Abstract

Background: Gum chewing is a common habit in many countries. Both sucrose containing and sugar-free gumstimulate salivary flow, increase in saliva flow lead to more frequent replenishment and greater supply ofantibacterial factors, saline, buffers, minerals and other beneficial constituents, increase pH and buffer capacity ofwhole saliva. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different chewing gums on the salivaryconstituents including some elements (Magnesium, Calcium, Copper and Zinc)(chemical),PH and flowrate(physical)characteristic.Materials and Methods: Saliva samples was collected from dental students/college of dentistry 23 age stimulated bythree types of chewing gum (mastic, Arabic, sugar) and control group (unstimulated saliva), pH and saliva flow ratewas recorded for four groups. Biochemical analysis was assessed for some salivary elements, (Magnesium, Calcium,Copper, and Zinc) and its relation with different chewing gum and control group. Student's t-test, ANOVA and LSDtest was used for statistical analysis. Also mean and standard deviation was recorded.Results: Mean value of pH was found to be high in three types of chewing gum with highly significant differencecomparing with control group. A significant difference in flow rate was found between control and sugared gumgroup. Mg and Ca ione was found to be highly significant between mastic gum group and other three groups , aswell as highly significant difference was recorded among four groups of saliva in Cu ione, while no significantdifference was showed between Zn ione and four groups.Conclusion: Chewing gum include natural (mastic and Arabic) and sugared was increases salivary pH. Use ofchewing gum especially mastic and Arabic can enhance the remineralizing potential of the mouth, probably bystimulating salivary flow which may lead to rise salivary elements

Keywords

The article was added to IASJ on 2013-03-28

826 Total full text downloads since the date of addition