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This Is The Gum Your Dentist Wants You To Chew

This Is The Gum Your Dentist Wants You To Chew
by Carolina Pickens

Researchers at a leading German university recommend patients use chewing gum to detect detrimental bacteria.

Scientists at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg discovered that 6 percent to 15 percent of patients develop an inflammatory response after dental implants are successfully placed. This is caused by bacteria in the mouth that can cause decay and other problems in the gum tissue and bones.

Unfortunately, this can compromise a previously-successful implant and lead to many other destructive problems. To protect the oral health of their patients, the research team set off to create a way to detect these bacteria early, before they have the opportunity to flourish and compromise the implant.

They managed to create a chewing gum that can detect the bacteria before a patient can notice it.

It's simple to use. This fast and affordable diagnostic test is chewed, like a normal chewing gum. If there are inflammation-causing bacteria in the patient's mouth, the gum will release a bittering agent, alerting them of the problem.
 
People who chew this gum and feel it suddenly go bitter will be aware there is detrimental bacteria in their mouths. The patients can then go to their dentist to seek further care and recommendations for treatment. Research tests with patients at Rimini's Merli Dental Clinic showed this idea works well and that patients are responsive to the findings.

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