa (127%) Corynebacterium durum (80%)
Free Chewing Gum Increases Prebiotics in the Mouth
Streptococcus mitis (55%)
The results of the study were published in the Journal of Dentistry. Researchers concluded that “regular chewing of CPP-ACP sugar-free gum increases the proportions of health-associated commensal species in supragingival plaque to promote prebiosis and oral homeostasis.” Based on the results of this study, if patients ask about the health benefits of chewing gum, then dental professionals could suggest chewing sugar-free CPP-ACP gum.
Have a Laugh
Vegan Banana Pancakes
INGREDIENTS
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1 1/2 cups flour
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1 cup soy milk
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
● 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
2 extra ripe bananas, mashed
● 1 tsp vanilla extract
● Cooking spray
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt 2. In a separate bowl, whisk bananas, soy milk, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla together. 3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir. Don’t overmix. Lumps are okay. 4. Spray a heated pancake griddle with cooking spray, and scoop 1/4 cup of the mixture onto the griddle. Repeat until the griddle is filled. 5. After 3 minutes or when bubbles appear, flip each pancake. 6. 6After each pancake has risen to double its initial height, remove from griddle. Repeat as necessary until batter is gone. 7. Serve with your favorite toppings!
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Inspired by My Darling Vegan
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