Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of sugar containing and sugar free chewing gums, after candy intake, on caries profile of young adults using Cariogram software.
Methods: Thirty dental students, 20-25 years old, were randomly selected and were divided into two groups according to type of chewing gum used either sugared gum or sugar free gum. Related general diseases, Diet contents, Diet frequency, Fluoride program, Clinical judgment and Saliva chairside tests (to record the flow rate and buffer capacity) were performed at baseline, after candy intake and after chewing gum. Based on these data, caries-related variables were recorded into the Cariogram software to calculate the predicted chance of avoiding caries for each subject.
Results: In each group, there was a statistically significant difference between baseline, after candy and after chewing gum regarding salivary secretion, buffering capacity and actual chance. Comparing between two groups, there was a statistically significant difference between two groups regarding salivary secretion while there was no statistically significance difference regarding buffering capacity and actual chance.
Conclusion: Chewing gum can be used as short-term preventive strategies to neutralize salivary pH after candy intake thus reducing caries risk in young adults.