Effect of Chewing Gum Containing Calcified Seaweed on Remineralization and Acid Resistance of Enamel Subsurface Lesions

Abstract

Calcified seaweed contains abundant quantities of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, sodium and fluorine ions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chewing gum containing calcified seaweed on the remineralization and aciduric properties of enamel. For intraoral experiments, enamel blocks prepared from third molars were attached to an appliance. Each block was covered with acid-resistant nail varnish, except for a window measuring 6 x 4 mm. A caries-like lesion was artificially prepared in the window. Participants attached the appliance and chewed gum for 20 min, 4 times a day. The intraoral experiment period was 2 weeks. Half of each window was re-covered with nail varnish. In the aciduric experiment, these blocks were immersed in demineralizing solution. After demineralization, the blocks were embedded in polyester resin and prepared in ground sections. Contact microradiograms of these ground sections were obtained. A high degree of remineralization occurred at the surface and at a deep layer in the remineralized enamel area. In the aciduric experiment area, further demineralization was observed beneath the original demineralized layer, and overall depth of demineralization increased. A thin, highly mineralized layer was observed between the two demineralized layers. The degree of remineralization and aciduric rate with calcified seaweed treatment was higher than that with non-calcified seaweed treatment (p‹0.05). These results suggest that chewing calcified seaweed-containing gum significantly enhances the remineralization and acid resistance of enamel by exposure to fluorine ions.