You’ve probably heard of the “duck test.” You know … if something looks like a duck, nothing like a duck and squawks like a duck … you can assume it’s probably a duck.
Unfortunately, the “duck test” does not apply when it comes to xylitol gum. Gums can look alike, taste the same, and claim the same great benefits, but not all gums should be called “xylitol” gums and not all are equally good for oral health.
With creative packaging, marketing and buzzwords; Gum makers would have us believe that just because xylitol is listed as an ingredient, you get the same cavities prevention benefits as gum made with 100% xylitol as a sweetener. That is simply not true! In fact, the big chewing gum manufacturers started using xylitol for the “cooling mouthfeel” of their products and they didn’t think much about health. But since the buzzword “xylitol” has become a popular health ingredient, they have joined in, but the amounts of xylitol used in their products are not effective for dental health.
When choosing a xylitol gum, there are a few things to consider to ensure that you get a xylitol gum that will give you the maximum benefits for dental health.
Here are some things to keep in mind.
- The product should contain a high concentration of xylitol (since you need to get about 6 grams per day). Read the ingredients listed on the package and if xylitol is the first ingredient, then there is probably enough to be effective.
- Does the product contain 100% xylitol as a sweetener or does it contain other sweeteners, with xylitol only one of them?
- Are the other ingredients natural, artificial, or chemical? Do you like the colors, flavors, preservatives or stabilizers?
To give you an example of what to look for; use the tips above when comparing these two gums.
A popular brand gum with xylitol
Xylitol content: .17 grams per piece
Ingredients: Sorbitol, Maltitol, gum base, mannitol, (listed before xylitol) Xylitol, Natural and Artificial flavorings, Less than 2% of: Acacia, Acesulfame potassium, (artificial sweetener) B HT for freshness (which has been shown to be linked to cancer, developmental toxicity, allergies, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, biochemical or cellular level changes). Blue Lake 1, (artificial coloring made from petrochemicals derived from the colorless runoff of crude oil mixed with nitrates and sulfuric acid). Candelilla wax, glycerin, soy lecithin, Sucralose, (artificial sweetener) Titanium dioxide, Yellow Lake 5 (artificial coloring made from petrochemicals derived from the colorless runoff of crude oil mixed with nitrates and sulfuric acid).
Spry gum
Xylitol content: .72 grams per piece
Ingredients: Xylitol, gum base, natural flavor (peppermint oil), vegetable glycerin, acacia, soy lecithin, beeswax
As you can see with the brand name gum, xylitol is listed as the fifth ingredient at only 17 grams per piece compared to Spry gum, which lists xylitol as the first ingredient at 72 grams per piece. You would need to eat 24 sticks! of brand name gum per day to obtain the same amount of xylitol as the 6 pieces of Spry gum.
Additionally, brand name gum uses a variety of sweeteners; some sugar alcohols and some artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium, while Spry gum only uses 100% xylitol. (Xylitol – A sugar alcohol that is not cariogenic, has a low glycemic index of 13, and only 3 calories per gram.)
And just as not all xylitol gums are the same, neither are all sugar alcohols. Generally, sugar alcohols such as xylitol, isomalt, sorbitol, lactitol, erythritol, and mannitol help prevent tooth decay (cavities) to varying degrees. Sorbitol, listed as the first ingredient in brand name gum, does not completely prevent cavities. In fact, many of the sugar alcohols feed cavity-forming bacteria to some degree, causing acidic waste to eat away at enamel and lead to cavities. Those sugar alcohols are considered a low cariogenic sweetener rather than non-cariogenic type xylitol. (Bacteria cannot feed on xylitol and cause cavities)
In terms of preventing cavities, sorbitol is not a better option than the regular use of xylitol-sweetened products. And sorbitol and xylitol mixtures, as well as other sugar alcohols, have been found to be less effective at preventing tooth decay than 100% xylitol products alone, especially if you have low salivary flow.
And lastly, keep in mind that Spry gum contains a short list of all-natural ingredients compared to brand name gum that uses a list of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and fillers.
Many manufacturers dilute the benefits of xylitol by using smaller, ineffective amounts and adding cheaper less effective sweeteners. So be sure to look for gum that is 100% xylitol sweetened with about 1 gram per piece. About 6-10 grams a day has been shown to be effective, and chewing 2 pieces of 100% xylitol-sweetened gum 3 times a day after each meal for a minimum of 5 minutes will provide the maximum cavity-eliminating benefits that want.
So remember, when looking for a xylitol gum that gives you all the oral health benefits that you and your family are looking for, don’t be fooled by advertising or lower-priced products. Check to make sure “xylitol” is the first ingredient; which is 100% sweetened xylitol and has only natural ingredients. Only LATER, Can you call it DUCK?