Chewing gum with xylitol and the “duck test”

You’ve probably heard of the “duck test.” You know… if something looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck… you can assume it’s probably a duck.

Unfortunately, the “duck test” does not apply when it comes to xylitol chewing gum. Gums may look the same, taste the same and claim the same great benefits, but not all should be called “xylitol” gums and not all are equally good for oral health.

With creative packaging, marketing and buzzwords; Gum manufacturers would have us believe that just because xylitol is listed as an ingredient, you’re getting the same cavity-preventing 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 “refreshing mouthfeel” of their products and didn’t think about health. But since the buzzword “Xylitol” has become a popular health ingredient, they have jumped on board; still, the amounts of xylitol used in their products are not effective for dental health.

When choosing a xylitol chewing gum, there are a few things you’ll want to consider to ensure you’re purchasing a xylitol chewing gum that will provide you with maximum dental health benefits.

Here are some things to keep in mind.

• The product must contain a high concentration of xylitol (since about 6 grams are needed per day). Read the ingredients listed on the package and if xylitol is the first ingredient then there is probably enough of it for it to be effective.
• Does the product contain 100% xylitol as a sweetener or does it contain other sweeteners, xylitol being just one of them?
• Are the other ingredients natural, artificial or chemical? Do you like the colors, the flavors, the preservatives or the stabilizers?

To give you an example of what to look for; Use the tips above when comparing these two gums.

A popular brand name chewing gum with xylitol

Xylitol content: 0.17 grams per piece

Ingredients: Sorbitol, maltitol, gum base, mannitol, (listed before xylitol) Xylitol, Natural and artificial flavors, Less than 2% of: Acacia, Acesulfame potassium, (artificial sweetener) B HT for freshness (It has been shown to be related to cancer, developmental toxicity, allergies, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, changes at the biochemical or cellular level). blue lake 1, (artificial color made from petrochemicals from colorless crude oil runoff mixed with nitrates and sulfuric acid). Candelilla Wax, Glycerin, Soy Lecithin, sucralose, (artificial sweetener) Titanium dioxide, yellow lake 5 (artificial color made from petrochemicals from colorless crude oil runoff mixed with nitrates and sulfuric acid).

Chewing gum

Xylitol content: 0.72 grams per piece

Ingredients: Xylitol, Gum Base, Natural Flavor (Peppermint Oil), Vegetable Glycerin, Gum Arabic, Soy Lecithin, Beeswax

As you can see with brand name gum, xylitol is listed as the fifth ingredient at just 0.17 grams per piece compared to Spry gum which lists xylitol as the first ingredient at 0.72 grams per piece. You would need to eat 24 sticks! of brand-name gum per day to get the same amount of xylitol as 6 pieces of Spry gum.

Also, 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 non-cariogenic, has a low glycemic index of 13, and only 3 calories per gram.)

And just as not all xylitol gums are created equal, neither are all sugar alcohols. In general, sugar alcohols such as xylitol, isomaltose, sorbitol, lactitol, erythritol, and mannitol help prevent tooth decay to varying degrees. Sorbitol, which is 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 the acidic debris to eat away at the enamel and lead to cavities. Those sugar alcohols are considered a low-cariogenic sweetener rather than the non-cariogenic type xylitol. (Bacteria cannot feed on xylitol and cause cavities)

In terms of cavity prevention, sorbitol is not a better option than regular use of xylitol-sweetened products. And mixtures of sorbitol and xylitol, as well as other sugar alcohols, have been found to be less effective at preventing tooth decay than products containing only 100% xylitol, especially if you have low salivary flow.

And finally, keep in mind that Spry gum contains a short list of all-natural ingredients compared to brand-name gum that uses a long 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 100% xylitol sweetened chewing gums with about 1 gram per piece. About 6 to 10 grams a day has been shown to be effective, and chewing 2 pieces of 100% xylitol-sweetened chewing gum 3 times a day after each meal for a minimum of 5 minutes will provide maximum benefits in eliminating cavities you want.

So remember, when looking for a xylitol chewing gum that provides all the oral health benefits you and your family are looking for, don’t get caught up in hype or underpriced products. Check that “xylitol” is the first ingredient; which is 100% sweetened with xylitol and has only natural ingredients. Only AFTER, Can you call it a DUCK?