Common gum cuts gum disease 90%Sugary gum feeds bacteria that attack your teeth.
Artificially sweetened gum was supposed to be the fix… some actually make things worse.

But a new study in BMC Oral reveals that one specific sugar substitute in gums can reduce your bad bacteria (causing gum disease) by 90%.

Most sugar-free gums use sweeteners like sorbitol or maltitol. These help by increasing saliva flow and reducing acid attacks.
But xylitol, a plant-derived sweetener with a unique structure, goes a step further: it appears to directly fight harmful oral bacteria.

Researchers dug into the science, reviewing:

908 studies on oral bacteria

879 on plaque

658 on cavities

They selected only the highest-quality trials comparing xylitol gum with other sugar-free gums. In total, they analyzed:

16 studies on bacteria

10 on plaque

5 on cavities

The results were striking:

12 of 14 studies showed xylitol gum significantly reduced mutans streptococci (bad bacteria) compared to sorbitol gum

● Some reported up to a 90% reduction in bacteria

7 studies showed 5x to 10x decreases

● The sweet spot: at least 5g of xylitol daily, chewed 3+ times a day

For plaque:

6 of 10 studies showed xylitol gum beat sorbitol gum

● One study found 29% less plaque with xylitol while plaque increased with sorbitol

● Others showed 23–38% plaque reduction with consistent daily chewing

For cavities:

3 of 5 studies favored xylitol

● In one, children chewing xylitol gum had 86% fewer cavities

● In another, adults had 31% fewer cavities after a year of xylitol gum use

Xylitol gum isn’t a substitute for brushing or flossing, but it’s a powerful addition to your oral care routine.
And yes — industrial xylitol is chemically identical to the plant version.

Fortunately, it’s quite easy to heal gum disease in days using the simple, all-natural steps explained here…