Calcium Gum May Help To Prevent Tooth Decay
October 20, 2009

By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - A small study has found that special chewing gum may help to strengthen teeth.

Australian researchers did the study. They compared four types of gum: two sugar-free gums without added calcium and two sugar free gums with added calcium.

Only 10 people were in the study. Each wore a special mouth appliance that had small pieces of human teeth embedded in it. The enamel on the mouth appliance was then tested to see what the effect of chewing gum was on tooth enamel.

They chewed one of the gums for 20 minutes, 4 times a day, for 2 weeks. After a one-week rest, they started again with another type of gum. The cycle continued until each person had chewed all four types of gum.

All of the gums strengthened teeth, at least a little. The non-calcium gums made enamel about 9% stronger.

The calcium gums contained different types of calcium. One had CPP-ACP (casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate). The other had calcium carbonate. The CPP-ACP gum made enamel about 21% stronger. The calcium carbonate gum made it about 12% stronger.

CPP-ACP also is called Recaldent. It is in some products that claim to strengthen teeth. Two 2009 research reviews said that CPP-ACP may help to strengthen teeth and reverse very early tooth decay.

The study appears in the October issue of the Journal of Dentistry.