Effects of Orbit Sugar-free Chewing Gum for Kids in Overall and Cariogenic Salivary Microflora Reduction

The effects of Orbit sugar-free chewing gum in plaque acid attack neutralisation, food debris removal, and saliva secretion rate stimulation, have already been clinically proven. Sugar alcohols, which have since recently been considered to have a direct impact on bacterial cells, are among the ingredients of this chewing gum. The objective of this study was to gain knowledge of the effects of Orbit sugar free chewing gum for kids with calcium addition in overall salivary flora reduction, and particularly in the reduction of the cariogenic oral microorganisms, as direct factors leading to dental decay. The research included a group of 24 healthy schoolchildren of both gender at the age between 8 and 13. All participants had good oral health, similar hygiene and diet regimens, and similar DMF indices. In order to obtain higher precision and accuracy, the same group was also used as a control group, so that saliva samples were taken twice: once before and once 20 minutes after Orbit chewing gum had been chewed. The microbiological analyses were performed at the Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology of Skopje Medical Faculty. The counts of Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus species (LB) were determined by commercially available CRT bacteria strips, whereas the total count of saliva microbials was determined by standard microbiological methods. Significant reductions in salivary SM and LB levels, and declines in the total count of aerobe and anaerobe bacteria, and Candida albicans as well, were observed in all cases.