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:
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● 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:
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● 16 studies on bacteria
● 10 on plaque
● 5 on cavities
The results were striking:
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● 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:
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● 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:
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● 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.