[A comprehensive study of the mechanical effects of the long-term and regular use of chewing gum]

The results of regular gum chewing (30 min 3 times a day after meals for 4 weeks) were assessed in 46 volunteers by the functional diagnosis methods. Chronometry of food chewing and arbitrary gum chewing for 30 min was carried out before the investigation. Daily duration of food chewing is about 33 min. During gum chewing, the number of masticatory strikes on the inert side is higher during the first 5 min and then levels. This leads to levelling of mechanical loading of the lateral parts of the jaws and of bioelectrical activity in the masticatory muscles proper. The gum is bit 3-5 times more often with frontal teeth than with lateral teeth. Regular use of chewing gum notably increases the blood supply to the periodontium, and the regulatory mechanisms fail to cope with it in periodontal diseases; this leads to venous congestion in the regional vascular system.