Can Chewing Gum Reduce Teeth Sensitivity?
Whitening and Sensitivity
When it comes to teeth whitening, there is the potential for
developing sensitivity, but, luckily, it’s also possible that chewing gum may
help reduce that sensitivity. At-home teeth whitening treatment kits are fairly
common, but the whitening agents found in some products can cause or worsen already
sensitive teeth. Sensitivity can also be caused by certain foods and drinks as
well as a rough brushing regimen, but a group of researchers are certain gum
can help after their study’s results.
The recent study, published by the British
Dental Journal
, saw 88 patients have their teeth whitened and then split
into three groups. The groups consisted of patients chewing sugar free gum,
patients chewing sugar free gum with Recaldent, and patients who didn’t chew
gum at all. Much to the surprise of the researchers, the patients from the
groups who chewed gum experienced less sensitivity compared to the control
group of patients.
History of Chewing Gum
Scientists suspect that the act of chewing gum provided the
therapeutic effect of reducing sensitivity by encouraging the increased flow of
saliva and providing a simple distraction, making patients less aware of the
pain. Other studies have even shown chewing gum could benefit the teeth by
preventing decay.
As per the American Dental Association, chewing gum for oral health is
an old practice. Chewing gum, in various forms, has been done for thousands of
years. Greeks chewed sap from mastic trees, and Mayans chewed sap from the
sapodilla tree. In New England, Native Americans were also known to chew spruce
sap, something the European settlers learned from them. Despite the more
complex materials found in most gum products today, the tradition continues.
Desensitizing Agents and Whitening
Desensitizing agents found in gum, such as Recaldent, help reduce
discomfort. Agents like Recaldent can help strengthen teeth by providing
calcium and phosphate to re-mineralize teeth. There are currently two brands of
sugar free gum that have the ADA’s stamp of approval. They also recommend
chewing gum 20 minutes a day at least to reduce tooth decay.
If you’re in the process of whitening your teeth, invest in products
for sensitive teeth as well to make the process more bearable. You can find
this in gum as well as toothpaste and mouthwash. If any of your teeth’s dentin
is exposed, you may prefer these items over other oral health products.
Whitening strips can irritate the nerves and make the process extremely
uncomfortable, so you might try a subtler treatment to begin with. You should
also use products with low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, which is found
in most whitening products, and work your way up. This will help your teeth to
adjust and allow you to avoid discomfort without postponing treatment. You
should also talk with your dentist to clarify which method would be the most
effective.
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Photo via Billion Photos / Shutterstock
