A chewing gum based diagnostic test has been developed by a pharmaceutical research team at the University of Würzburg in Germany.

Dental implants occasionally entail complications. Six to 15 percent of patients develop an inflammatory response in the years after receiving a dental implant. This is caused by bacteria destroying the soft tissue and the bone around the implant, in the worst case.

In the presence of inflammatory conditions, specific protein-degrading enzymes are activated in the mouth. In just five minutes, these enzymes also break down a special ingredient of the chewing gum, thereby releasing a bittering agent that could not be tasted before. The research team provided the proof that this principle actually works.

To launch the chewing gum into the market, the team plans to set up a company. But it will take two to three years until the gum is commercially available. Anyone can use this new diagnostic tool anywhere and anytime without any technical equipment. Chewing gum rapid tests for other medical applications are presently under development.