Xylitol Chewing Gum: The Sweet Treat with Great Benefits for Your Dental Health

We hear it all the time: sugar is bad for you. But there are certain habits that are hard to kick, like for instance, walking past a convenience store without buying a pack of chewing gums. And like most types of candy, you probably think chewing gum is also bad for your teeth. However, the surprising truth is that in certain cases, a gum can actually have some benefits for your dental health.

For one, the mere act of chewing gum helps remove food particles stuck on the surface of your teeth, which if left there for prolonged periods of time can lead to cavities forming. Gum also causes you to produce more saliva, which not only helps clear away the traces of food but also helps strengthen the teeth’s enamel and balance the pH level of your mouth. The unfortunate fact is that all these beneficial effects of gum can be quickly undone by the sugar included in most brands of gum.

So, the obvious question is: Is there a type of gum that tastes sweet enough to curb your sugar craving but without including any actual sugar? Well, the good news is that there is – Xylitol gums. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that’s a much healthier alternative to sugar. It tastes as sweet as sugar but has 40% fewer calories and a very low glycemic index that doesn’t cause harmful spikes in blood sugar or insulin. The switch to this natural sweetener can have obvious benefits for your general health, but the use of Xylitol in the form of a chewing gum refill can help you prevent tooth decay.

The bacteria that are responsible for cavities get their energy from glucose from food, and can’t use Xylitol as a replacement. Nevertheless, they still feed on it. After absorbing Xylitol, these bacteria are no longer able to ingest glucose which is their main energy source. So, with regular Xylitol consumption, those bacteria eventually starve and die out. And as the number of these bacteria decreases, so does the risk of developing cavities.

To get the best results, it’s essential to introduce Xylitol in your daily habits, like for instance by always having extra stacks of Xylitol gum refill around in your kitchen which you can use after your meals. Regular consumption of Xylitol doesn’t only help prevent cavities, but it also promotes the production of saliva which helps harden tooth enamel, thus resulting in stronger teeth. It also helps prevent dry mouth which is caused by high blood sugar levels.

So, the next time you find yourself craving a sweet treat, why not reach for a sugar-free, cavity-fighting, and teeth-strengthening gum instead of regular sugar-filled candy?