A UK trial has found that a natural chewing gum made from mastic gum could be the first preventative treatment to for mouth ulcers.
1 in 5 people suffer from the pain of mouth ulcers but although most conventional topical medications, such as antimicrobial mouthwashes and topical corticosteroids can help mask the pain of mouth ulcers, many are painful to apply (especially for children) and do not actually help prevent the ulcers from forming.
What is mastic gum?
Mastic gum is a natural resin taken from the Pistacia Lentiscus Tree from the Greek islands.
What's the evidence that mastic gum works for mouth ulcers?
Mastic gum is widely recognized for its use in neutralizing ulcers. Mastic gum works by decreasing acidity and attacks foreign organisms such as H. pylori by disrupting their energy production and then rupturing their cells.
Published research has also shown that Mastic gum is an antiseptic and significantly reduces plaque and gingival index and so is helpful for general oral hygiene and bad breath.
A UK trial, carried out by GP and dental practitioner Doctor John Cormac, found that 79% of the participants on the trial went their longest time ulcer free while using the mastic gum. Results were statistically significant when compared to participants’ typical ulcer outbreak frequency and the placebo. 84% of participants said they would continue to use the products for their mouth ulcers and general oral hygene.
Dr Cormac comments, “Mastic Gum is a valuable addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for general dental practitioners, GPs, pharmacists and for our patients for a recurring problem such as mouth ulcers. They are notoriously hard to treat or prevent and there is no certain cause, so it is helpful to be able to offer an alternative like Mastic Gum - particularly if this is likely to produce a clear beneficial result.”
How quickly does mastic gum work?
One of our testers found that after two days of chewing three mastic gum gum pellets per day their two mouth ulcers decreased booth in size and pain by approximately 40%. After four days the ulcers had gone, where as normally they take up to 10 days to dissapear. Only critisism was that the gum tastes rather herbal, but you get used to it after a while.
Value for money?
Not much more than normal gum and it gets rid of mouth ulcers, so all round a great buy!
Marks out of 10?
8/10
For more information on mastic gum, click here
