你还相信无糖口香糖有益健康吗？

译者 Doubledaisy

Dentists who recommend that patients chew sugar-free gum after meals may need to rethink their advice, after scientists found the habit could actually erode teeth.

　　那些经常建议病人饭后嚼无糖口香糖的医生或许该改变想法了，科学家们近期发现，这种习惯实际上可能会危害牙齿健康。

A study review in the British Dental Journal found there is a 'hidden risk' in sugar-free products that are promoted as 'tooth friendly'.

　　英国牙科杂志一篇研究新闻称，无糖产品含有的、被商家宣传为“有益牙齿”的一种物质其实存在“潜在危害”。

A team, from the universities of Boston, Helsinki and Souther Nevada, examined the role of sugar substitutes used in products to tackle tooth decay.

　　一个来自波士顿、内华达、赫尔辛基几个大学的研究小组，检验出这些产品中含有的糖分替代品会加速牙齿的腐化。

They found there was an 'unrecognised risk of acidic flavouring in sugar-free candies and beverages.'

　　他们发现无糖糖果和饮料中有一种目前还无法确认其危害的酸性食品调味剂。

They said a group of substitutes of sugar alcohols or polyols including xylitol and sorbitol can reduce the risk of cavities.

　　而糖醇或多元醇类中存在的一组包括木糖醇、山梨糖醇的替代品能够减少长龋齿的机率。

However, they also increase mouth acidity which erodes dental enamel - the tooth's hard protective coating. This is especially true if they contain fruit flavourings.

　　但是，它们也增加了破坏牙釉质这一牙齿坚硬层的唇部酸性。特别是如果含有水果添加剂时，这种情况更明显。

Researcher Dr Sok-Ja from Boston University, said: 'The term sugar-free may generate false security because many people may automatically believe that sugar-free products are safe on the teeth.'

　　来自波士顿的研究员 Sok-Ja 博士说：“长期以往，无糖产品会变成不安全的防护产品，因为很多人自然而然地相信无糖产品对牙齿很安全。”

The team added that sugar-free food and drinks were unlikely to promote weight loss with many containing up to half of the calories of full-fat products.

　　这个小组还提到，并不可能通过无糖食物和饮料增加全脂产品一半的卡路里从而减轻重量。

Writing in the review, Are sugar-free confections really beneficial for dental health?, they said: 'As the use of sorbitol and xylitol containing products increases, the public should be educated on the hidden risk of dental erosion due to acidic additives, as well as the adverse effects of gastric disturbance and osmotic diarrhoea.

　　报道中写到：那些无糖产品真的有益于牙齿健康吗？他们说：“随着食品中木糖醇和山梨糖醇含量越来越高，公众应该在酸性添加剂会对牙齿侵蚀造成高危害这方面受到引导，同时还有胃部紊乱和腹泻等副作用。”

'Especially in sugar-free products, these adverse effects may be more insidious because the public has blind confidence that they are oral health friendly.'

　　“特别是在无糖产品中，这些负面反应会不知不觉地加剧，因为公众已经盲目地相信这些产品有益于口腔健康。”

They concluded that further clinical trials were needed in the area.

　　他们总结到今后这一领域也需要临床实验。

In a commentary on the findings, Stephen Hancocks, editor in chief of the BDJ, said there was a 'minefield of confusion for the patient who is trying his or her very best to comply with healthy choices and a complex labyrinth of communication for the professional in attempting to convey practical advice.'

　　在这项研究报告的评语中，英国牙科杂志的主编Stephen Hancocks说，很多乐意听从有益健康建议的患者面对的是一个模糊且有潜在危险的问题，同时那些试图给出实用建议的教授又存在着复杂难解的沟通问题。

A spokesperson for the chewing gum company Wrigley, said: 'Scientific studies, including the report in the British Dental Journal, are all clear that chewing sugar free gum provides many oral health and dental benefits by stimulating the production of saliva.

　　一位口香糖公司的发言人Wrigley说：“包括英国牙科杂志在内的科学研究，都清晰地指出通过咀嚼无糖口香糖刺激会产生更多唾液，对牙齿和口腔有多方面的好处。”

'Unless people are chewing an excessively large amount of sugar free gum every day, they shouldn't worry about the issues raised in the report, such as the potential for a laxative effect or the calorific content.'

　　“除非每天咀嚼大量的无糖口香糖，否则也不必担心报告中提到的比如腹泻、发热等问题发生。”

Commenting on the findings, the British Dental Association’s Scientific Adviser, Professor Damien Walmsley, told Mail Online: 'This research reminds us of the importance of exercising caution when consuming acidic fruit-flavoured foods, even if they are sugar-free, as excessive use of these outside meal times may increase the risk of developing tooth erosion.

　　英国牙医协会科学顾问，Damien Walmsley教授告诉Mail Online：“这项研究提醒我们警惕牙齿锻炼的重要性，当食用酸性糖果味食物时，即使是无糖的，如果在饭后过度食用会增加牙齿受侵蚀的风险。”

'Chewing sugar-free gum after meals can reduce the risk of dental decay, but if you also want to avoid dental erosion it is important not to pick the fruit-flavoured varieties.

　　饭后嚼无糖口香糖可以减少患龋病的风险，但是如果不想牙齿受侵蚀，就不要食用这类糖果味口香糖。

'It is also important to brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste, waiting an hour to do so after meals, and to visit your dentist regularly.'

　　“每天坚持使用含氟牙膏刷两次牙，饭后一小时再刷，并且定期去看牙医，这些对于我们来说都很重要。”