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

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether 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 or younger and who were about to start fixed orthodontic appliance treatment.

Subjects and methods: A randomized clinical trial with two parallel groups either allocated to 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 24 h and 1 week 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 24 h was 16, which was significant (p = 0.031; Mann-Whitney U-test). The difference between the median VAS between the two groups at 24 h was 25 mm, which was significant (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.