Comparison of the effect of sugarfree orbit chewing gum & natural turpentine on salivary flow rate & pH

Medications, systemic diseases, head and neck radiotherapy and mental stress reduce the salivary flow rate and dispose one to dental caries and oral disease. There are different ways to compensate reduction of salivary flow rate such as sour candies, lemon, special stimulating sprays or lacques and chewing gums. Many factories such as Wrigly factory producing chewing gums claim to reduce caries rate by increasing salivary flow pH and after chewing their product. The purpose of this research was to compare the effect of sugarfree Orbit chewing gum and natural turpentine on the salivary flow rate and pH. Methods & Materials: This single blind randomized clinical trial was accomplished on 16 dental students of Shaheed Beheshti University in 1383 using a cross – over method. The samples were selected by simple non – randomized method divided into two groups, A and B each including eight persons. The saliva of all samples were collected 5 minutes after eating 2 sweet biscuits by active method during 10 minutes. Then the volume of collected saliva was measured and immediately the pH was determined by a calibrated pH meter. After 72h wash out period, on the 3rd day two biscuits were given to all of the samples and after 5 minutes 14 grams of sugarfree Orbit gum was given to samples of group B, the amount of saliva collected during 10 minutes measured, and the pH was resigtered. Again, after 72 h washed out period, on the 3rd day, two biscuits were given to all of the samples and after 5 minutes 14 grams of sugarfree Orbit was given to members of group B and equal amount of Turpentine to members of group A during 10 minutes of chewing. The amount of saliva and its pH was measured and registered again. The data were analyzed with sphericity and Friedman tests. The mean saliva flow rate after having the biscuits, chewing the gum and Turpentine was 5.0± 0.8 ml, 15.8±1.0 ml, 13.7±1.3 ml, respectively. The difference among three groups was statistically significant (P<0.005). The mean salivary pH at the beginning was 5.8+0.6 and after using gum and turpentine turned to 7.4±0.5 and 7.1+ 0.3. All of these amounts had a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Sugarfree Orbit chewing gum causes increase of saliva flow rate and its pH. Therefore, preventing the mouth diseases, caused by Xerostomia and teeth diseases. Keywords: