Whole Saliva Flow Rate and Proteolytic Activity Induced by an Enzyme-Containing Chewing Gum

摘要

To learn the effect of enzyme chewing gum on flow rate and proteolytic enzyme content of the oral fluid, 1,980 whole saliva samples were collected from 120 healthy young adult males. The test gum produced a rate of flow of 1.442 ml./min., this mean not differing significantly from that of 1.381 ml./min. produced by the sugar-containing control gum. Peak rate of flow is found in the first 5-minute sample collected with fresh gum, either test or control, and a rapid decrease in flow rate ensues as the ingredients of the gum are dissolved into the saliva and removed from the mouth. Tremendous increases in salivary protease levels are induced by chewing the test gum. The enzyme gum was capble of maintaining a significantly increased salivary protease level for approximately two hours after a fresh stick was introduced. The peak protease level is found in the first 5-minute sample; subsequent decrease is precipitous. At 15 minutes after the initial collection, the protease mean fell to 16.9% of the peak level. (Author)