2006 Volume 49 Issue 6 Pages 739-748
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of chewint suger-free gums containing vegetable tannin on periodontal health. Materials and methods: Thirty generalized chronic periodontitis patients (53.8y±9.5) who signed an informed consent were recruited in this study. Using the double-blind study method, the subjects were grouped into three: 1) ten subjects chewing vegetable tannin gum without brushing; 2) ten subjects chewing placebo gum without brushing; and 3) ten brushing subjects without chewing gum. Before and after the 7-day experiment period, saliva was collected after 5 minutes of stimulation and then used for biochemical [lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, active and latent matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 and MMP=9] and microbiological measurements [Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and total bacterial amounts]. Also, individual clinical periodontal status was recorded including probing pocket depth (PPD), loss of attachment (LA), gingival index (GI), plaque control record (PCR) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Statistical analyses were performed with paired-t and Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests. Results: Only the brushing group had a significant decrease in PPD and PCR (p<0.01). The LA did not change in all groups. The GI and the BOP scores were significantly decreased at one week after the experiments, compared to the base-line (p<0.05, 0<0.01). The PCR score of the brushing group after the experiment period was lower than the base-line (p<0.01). The salivary ALP decreased significantly only in the tannin group (p<0.05). The other enzymes also showed a decreased tendenty, but did not reach significant levels. No active MMP-9 was detected in all patients There was also no difference in the bacterial findings among groups. Conclusion: The present study suggests that chewing suger-free gums containing vegetable tannin could have beneficial effects on periodontal health.