# Is Trident good for your teeth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765 "2009-03-17T16:38:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/1 "2009-03-17T16:38:05Z")
I’ve started chewing Trident with Xylitol, which claims to “clean and protect teeth.” Is this a true claim, or are there hidden disclaimers I should be aware of (e.g., “only if used immediately after eating, if used at any other time will damage teeth.”)? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/2 "2009-03-17T17:29:33Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > I’ve started chewing Trident with Xylitol, which claims to “clean and protect teeth.” Is this a true claim, or are there hidden disclaimers I should be aware of (e.g., “only if used immediately after eating, if used at any other time will damage teeth.”)? I have heard from several dental people that xylitol actually helps strengthen teeth. [http://www.zellies.com/](http://www.zellies.com/) (admittedly this site is selling xylitol products) [http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/107628003322017387?cookieSet=1&journalCode=act](http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/107628003322017387?cookieSet=1&journalCode=act) [http://www.cda.org/member\_benefits\_&\_resources/patient\_education\_tools/factsheets/xylitol](http://www.cda.org/member_benefits_&_resources/patient_education_tools/factsheets/xylitol) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/3 "2009-03-17T17:36:56Z")
Well, chewing foods which do not promote decay (such as sugarless gum) does clean the teeth to some extent. It’s no substitute for brushing mind you, but since it can be easily done after every snack, it’s not a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/4 "2009-03-17T18:14:34Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > I have heard from several dental people that xylitol actually helps strengthen teeth. > […] > [http://www.cda.org/member\_benefits\_&\_resources/patient\_education\_tools/factsheets/xylitol](http://www.cda.org/member_benefits_&_resources/patient_education_tools/factsheets/xylitol) That last link is informative, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Cowboy8467](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/5 "2009-03-18T14:42:29Z")
On a related note, I’ve recently taken to chewing Trident Xtra Care with Recaldent. Have any studies been done on the efficacy of this particular additive? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/6 "2009-03-18T15:28:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, chewing foods which do not promote decay (such as sugarless gum) does clean the teeth to some extent. > > It’s no substitute for brushing mind you, but since it can be easily done after every snack, it’s not a bad idea. Absolutely no proof of anything, but I’ve taken to obsessively chewing gum after any eating and my checkups are better than ever in terms of my gums (heh) being less inflamed. (Of course I also use the electric toothbrush and am eating less sugar overall, but still.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/7 "2009-03-18T15:31:54Z")
> [@Cowboy8467](#): > > On a related note, I’ve recently taken to chewing Trident Xtra Care with Recaldent. Have any studies been done on the efficacy of this particular additive? [Yes.](http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/139/7/915) > [@](#): > > **We conclude that there is insufficient clinical trial evidence (in quantity, quality or both) to make a recommendation regarding the long-term effectiveness of casein derivatives, specifically CPP-ACP, in preventing caries in vivo and in treating dentin hypersensitivity or dry mouth**. The highest level of evidence—that is, well-designed and -conducted, double-blind, randomized clinical trials with adequate sample size, limited or no loss to follow up and carefully standardized methods of measurement and analysis—is needed to enable researchers to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of casein derivatives in various products (for example, chewing gum versus dental paste, lozenges, mouthrinse) in reducing or eliminating dental caries, white-spot lesions or dentin hypersensitivity. This is especially important in clinical trials in which outcomes are measured in vivo. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trident-good-for-your-teeth/489765/8 "2009-03-18T15:34:02Z")
Sorry for the slight hijack. I’m glad we’ve got the serious answers out of the way, When I saw the thread title my first thought was, how can a missile system help your teeth? Back to your OP, I couldn’t comment as I never chew gum, but I imagine that it could help as chewing stimulates saliva production which is mildly alkali and neutralises the acids that can damage teeth.