Use Of Chewing Research Articles

Are chewing sticks effective in decreasing oral malodour? A bioanalytical evaluation

‘Bad breath’ or ‘Halitosis’ is of significant concern to majority of the population resulting in various physiological and psycho-social effects. Bad breath is caused by Volatile sulphur Compounds (VSCs) formed through microbial degradation of proteinaceous material in the oral cavity. The most common of these VSCs are hydrogen sulphide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) and dimethyl sulphide (CH3)2S. The use of herbal chewing sticks for oral hygiene has been in practice traditionally among Indian population. Fresh twigs of neem, miswak, babool, arjun etc. are used of which, neem and miswak are more popular. Current study evaluates the efficacy of the use of chewing sticks made from neem (Azadirachta indica) and miswak (Salvadora persica) in decreasing oral malodor and compares the efficacy with that of using marketed toothpaste. Decrease in VSCs level can be a good indicator to evaluate the suitability of using herbal chewing stick in the management of oral hygiene. Present study has been conducted on voluntarily consented, healthy human male subjects (n = 6) with VSCs > 300 ng/mL in a three-way crossover, randomized sequence, with two days of washout period as interval between treatments. VSCs from mouth air are measured by Gas Chromatography (GC) fitted with a Flame photometric detector (FPD). The variations in VSCs before and after use of two types of chewing sticks are statistically compared with those after the use of marketed toothpaste.

Salivary Fluoride Retention: A Comparative Analysis between Fluoride Containing Chewing Sticks and a Non Herbal Fluoridated Toothpaste

To determine and compare salivary fluoride retention after the use of different fluoride-containing chewing sticks and a non-herbal fluoridated toothpaste. This double-blind cross-over experimental study was undertaken among twenty randomly selected senior secondary students in Ibadan, Nigeria. Saliva samples were collected to establish baseline fluoride concentration before the use of chewing sticks and non-herbal fluoridated toothpaste. Four commonly used chewing sticks and one non-herbal fluoridated toothpaste were each used at two days interval, and saliva samples were collected at 0, 10, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after each use. These samples were stored and transported in Gio'Style coolers to the laboratory, where they were analyzed for fluoride concentration using a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 620 nm. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p < 0.05. At baseline mean (± SD) salivary fluoride concentration of participants was 25.95 (± 4.58) ppm. The mean (± SD) salivary fluoride concentration at 0 minutes was 228.0 (± 032.80) ppm, 427.65 (± 122.85) ppm, 413.45 (± 78.08) ppm, 329.05 (± 83.12) ppm and 323.80 (± 66.41) ppm corresponding to Alchornea laxiflora, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, Anogeissus leocarpus, Masularia acuminate and non-herbal toothpaste respectively. At 60 minutes Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides had the highest mean (± SD) fluoride concentration of 44.75 (± 13.32) ppm. The differences in mean (± SD) salivary fluoride concentrations amongst these tooth cleaning aids at 60 minutes were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides had the highest mean (± SD) salivary fluoride retention followed by the non-herbal fluoridated toothpaste. The use of chewing sticks can be a cost-effective and efficient means of caries prevention if used properly at regular interval.

School-based behavioral intervention to reduce the habit of smokeless tobacco and betel quid use in high-risk youth in Karachi: A randomized controlled trial.

There have been recent surges in the use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) and betel quid (BQ) chew among adolescents in South East Asian countries, with an increase, on average, of 7% to 15% between 2004 and 2013, necessitating interventional investigations to modify this behavior. The current intervention was aimed towards changing adolescents’ perceptions regarding the harmful effects of SLT and BQ use and encouraging them to quit. This randomized control trial involved 2140 adolescents from 26 private and public-sector schools in Karachi, Pakistan. After randomization, 1185 individuals were placed in the intervention group and administered a behavior changing intervention (BCI), while 955 individuals constituted the control group. A generalized estimating equation was employed to measure differences in repeated measures for both groups. The beta coefficients were reported after adjusting the covariates with the 95% confidence interval, and the p-value was considered significant at <0.050. Cohen’s d was employed to report the effect size of the intervention. The BCI resulted in a 0.176-unit (95% CI 0.078–0.274, p-value <0.001) increase in knowledge scores regarding the health hazards of SLT and BQ, a 0.141-unit (95% CI 0.090–0.192, p-value <0.001) increase in use perception scores, and a 0.067-unit (95% CI 0.006–0.129, p-value 0.031) increase in quit perception scores in the intervention group compared with those in the control group. A knowledge related module (p-value 0.024) and quit preparation module (p-value 0.005) were found to be helpful by adolescents in either changing their perceptions regarding SLT and/or BQ chew use or in quitting. The role of BCI is promising in improving adolescents’ knowledge and changing their perceptions in a positive manner regarding their harmful SLT and BQ use. Convincing results may be achieved if interventions are tailored, with an emphasis on the identification of the products that are used by adolescents in addition to highlighting their ill effects and how students may manage to quit them. If included in the schools’ curricula, this BCI method may help in developing schools that are free of SLT and BQ use.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03488095.

Freedom From Chew: Using Social Branding to Reduce Chewing Tobacco Use Among Country Peer Crowd Teens.

Peer crowds are macro-level, reputation-based subcultures with shared preferences, values, and behavior. The Country peer crowd has been the focus of tobacco industry research and marketing but has yet to be the primary focus of public health research. The current study explores the utility of Down and Dirty, a Social Branding tobacco education campaign, in changing Virginia Country teens' chewing tobacco-related attitudes and behavior. The relationship between chew use and Country peer crowd identification was also explored. To evaluate the campaign, a cross-sectional survey was administered online for 3 years from 2014 to 2016. Responses were collected via social media advertisements targeting 13- to 18-year-old Country youth from Virginia (total n = 1,264). Participants reported peer crowd identification, chew-related attitudes and behavior, and campaign engagement and appeal. Compared with Wave 1, Waves 2 and 3 Country teens who engaged with Down and Dirty had greater odds of holding strong attitudes against chew. Among campaign-engaged Country teens, odds of chew use were lower at Waves 2 and 3, and lower odds were associated with liking the campaign. Related to chew prevalence, Country teens demonstrated greater odds of past 30-day chew use compared to non-Country teens, and higher Country identification was associated with greater odds of chew use. Down and Dirty is a promising intervention associated with positive attitudinal and behavioral outcomes for high-risk Country teens. Additionally, this study helps document tobacco-related behavioral patterns of the Country peer crowd, a priority for ongoing tobacco education, especially around chew.

A national survey of tooth wear on facial and oral surfaces and risk factors in young Nigerian adults.

Objective:The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of tooth wear and to identify risk factors in a sample of young Nigerian adults.Materials and Methods:Participants were individuals aged 18–35 years, attending dental clinics located in eight centers representing the six geopolitical zones of the country. Calibrated examiners measured tooth wear using basic erosive wear examination (BEWE) index. Individuals were characterized by the highest BEWE score recorded for any facial/oral tooth surface. Previously validated questionnaire was used to gather information on demographics and risk factors.Results:A total of 1349 participants were examined. The prevalence of tooth wear was 60.2%. Bivariate analysis showed significant differences in the prevalence of tooth wear with age, educational level, and occupation (P ≤ 0.05). There were significant differences in tooth wear among the participants from the different states. Tooth wear was found to increase with smoking. Tooth wear was associated with brushing frequency, use of chewing stick, and other local cleaning agents. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, brushing frequency, brushing after breakfast added statistically significantly to the prediction of tooth wear (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Tooth wear was common in the population. The frequency of tooth brushing, use of chewing sticks and other local tooth cleaning agents may be contributory.

S2k-Leitlinie „Kariesprophylaxe bei bleibenden Zähnen — grundlegende Empfehlung“

AimFormulation of an S2k-Guideline ‘basic recommendations for caries prevention in the permanent dentition’ based upon the available evidence from clinical studies, systemic review articles and already existing guidelines and managed by the German Association of Conservative Dentistry (DGZ) and the German Society and Oral Medicine (DGZMK). Material and Methods: The authors performed a systematic literature search and evaluated it. Subsequently the recommendations were formulated during two consensus conferences with the participation of 13 professional associations/organizations, who agreed on the guideline. The unabridged version (German and English) of the guideline entitled ‘Caries prevention in permanent teeth - basic recommendations’ was published for the first time by the AWMF.ResultsThe recommendations address mechanical procedures for the reduction of the biofilm, influencing the biofilm by chemical means, prevention programs, fluoridation measures, nutrition recommendations, saliva stimulation through the use of chewing- gum, and pit and fissure sealing. This article describes the guideline process und the results in shortened form.ConclusionThis guideline provides scientifically based statements regarding basic measures and recommendations for caries prevention of permanent teeth, which can be applied for individual and group prophylaxis at home.

Spicing Up the N Gene: F. O. Holmes and Tobacco mosaic virus Resistance in Capsicum and Nicotiana Plants.

One of the seminal events in plant pathology was the discovery by Francis O. Holmes that necrotic local lesions induced on certain species of Nicotiana following rub-inoculation of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was due to a specific interaction involving a dominant host gene (N). From this, Holmes had an idea that if the N gene from N. glutinosa was introgressed into susceptible tobacco, the greatly reduced titer of TMV would, by extension, prevent subsequent infection of tomato and pepper plants by field workers whose hands were contaminated with TMV from their use of chewing and smoking tobacco. The ultimate outcome has many surprising twists and turns, including Holmes' failure to obtain fertile crosses of N. glutinosa × N. tabacum after 3 years of intensive work. Progress was made with N. digluta, a rare amphidiploid that was readily crossed with N. tabacum. And, importantly, the first demonstration by Holmes of the utility of interspecies hybridization for virus resistance was made with Capsicum (pepper) species with the identification of the L gene in Tabasco pepper, that he introgressed into commercial bell pepper varieties. Holmes' findings are important as they predate Flor's gene-for-gene hypothesis, show the use of interspecies hybridization for control of plant pathogens, and the use of the local lesion as a bioassay to monitor resistance events in crop plants.

ROLE OF CHEWING GUM ON EARLY RECOVERY OF FEMALES AFTER CAESAREAN SECTION

AbstractBackground:The incidence of Caesarean section is increasing day by day, which is usually conducted under spinal anesthesia. It is done on lower abdominal region and for this reason; the working of digestive system can slow down in the coming period. This is known as ileus, and is distressing for the patient but the way to prevent this problem, is there. One possible way of avoiding this consequence is chewing gum which tricks the body into thinking it is eating making the bowel start its function again.Objective:To compare the effect of chewing gum as compared to no intervention for early recovery of bowel system after lower segment caesarean section at term.Methodology:This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 100 females who were planned to undergo caesarean section. Informed consent was obtained and demographic details were noted. In group A, females were suggested to take chewing gum after 6 hours of surgery to chew for 60 minutes while in group B, females were not subjected to chewing gum. They were followedup in wards and time required for first bowel sound and first fecal discharge was noted and compared in both groups by using t-test.Results:The mean age of females was 24.48 1.99 years. The females presented at mean gestational age of 38.76 0.87 weeks. The mean BMI of females was 25.49 2.29 kg/m2. Total duration of surgery required for c-section including anesthesia time was 42.28 2.38 minutes. After surgery, the mean duration bet-ween c-section and first onset of feeling of hunger was 11.38 3.14 hours in chewing gum group and 16.84 0.49 hours in control group. The mean duration bet-ween c-section and first bowel sound was 21.39 0.68 hours in chewing gum group and in control group were 28.27 0.60 hours. The mean duration between c-section and first passage of flatus was 25.94 0.71 hours in chewing gum group and 32.00 0.77 hours in control group. The mean duration between c-section and first defecation was 31.56 0.81 hours in chewing gum group and 41.28 0.80 hours in control group. The difference was significant and chewing gum group required less duration for feel of hunger, first bowel sound, passage of flatus and defecation than control group (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion, use of chewing is effec-tive and beneficial in early recovery of females after caesarean section in terms of early return of bowel activities.Key words:Bowel Sound, Caesarean Section, Chew-ing Gum, Digestive System, Fecal Discharge, Ileus.

Poor oral Hygiene may be the Sole Cause of Oral Cancer

The purpose of this case-control study was to draw attention to the possibility that poor oral hygiene resulting from infrequent and inadequate use of chewing sticks might be the sole cause of oral cancer in 60 patients investigated in the maxillofacial units of two specialist hospitals in eastern Nigeria. Sixty cases and 60 controls made up the study population. We matched them for age, gender, period of admission and study site. The interview of all the participants contained data on demographic factors, family history of cancer, tobacco habits, oral hygiene, dietary habits and use of alcohol. We took biopsies of the lesions for histo-pathological examination. We entered the collected data into Microsoft excel package and transported it to Stata for generation of statistical test. Poor oral hygiene due to infrequent tooth brushing was associated with primary oral cancer in this patient sample. On the other hand, frequent tooth brushing was related to healthy status. In the absence of other known carcinogens, poor oral hygiene may be the single factor that caused oral cancer in these subjects. Research is needed to investigate the pathological mechanism that is associated with this risk factor.

The Efficacy of Neem Extract on Four Microorganisms Responsible for causing Dental Caries viz Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguis: An in vitro Study

HISTORY AND OBJECTIVES: From the ancient time, neem used to be the traditional medicine for many diseases and was mainly used for cleaning the oral cavity. The incidence of dental caries was less a few decades ago but now the incidence of caries is very aggressive. This might be due to change in dietary habits, life style and more tendency toward processed food. The objective of this study is to find out the truth that if the neem is really efficacious against caries-inducing microorganisms, mainly Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguis. The dried neem sticks ground into a coarse powder and weighed into 5, 10 and 50 gm were added to 100 ml of deionized double distilled water. After soaking for 2 days, the water was filtered at 4 °C and the fine filtrate was inoculated onto blood agar plates contains individual species of microorganisms and incubated at 37 °C for 2 days. At maximum concentrations, neem extract has shown the maximum zone of inhibition on Streptococcus mutans. At less concentration, the efficacy of neem has shown some inhibition of growth for all the four species of microorganisms. Neem chewing provides the maximum benefits. Hence, the use of chewing sticks of neem can be recommended.

Comparative evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of four chewing sticks commonly used in South India: An in vitro study

The use of chewing sticks has been well documented since ancient times in India. Chewing sticks are a good alternative to the toothbrush for maintaining oral hygiene. The present study was designed and conducted to compare and evaluate the antimicrobial effects of the aqueous extracts of neem, miswak, mango, and banyan chewing sticks against two bacterial species considered the most important in the initiation and progression of dental caries, namely Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, respectively. Twigs of the above mentioned chewing sticks were sun dried and powdered, and sterile aqueous solutions of 10%, 25% and 50% concentrations were prepared. Culture plates for S mutans and L acidophilus were prepared and the growth was transferred to nutrient agar and Mueller-Hinton agar; antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested after 72 h, using the disc diffusion method. Normal saline was used as control. The antimicrobial activity of neem, miswak, and mango extracts increased as their concentrations increased. Both banyan extract and saline showed no antimicrobial activity against the organisms tested. Based on the zones of inhibition, aqueous extracts of neem showed the most antimicrobial activity against S mutans, while miswak extracts showed superior antimicrobial activity against L acidophilus. We recommend further phytochemical and pharmacological studies to discover newer nonsynthetic tooth pastes and mouthwashes.

Oral hygiene and the use of plants

Good oral hygiene is necessary for the healthy teeth, gum and fresh breath. A number of methods are used in oral hygiene to prevent and cure oral diseases. It is of importance to look at the roles plants play in oral hygiene as a number of them have medicinal properties. When compared to toothpaste, mouthwashes, denitrifies etc. plants used for oral hygiene stands out. In many African homes, teeth are cleaned in the morning by chewing the root or slim stem of certain plants until they acquire brush-like ends. The Babylonians recorded the use of chewing sticks in 7000 BC and its use ultimately spread throughout the Greek and Roman Empires, it is also used by Egyptians, Jews and in the Islamic Empires. It is believed that the counterpart of the modern day toothbrush was unknown in Europe until about 300 years ago. Presently, chewing sticks is being used in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia. The present review looked at the various traditional oral hygiene methods with their medical implications. Key words: Oral hygiene, chewing sticks toothpaste, mouthwashes, denitrifies.

Phytochemical and in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Rutaceae), Terminalia glauscens (Combretaceae) and Pseudocedrela kotschyii (Meliaceae) three Nigerian Chewing Sticks

Streptococcus mutans has been reported to be the chief etiological agent implicated in dental caries along with other oral flora. The use of chewing sticks as a means of oral maintenance is common in most countries in Africa and Asia. The antimicrobial activities of three Nigerian chewing sticks tagged Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Zx), Tg Terminalia glauscens (Tg) and Pseudocedrela kotschyii (Pk) were studied in vitro against seven isolated strains of Streptococcus mutans from different patients and two Candida sp. isolated from saliva and plaque samples. The susceptibiltiy of these isolates against the plant extracts were determined by agar diffusion method using Mueller Hinton agar supplemented with sheep blood. The largest zone of growth inhibition for the extracts was recorded with Streptococcus mutans with a zone diameter of 22mm at 200mg/mL, while the largest zone of 18mm at 200mg/ml concentration was recorded for Candida sp. Zx gave the largest zone of inhibition against Streptococcus mutans while Tg gave the largest zone of inhibition against Candida sp. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the crude extracts against the test isolates was determined using agar dilution method and these ranged from 12.5–50mg/ml. Phytochemical study of the plants revealed the presence of alkaloids, amides, lignans, coumarins and tannin, which were believed to be responsible for the above activities. The chewing sticks contained both antibacteria and antifungal agents though the concentrations and composition of the bioactive substances may differ amongst the plants. The result of this study thus justifies their use as an alternative mouth cleansing agent.

Saliva: The precious body fluid

Saliva: The precious body fluid

Household Economy, Long-Term Change, and Social Transformation: The Bronze Age Political Economy of Northwestern Europe

In this article I examine how long-term economic strategies in the Bronze Age of northern Europe between 2300 and 500 BCE transformed the environment and thus created and imposed new ecological constraints that finally led to a major social transformation and a "dark age" that became the start of the new long-term cycle of the Iron Age. During the last 30 years hundreds of well-excavated farmsteads and houses from south Scandinavia have made it possible to reconstruct the size and the structure of settlement and individual households through time. During the same period numerous pollen diagrams have established the history of vegetation and environmental changes. I will therefore use the size of individual households or farmsteads as a parameter of economic strength, and to this I add the role of metal as a triggering factor in the economy, especially after 1700 BCE when a full-scale bronze technology was adopted and after 500 BCE when it was replaced by iron as the dominant metal. A major theoretical concern is the relationships between micro- and macroeconomic changes and how they articulated in economic practices. Finally the nature of the "dark age" during the beginning of the Iron Age will be discussed, referring to Sing Chew's use of the concept (Chew 2006).

Use of Chewing Gum in Reducing Postoperative Ileus After Elective Colorectal Resection: A Systematic Review

Published studies comparing the addition of chewing gum to standardized postoperative care to shorten postoperative ileus showed controversial results. This study was designed to conduct a systematic review of all relevant trials on chewing gum to reduce postoperative ileus after colorectal resection. All published trials that compared the additional use of gum chewing with standard postoperative management were identified from Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and All Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews between January 1991 and January 2007. The clinical outcomes were extracted and meta-analysis was performed by Forest plot review. Five randomized, controlled trials with 158 (94 males) patients with mean age of 61.9 years were included. Seventy-eight patients received an addition of gum chewing and 80 had standard postoperative care for colorectal resection. Operating time (P = 0.78) and blood loss (P = 0.48) were similar. All patients tolerated the gum without any side-effects. With combined standard postoperative care and gum chewing, the patients passed flatus 24.3 percent earlier (weighted mean difference, -20.8 hours; P = 0.0006) and had bowel movement 32.7 percent earlier (weighted mean difference, -33.3 hours; P = 0.0002). They were discharged 17.6 percent earlier than those having ordinary postoperative treatment (weighted mean difference, -2.4 days; P < 0.00001). The gum-chewing group was associated with similar overall postoperative complication rate (odds ratio, 0.45; P = 0.05) with individual complication showing a trend favoring gum chewing, although they were not of statistical significance. Readmission (odds ratio, 0.36; P = 0.24) and reoperation rates (odds ratio, 1.36; P = 0.83) of the two groups were similar. The use of gum chewing in the postoperative period is a safe method to stimulate bowel motility and reduce ileus after colorectal surgery.

Pengaruh Stimulus Pengunyahan dan Pengecapan Terhadap Kecepatan Aliran dan pH Saliva

The aim of the research were to describe how salivary flow rate and pH vary with time during use of chewing and gustatory stimulation. Fifty young adult subjects collected unstimulated saliva by spitting method, and then collected stimulated saliva by chewing paraffin wax, and a few drops of citric acid are usually placed on the subject’s tongue. The mean of saliva flow rate that unstimulated: 0.50 cc/minute; stimulated saliva by chewing paraffin wax: 1.57 cc/minute, and drops of citric acid stimulation showed that saliva flow rate: 2.98 cc/minute; and pH saliva that unstimulated 6.39; stimulated saliva by chewing paraffin wax 7.2; and stimulated saliva by citric acid: 7.55. Statistical paired t test showed that t lower than t table. The conclusion of the research showed that there were significant influences in the unstimulated salivary flow rates and pH with stimulated saliva elicited by chewing and gustatory stimulation.

Treatment of ruminal indigestion according to popular belief in Sweden.

For hundreds of years, the Swedish peasantry were able to cure diseases of animals by using various popular remedies. In this context, ruminal indigestion is a disease of special interest to veterinary history. Long before research had demonstrated the importance for rumination of the ruminal microflora and microfauna, the Swedish peasantry used to administer living ruminal microorganisms from a healthy cow or sheep to an animal suffering from ruminal indigestion. This was performed by giving the diseased animal a cud obtained from the healthy animal. According to some beliefs, the cud was a living being. Those cherishing this belief therefore thought it wise to take only part of the cud so as not to harm the involuntary donor. Another common treatment of ruminal indigestion was based on the thought that the cow had lost the ability to chew. The authors describe the frequent use of chewing of various substances as a remedy. In the available literature, some forty different remedies have been described either alone or used in combination with the above principles.

Preliminary studies on the anti-bacterial properties of chewing sticks

Examination of extracts from eight different woods commonly used as chewing sticks showed that one of these, prepared from Terminalia glaucescens, contains an antibacterial substance active against Staphylococcus aureus, although not against other Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria tested. It is suggested that the traditionally good dental and oral health of Africans has been the result largely of a non-cariogenic diet, together with the mechanical cleansing action provided by the use of chewing sticks, rather than a consequence of any special antibacterial activity of the sticks themselves.