Modern lifestyle which promotes the consumption of acidic soft drinks and fruit juices is often blamed for an increase in dental erosion, but there are in fact many causes, including recurrent vomiting, acid medications, and alcholism. Dental erosion refers to loss of the hard dental tissue, chemically etched away from the tooth surface by acid and/or chelation without bacterial involvement. Erosion is slow, can go undetected for a long time and occurs even on plaque free sites.

Saliva is known to have many properties that can provide a protective function against erosion, playing an important role in modifying the potential erosive effects of dietary foods and beverages.

Both the quantity and quality of saliva may account for observed differences in the extent of dental erosion. Research has shown that chewing sugarfree gum, such as {brand}, stimulates the production of saliva by up to 10 times the normal rate in the first few minutes of chewing¹. At the same time, the composition of saliva changes, making it even more effective at replacing lost minerals. What’s more, chewing {brand} for 20 minutes after eating and drinking increases the bicarbonate in saliva thereby helping neutralise acids in the mouth².

Preventive measures to help guard against erosion include:

• Using a soft or medium type toothbrush

• Using low abrasive fluoride containing toothpaste

•  Not brushing teeth immediately before or after an acid ‘challenge’

• Regular visits to the dentist

• Chewing sugarfree gum such as {brand} after an acid ‘challenge’

References:

1. Dawes C, Macpherson LMD (1992) Effects of nine different chewing gums and lozenges on salivary flow rate and pH. Caries Res. 26:176-182

2. Shannon LL, Frome WJ (1973) Enhancement of Salivary Flow Rate and Buffering Capacity. J. Canad. Dent. Assn. 3:177-181