ADA Seal brightens Chicago’s skyline
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Posted Sept. 27, 2007 |
By Jennifer Garvin The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs has awarded the ADA Seal of Acceptance to Wrigley's Orbit, Eclipse and Extra sugarfree chewing gums, making them the first chewing gums available to receive the ADA Seal.
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Big news: The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. announced its chewing gums, Extra, Orbit and Eclipse, have received the ADA Seal of Acceptance by hanging a banner from the famous Wrigley Building on Sept. 25.
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The CSA awarded the Seal to the three Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. products "based on its findings that the physical action of chewing sugarfree gum for 20 minutes after eating stimulates saliva flow, which helps prevent cavities by reducing plaque acids and strengthening teeth."
On Sept. 25, Wrigley announced the news with a big splash in Chicago by decorating the famous Wrigley Building with a banner featuring a dental lab coat with the ADA Seal on the pocket.
"We congratulate Wrigley for being the first chewing gum manufacturer to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance," said ADA Executive Director James B. Bramson. "When you see the ADA Seal on a product package, you can rest assured that an independent team of experts has evaluated scientific evidence and has concluded the product meets the ADA's criteria for safety and effectiveness and provides oral health benefits. Now, consumers know that if they chew gum that carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, they are actually doing more for their oral health than just freshening their breath."
What does this mean for patients? The ADA suggests that dentists who receive questions about the benefits of gum direct patients to ADA.org where a new consumer section contains facts about gum and information about the Seal at www.ada.org/ada/seal/chewing_gum.asp.
"The Seal was given since the combined effects of chewing and increased salivary flow influence the overall effectiveness evaluated in the clinical trials," said Dr. Clark Stanford, CSA chair.
A manufacturer earns the ADA Seal for its product by providing the Council with the results of both laboratory studies and clinical studies that support the product's safety, effectiveness and promotional claims. In this case, the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. presented the CSA with clinical studies that showed increased remineralization, decreased plaque acids and significantly reduced cavities for individuals who chewed gum three times a day for 20 minutes per chew compared to individuals who did not chew.
A company must also submit ingredient lists for review and approval and provide evidence that manufacturing and laboratory facilities meet ADA guidelines.
"Any manufacturer that is able to demonstrate that their product promotes or improves oral health can voluntarily submit a product to the Seal Program," said Clifford W. Whall, Ph.D., director of the Seal Program. "To do so, companies need to provide adequate objective studies on the product's safety and effectiveness. If these studies meet the Council's scientific guidelines, the Seal will be awarded to the product."
The ADA Seal program has promoted the safety and effectiveness of dental products for more than 75 years. The first Seal was awarded in 1931.
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