Could Chewing Gum be as Good for You as Flossing?
Most of us are aware that flossing has benefits for oral health, but a new study has suggested that chewing gum can be as beneficial as flossing.
A new study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Groningen in Holland, has revealed that chewing gum can be as effective as flossing when it comes to promoting good oral hygiene. According to the research team, chewing a piece of gum for 10 minutes can remove 100 million bacteria from the mouth, making it a highly effective means of cleaning the mouth, especially after eating. This figure equates to around a tenth of the bacteria living in the mouth at any given time.
Researchers analysed the effects of chewing for set periods of time. The team chewed gum for varying durations and then analysed their mouths using an electron microscope. Researchers examined the gums closely after chewing gum for set periods of time and analysed the results.
The team discovered that chewing sugar-free gum was hugely beneficial for oral health when it was chewed for up to 10 minutes. Chewing for longer periods of time undid all the good work, as bacteria that had gathered around the gums was then re-deposited into the mouth. Researchers also stressed the importance of chewing sugar-free gum.
The findings of the study have been published in the journal PLOS One.
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