Pick the Right Kind of Gum to Protect Your Dazzling Smile

Did you know that some chewing gums can wreak havoc on your teeth, while others actually protect your teeth?

If you want to keep your smile bright and your mouth healthy, you’ll want to spot the difference. 

The Good “Ol” Ones 

Chewing gums that contain sugar alcohols reduce plaque and mouth bacteria. This could mean fewer cavities and a brighter smile. Look for the “ol” at the end of the ingredient names. These include xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol. Of the three, xylitol has the greatest promise for cavity prevention. 

The Bad “Ose” Ones

Chewing gums containing sugars increase tooth decay. Look for the “ose” at the end of ingredient names. These include sucrose, dextrose and high fructose corn syrup. You’ll want to avoid these sticky sugar bombs so you can keep your smile bright.

Chew on this

Chewing a sugar-free, xylitol-containing gum can help protect your teeth, but only when done right. Here’s how:

1. Chew enough. Make sure xylitol is listed as the first ingredient. If it’s listed further down the ingredient list or with another sweetener like sorbitol, the gum is unlikely to deliver enough protective xylitol. 
2. Chew at the right time. One meta-analysis of 30 studies found that xylitol gum protects against tooth decay when chewed three to five times per day, after meals, for a total daily intake of at least 5 grams of xylitol per day. If you chew gum with about 2 grams after each meal, you’ll hit this target. But don’t overdo it, too much xylitol may cause loose stools. 
3. Chew long enough. Chew a xylitol-containing gum for about 5 minutes after each meal. This helps release enough xylitol into your saliva to fully deliver its toothy benefits. 

That’s it. Chew gums with xylitol, at the right time and long enough. Why not try it today?

You’ve Got This!

Lorna & Kathleen (The EatingFor Team)

FAQs for Gum Choice

1. What kind of chewing gum helps protect teeth?

Sugar-free gum that contains xylitol can help protect teeth.

2. What ingredients should you look for in good gum?  

Look for ingredients ending in ol like xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.

3. What kind of gum should you avoid?

Gum with ingredients ending in ose such as sucrose, dextrose and high fructose corn syrup should be avoided.

4. How often should xylitol gum be chewed for tooth protection? 

It should be chewed 3 to 5 times per day, after meals.

5. How long should you chew xylitol gum after a meal?

To release enough xylitol to offer benefits, chew gum for about 5 minutes after each meal.