Xylitol chewing gum and candies, the best allies for oral health The main benefits of “sugar-free” chewing gum and candies are increased salivation and the prevention of dental caries “When you don’t have your brush, you have your sugar-free gum.” “Chewing sugar-free gum helps protect your teeth.” “Sugar-free chewing gum for clean and healthy teeth.”
These are some of the statements we can read or hear in advertisements for sugar-free chewing gum.
But… is what they say true?
And what does the small print say that we can’t read?
At Clínica Cervera we explain the pros and cons of chewing sugar-free gum or candy for oral health.
Benefits of xylitol chewing gum or candies: Its consumption produces an increase in saliva production, which means a greater quantity and concentration of bicarbonate and remineralizing ions, which neutralize the acids that form in dental plaque and cause cavities.
Stimulating saliva secretion also enhances the mechanism of autoclisis, that is, “self-cleaning”.
By chewing sugarless gum we remove food debris that remains between our teeth, just as happens when we eat foods with fiber, such as apples or oranges.
But this cleaning of debris only takes place on the occlusal surface of the teeth, which is the area with which we chew.
However, the part where there are the most bacteria is the one closest to the gum.
That’s why chewing gum can NEVER replace brushing.
In addition, xylitol cannot be fermented by bacteria present in the mouth, which inhibits the production of plaque acids, bad breath and periodontitis or “pyorrhea”.
At this point we must take into account that excessive intake of sorbitol has laxative effects, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
Harm of xylitol gum for oral health Some people chew gum to relax but, in reality and probably without knowing it, they get the opposite result.
According to the Spanish Society of Craniomandibular Dysfunction and Orofacial Pain (SEDCYDO), this habit accentuates the dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (between the temporal bone and the jaw) which is what allows us to move the jaw.
The upper and lower teeth should only contact each other for 20 minutes a day, during chewing and swallowing.
If this time increases due to the habit of chewing gum, problems of overload and even tooth wear may appear.
This is why chewing gum is not recommended for patients with bruxism.
In summary, xylitol has become one of the main COMPLEMENTARY measures for preventing tooth decay: a balanced diet, good oral hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist.