Among options for sugar-free gum, xylitol gum comes on the top.
Xylitol is technically a sweetener but a low-calorie one.
It is a sugar alcohol that is used in candies, toothpaste, mouthwashes, dental floss and gums.
Hence, you can enjoy chewing gum and eating sweet foods without having to worry about cavities.
This article discusses how eating xylitol gum can be beneficial for your teeth. Keep reading below to know more.
Xylitol Gum Benefits
Like every other chewing gum, xylitol gum also has oral health benefits.
Chewing it constantly stimulates saliva production in your mouth.
This helps to prevent dry mouth and also the formation of cavities.
The saliva will clean your mouth and push away the food particles that can accumulate between your teeth.
Other than the characteristics of chewing gum itself, xylitol also prevents the formation of plaque.
It slows down bacterial growth that causes cavities and prevents plaque from building up.
In fact, it has been studied as effective against the bacterial strains Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sangui.
In the same research, there was also evidence that xylitol may help remineralize teeth.
Through remineralization, it can reverse the damage of tooth decay and make teeth stronger.
Hence, it will actually combat tooth sensitivity while also reducing the potential risk of getting cavities in future.
Chewing on the gum can also treat mouth sores.
This is because xylitol is an anti-inflammatory agent.
It can get rid of bacteria that form plaque and result in cavities on your teeth and gums.
In fact, it can also treat other inflammatory conditions building in your mouth and teeth.
Other than mouth sores, angular cheilitis is also an inflammatory condition affecting specifically the corners of the lips and mouth.
Chewing xylitol gum can reduce the risk of the disease in people over 60 years of age.
Hence, you will not only prevent cavities but also treat inflammatory conditions.
Besides that, xylitol itself has several health benefits. Let’s dig deeper into that below!
Xylitol Benefits
Substitutes Sugar for Diabetics
If you have a sweet tooth, it is extremely hard to give up sugar entirely.
Hence, diabetics with a sweet tooth have a dilemma at hand.
Though, they do not have to worry, as xylitol is an easy solution.
Xylitol has very small effects on insulin and blood glucose levels.
Thus, this sugar alcohol can replace sugar as a safer alternative for diabetics.
Prevents Ear Infection
Surprisingly xylitol may help to reduce ear infections in children.
It can significantly reduce the risk of acute otitis media which is one of the most common forms of ear infections.
The meta-analysis concluded that xylitol reduced the risk from 30 percent to 22 percent.
Manages Weight
Xylitol helps to reduce obesity because it can induce satiety.
First up, xylitol is a low-calorie sugar alcohol and it helps people feel fuller for a long time after eating it.
Thus going for sweets containing xylitol instead of sugar prevents the intake of empty calories in sugar.
Hence, it will help in managing weight without making any big changes to your diet.
Other than that, Xylitol has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
It helps to reduce constipation and obesity as it acts as a substitute for sugar.
Moreover, it can increase calcium absorption. This helps to reduce bone density loss and also prevent osteoporosis.
Xylitol is also useful in decreasing the risk of respiratory infections.
It prevents them from turning severe.
Plus, it helps in managing better blood glucose levels. This is especially useful for people suffering from diabetes.
Thus, it is a good alternative for diabetics and helps them consume sweet foods without having to worry about their increasing blood glucose levels.
That said, it has its share of risks and side effects.
Xylitol Gum Side Effects and Risks
Xylitol does not pose any long-term health risks such as cancer. While other artificial sweeteners may, hence, it is rather a safer alternative to other sweeteners.
However, it may cause smaller problems such as nausea and bloating in some people.
These problems along with abdominal comfort are commonplace for most sweeteners. However, people generally tolerate xylitol better.
It is important to remember that one can develop allergies to anything.
Hence, xylitol allergies are no rarity.
Xylitol may also have an effect on the blood glucose level and insulin, however, that is lesser than that of other sweeteners on the two.
When it comes to interactions, for now, xylitol does not have a record of forming any dangerous interactions.
However, you should be on the lookout for that and if you have any negative effects from taking the gum then avoid any contact with that.
Also, consult your doctor and inform them about your symptoms when you come in contact with xylitol.
Xylitol is usually safe for humans, however, the same cannot be said for dogs.
In fact, it is very toxic for dogs. A small amount can result in liver failure, seizures or cause death.
Hence, keep all products with xylitol away from the reach of a dog and do not give them any food containing xylitol.
So xylitol is safe for humans but keep it away from dogs.
Humans can consume it as a replacement for sugar in sweet foods and drinks.
It is healthier to use as long as you are not allergic to it or it causes possible interactions that affect your health and well-being.
Therefore, xylitol and its use in the form of xylitol gum is not only safer for your health but also for your teeth.
Let’s find out how below!
Is Xylitol Gum Good for Teeth?
It surely is!
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is naturally present in many fruits and vegetables.
However, you can also find it in candies, cookies, gums i.e. sweet foods and oral care products such as mouthwash, toothpaste, dental floss and more.
When it comes to your oral health, Xylitol gum like every other gum helps to:
Refresh Your Breath
Chewing gum helps to freshen your breath.
However, that is not the only way of combating bad breath.
Xylitol also fights the could smelling coming from your breath by preventing the odor-causing bacteria from forming.
These bacteria settle on the tongue and release a bad odor that gives your breath an unpleasant smell.
Plus, the chewing gums are of different flavorings such as mint and cinnamon that help to mask the odor in the breath.
It Prevents Plaque Formation
Xylitol can prevent the formation of plaque and combat oral bacteria.
Chewing the gum prevents plaque from building up and congregating inside the mouth.
Hence, it is beneficial if you are especially at a risk for tooth decay, want to reverse gingivitis and already have a lot of plaque in your mouth.
It is much easier to prevent the build-up rather than reverse the oral health problems that cause.
Therefore, it can be good to chew for both parents and children in order to improve oral hygiene.
It Lubricates Your Mouth
Chewing any gum can release saliva as the chewing action stimulates it.
However, if your teeth are in contact with sugars for too long, it is more disadvantageous to them than beneficial.
Though xylitol gum will not expose your teeth to cavities or decay rather it will lubricate your mouth to prevent these.
As the saliva pushes the particles away, the bacteria have nothing to feed on hence, your mouth remains cleaner.
You must be wondering whether there are other sweeteners than xylitol that have similar benefits? Let’s find out about that in detail below.
Xylitol vs Aspartame: What Should You Choose?
An alternative to xylitol among sweeteners is aspartame.
It is also an artificial sweetener.
Some manufacturers may use it on its own others may add it to xylitol.
Unlike xylitol, aspartame has been embroiled in controversy before.
There are animal studies that suggest aspartame can increase the likelihood of some kinds of cancer.
However, the current accepted daily intake of aspartame is considered safe to use by the European Food Safety Authority and Food and Drug Administration.
Plus the accepted daily intake of 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight is safe to consume.
However, the total daily consumption is much lesser than this value.
However, there is no such evidence or research for xylitol.
Other than its toxicity for dogs, there are hardly any side effects or risks while consuming it.
Hence, if you want to chew gum, it should only be a xylitol gum.
It is healthier for your teeth than all the other gums.
Summing Up
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is present in many products for oral care as well as sweet foods.
These include chewing gum.
A xylitol gum not only helps to combat bad breath which is the basic function of chewing gum but it also helps to prevent the formation of plaque and cavities in your mouth.
Besides that, it is also good for your health and can help in weight management and prevent ear infections.
It is also one of the safest sugar alternatives as it has little effect on blood glucose and insulin levels.
Thus, when choosing a gum, to chew on a regular basis, go for a xylitol gum.
