The effect of chewing gum on the impact, pain and breakages associated with fixed orthodontic appliances: a randomized clinical trial

Authors - Benson PE, Razi RM, Al-Bloushi RJ Objectives - To determine if the use of chewing gum reduced the impact and pain of fixed orthodontic appliances. Setting and sample population - The Orthodontic Department of the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Fifty-seven patients aged 18 years old or younger and who were about to start fixed orthodontic appliance treatment. Subjects and Methods - A randomized clinical trial with two parallel groups allocated to either receive chewing gum after placement of their appliance or who were asked not to chew gum. The patients completed a previously validated Impact of Fixed Appliances questionnaire at 24hrs and 1wk following each visit up until the placement of the working archwire. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the intensity of pain. Appliance breakages were recorded to the end of treatment. Results - The difference between the median Total Impact Score of the two groups at 24hrs was 16, which was significantly different (P=0.031; Mann-Whitney U test). The difference between the median VAS between the two groups at 24 hours was 25 mm, which was significantly different (P=0.038; Mann-Whitney U test). There were no differences at 1 week. None of the risk ratios for appliance breakages were significant. Conclusion - Chewing gum significantly decreased both the impact and pain from the fixed appliances. There was no evidence that chewing gum increased the incidence of appliance breakages.