Growth of plaque while chewing sucrose and sorbitol flavoured gum

The aim of the study was to assess the claimed toothcleansing effect of sorbitol and sucrose flavoured chewing gums. A total of 24 dental students participated in a double-blind, four times crossed over clinical trial during which each student chewed both types of gum for 4 days each. No other means to clean the teeth were allowed during the test periods. Two 4-day periods of no oral hygiene and no chewing were used as controls indicating the normal growth rate of plaque. The results confirmed earlier observations that sorbitol flavoured gum does neither increase or decrease plaque formation. Chewing of sucrose gum, however, was found to promote the growth rate of plaque. The cleansing effect of the gums was also tested on the plaque formed during the 4-day no-oral-hygiene periods. In this part of the study the chewing of 10 pieces of sorbitol flavoured gum during a time period of 3 h did not significantly reduce the plaque scores, while the sucrose flavoured gum, correspondingly used, again resulted in a statistically significant increase in the amount of bacterial deposits. Because of the rapid reaction of the plaque to sucrose flavoured gum, so-called sugarless substitutes were recommended for those who insist on chewing.