Impact of Chewing Gum With CPP-ACP on Tooth Mineralisation in Situ

There is some promising evidence in the literature to support a significant favourable impact of the consumption of Sugar Free Gum (SFG) containing casein phosphopeptide‐amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP‐ACP) on tooth mineralisation and especially on the promotion of tooth remineralisation, over and above the well‐established role of regular SFG, in humans. This study is a monocentric, randomised, double‐blind, cross‐over and controlled study. The research hypothesis is that chewing a SFG containing CPP‐ACP from Recaldent will better remineralise the enamel in healthy subjects compared with regular SFG, after 2 weeks of gum chewing 5 times a day for 20 minutes within 5 minutes after each meal and snack occasion, with a CPP‐ACP dose of 18.8 mg per SFG. This will be studied with an in situ model study, with palatal appliances bearing recessed (1,5mm) human demineralised enamel blocks with caries‐like lesions (subsurface lesions), which should be worn 24 h a day by the subjects, including during eating and drinking (but the appliances should be removed for daily oral hygiene procedure and cleaning of the appliance itself). Each appliance will contain two types of the demineralised enamel blocks: half of the blocks will contain shallow subsurface lesions (Carbopol method) and the other half reflecting deeper subsurface lesions (hydroxy‐ethyl cellulose method). Both types of lesions have been the subject of oral research interest, as both shallow and deep lesions are involved in caries genesis. Changes in mineralisation of the lesions will be assessed using Transverse Microradiography (TMR).