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A recent paper {J Periodontol 1996; 67(3)181-3} described a short-term study found that subjects who chewed gum containing chlorhexadine (CHX) and abstained from oral hygiene had significantly less plaque than subjects who chewed gum containing xylitol and sorbitol. This is only a preliminary study.
Chewing gum containing CHX is not available in the U.S. In fact, only two products containing CHX have been approved for human use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they are available by prescription only. Before the FDA decides if and how a CHX-containing chewing gum will be sold, it must first evaluate data from studies of safety and efficacy. Such studies are sponsored by a manufacturer and typically, are larger and more expensive than the one described in the Journal of Periodontology paper. Don't expect to see CHX chewing gum on the shelf for a while.
Dr. Jay D. Shulman |
