The American Dental Association (ADA), an organization that represents over 155,000 dentists in the US, has awarded the ADA Seal of Acceptance to three brands of sugar free chewing gum made by Wrigley because clinical tests have shown they help to prevent tooth decay, reduce plaque acid and strengthen teeth.
The three brands receiving the ADA Acceptance Award today, Tuesday 25th September, are: Orbit, Extra and Eclipse.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance is only given to products that pass a rigorous review by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.
Also, manufacturers must provide objective evidence from laboratory and clinical studies on their products’ safety, effectiveness and promotional claims; they must submit the list of ingredients for approval, and they must show that factories and laboratories meet ADA standards.
Executive Director of the ADA, Dr James B Bramson said:
“When you see the ADA Seal on the package of a dental product, you can rest assured that an independent team of experts has evaluated scientific evidence and has concluded the product meets the ADA’s criteria for safety and effectiveness and provides oral health benefits.”
In this case, the studies submitted by Wrigley showed that chewing any of the three brands of gum for 20 minutes three times a day after meals increased saliva.
Saliva neutralizes and washes away plaque acid, and strengthens tooth enamel by bathing the teeth with minerals like calcium, phosphate and fluoride, which also help to prevent cavities.
“Now, consumers know that if they chew gum that carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, they are actually doing more for their oral health than just freshening their breath,” said Bramson.
Chewing gum is not the only product to receive the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Other products that have shown to be beneficial to oral health include toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and mouth rinses.
According to the US Surgeon General, reporting in May 2000, among the US population:
- Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases. It is 5 times as common as asthma and 7 times as common as hay fever.
- 18 per cent of 2 to 4 year old children have had tooth decay, and 16 per cent have gone untreated.
- 78 per cent of young people by age 17 have had a cavity, and 7 per cent have lost at least one permanent tooth.
- 69 per cent of adults aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth.
- 26 per cent of adults aged 65 to 74 have lost all their natural teeth.
- 48 per cent of adults aged 35 to 44 have gingivitis and 22 per cent have destructive gum disease.
- 30,000 people are diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer each year, and 8,000 die of these diseases.
- Mouth and throat cancers are the sixth most common cancers in US males and the fourth most common in African American men.
As well as reiterating the importance of a daily oral hygiene routine, the report noted that major barriers to oral health included socioeconomic factors, such as lack of dental insurance and the inability to pay from one’s own pocket.
Regarding insurance: while 44 million Americans have no medical cover, more than twice this number, 108 million, have no dental insurance.
Also, uninsured children are 2.5 times less likely to receive dental care than children who are insured.
The ADA recommend the following daily oral hygiene routine to keep mouth, teeth and gums healthy:
- Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between teeth every day using floss or an interdental cleaner.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Pay regular visits to the dentist.
Click here for American Dental Association.
Written by: Catharine Paddock