An anti-cavity gum

In recent years, sugar-free chewing gum has carved out a place for itself in handbags and glove compartments. We keep some with us just in case, for pleasure, or out of necessity.

Scrupulously studied, the little tablets or dragées are under the radar: they are said to contribute to oral health. Isn't that a far-fetched statement? Not at all!

Here we explain how chewing unsweetened chewing gum can benefit your oral health.

Science in the service of health ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

If we confine ourselves to the studies carried out on the subject, we can say that there has been a lot of talk about it. However, the conclusions all point in the same direction: chewing sugar-free gum for 5 to 20 minutes after a meal reduces the risk of developing tooth decay. This applies to both adults and children.

Health Canada, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Union française de santé buccodentaire, the American Dental Association (ADA), all agree that sugar-free chewing gum :

Not cariogenic
Promotes salivary flow
Restores the mouth's pH (which slows plaque development)
Prevents tooth erosion (by stimulating saliva)

As such, chewing stimulates salivation. It's the active ingredients found in no-sugar-added gum that are of interest, as they are preventive.

The preventive properties of polyalcohol sweeteners [5] [6] [7].

The sweet taste of sugar-free gum comes from the sweetener used. These are generally polyalcohols known as glycol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol and many others.

Very low in calories, what we like most about alcoholic sugars, or polyols, is their low fermentability. This means that the bacteria in the mouth will have more difficulty digesting them than normal sugar.

The one we're most interested in is xylitol. It's a sweetener made from 100 % plant sources, with a naturally refreshing taste reminiscent of spearmint.

Its superpowers lie in the fact that the bacteria responsible for tooth decay are unable to metabolize it. They will absorb it, but not digest it, which also prevents them from consuming other types of sugar and proliferating.

Gums sweetened with sorbitol or mannitol are also preventive, but not anti-caries. Unlike xylitol, these agents are digested by the cariogenic microbiota. The fermentation process is very slow, which slows down the production of harmful acids and the spread of bacteria, but does not stop it.

To remember

Two fundamental points emerge from this information:

Chewing sugar-free gum for 5 to 20 minutes after a meal prevents tooth decay and freshens breath.
Opting for a xylitol-based product is THE anti-caries choice.

However, a toothbrush, dental floss and fluoride paste are still the best allies for superior oral health. Chewing gum may counteract bad breath for a while, but it's no substitute for brushing your teeth...