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Word of Mouth
Delta Dental
Gum Rap
Dentists can often recognize the mouth
of a gum chewer. The upper back teeth
are elongated while the corresponding
lower teeth are depressed. In addition,
gum chewers’ upper front teeth tend
to drift toward their upper lip. The
(mandible) lower jaw can draw back.
This leads to a distorted bite and
breakdown of the supporting tissue.
It’s more than just Bubblicious and Minty Fresh
Yes, gum has been scientifically shown
to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Chewing gum has been around since
ancient times—filling an evident human need
for something to chomp on. Yet only in recent
years have chewing gum’s health benefits
been recognized by dental professionals.
Specifically, sugar-free gum helps
fight tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by
Tooth or Consequences
a particularly sticky strain of bacteria that is
• Teeth are designed for uninterrupted the main component of dental plaque. In the
chewing for 20 minutes a day - about presence of sugars and starches, these bacteria
the time most people spend chewing produce an acid which dissolves the calcium in
their food. Many gum chewers
the teeth, thus initiating the decay process.
chew for hours at a time, putting
extra strain on the teeth and their
supporting structures. This results in The mechanics of chewing
jaw strain, temporomandibular joint The act of chewing benefits the teeth
dysfunction (TMJ dysfunction), facial in several ways.
• It stimulates the production of saliva to
pain, and tooth problems.
help wash away debris and help neutralize
• If you watch closely, you’ll see that
most gum chewers chew on one
plaque acid in the mouth.
side most of the time. This can
• Sugar-free gum assists in reversing the
lead to overdeveloped muscles of
enamel-weakening process that causes
mastication (chewing) on one side.
cavities.
The imbalance may cause facial pain
and headaches.
Which gum to chew?
• Brands of gum containing sugar can
Make sure it’s sugar-free and has the
be harmful to your teeth if these
American
Dental Association’s Seal of
types of gum are chewed too often
Acceptance,
indicating that the formulation has
or are removed from the mouth too
been clinically proven to help prevent cavities,
soon. But studies have shown that
reduce plaque, and strengthen the teeth.
if a person chews gum containing
sugar, it should be chewed for at
Chewing gum comes in a wide variety
least 15 to 20 minutes. After this
of flavors, which assist in stimulating saliva
time, the sugar is gone, but the saliva flow. It is also available with added whitening
is sufficiently stimulated to rinse
ingredients, as well as with xylitol and baking
away some of the sugar residue.
soda (both proven to assist as decay-fighters).
An Extra Byte for Mom
and Dad
• There is evidence to support that
those who chew gum on a regular
basis tend to snack less between
meals. Less snacking means less
food particles floating around in the
mouth. This of course means less
plaque and the problems that it can
bring.
12
The optimal dosage
Just how well do you know
gum? Chew on these questions
to find out!
1. How many sticks of gum does an
average American chew in a year? ___
A. 200 B. 300 C. 400
2. How many tons of gum are chewed
every year? _____
A. 50,000 B. 75,000 C. 100,000
3. If all the five-chunk packs of Bubble
Yum ever chewed in the U.S. since it’s
introduction in 1975 were laid end-toend, how many times would it circle the earth at the equator? ______
A. 2 B. 5 C. 7
4. San Luis Obispo, California, is the home of ‘Bubble Gum Alley’.
What is it? _____
A. An alley with brick walls covered with ABC (already-been-chewed)
gum wads.
B. The place where bubble gum was invented.
C. The home of the largest collection of bubble gum machines.
5. Richard Walker holds the record for the Chomp Title by chewing 135
sticks of gum for the longest time. How long did he chomp? _____
A. 5 hours B. 6 hours C. 8 hours
6. The Topps company holds the record for having made the largest single
piece of bubble gum. How many pieces of normal-sized Bazooka did it
equal? ______
A. 5000 B. 8000 C. 10, 000
7. The 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card is the most valuable Topps Company
card. How much did it sell for at auction? ______
A. $75,000 B. $120,000 C. $1,000,000
8. What is the Official Gum of Major League Baseball?______
A. Bubble Yum B. Bazooka C. Topps
9. When was the first successful bubble gum invented? ________
A. 1891 B. 1906 C. 1928
The ADA recommends 20 minutes of
chewing time after meals to prevent the acid
production that occurs directly after eating and
drinking. Doing so, has been shown to help
reduce the risk of tooth decay by nearly forty
percent. Think of it as an aerobic workout for
the mouth; the more often it’s performed, the
longerterm its benefits.
10. Susan Mont”Gum”ery Williams is the
Guinness Record Holder for the Worlds Largest
Gum Bubble. How big was it? __________
A. 19 inches B. 23 inches C. 27 inches
1. B. 300; 2. C. 100,000; 3. C. 7 (and a little more!); 4. A. An alley with brick walls covered
with ABC (already-been-chewed) gum wads; 5. C. 8 hours; 6. C. 10,000; 7. B. $120,000; 8.
A. Bubble Yum; 9. C. 1928; 10. B. 23 inches.
Tooth Be Told
printed on recycled paper
September 2010