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Those who are passionate about dental care and oral health wax poetic about their water flossers, electric toothbrushes and tongue scrapers, but did you know that there’s a type of chewing gum that can help to improve your oral health? Xylitol gum is having a moment, and with good reason.
Dr. Yev Davydov, dentist and owner of Chroma Dental NYC, told HuffPost that xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol found in fruits and veggies, though it is often commercially derived from birch or corn fiber. “It looks and tastes like sugar but isn’t metabolized by the bacteria that cause tooth decay — so instead of feeding cavity-causing bacteria, it starves them.”
Dr. Lilya Horowitz, dentist and owner of Domino Dental in Brooklyn, New York, added, “It also interrupts the stickiness of plaque bacteria, so it reduces the cavity risk when used regularly.”
Our experts agree that chewing xylitol gum can be a fairly effective preventative measure. “Chewing also stimulates saliva flow, which helps neutralize acid, remineralize enamel and clear food debris,” Davydov shared. He recommends chewing it after meals and snacks for 5-10 minutes, since that’s when the mouth’s pH drops and bacteria are most active. (Note that chewing this type of gum as a preventative measure isn’t a replacement for regular dental checkups and other oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing regularly.)
It can also be helpful for people who experience dry mouth, whether it’s from a medical condition, the result of medications or a side effect of cancer treatment. “A good microbiome in the oral cavity compounds wellness in many ways,” Davydov pointed out.
According to both Davydov and Horowitz, everyone can benefit from chewing xylitol gum, but it’s especially helpful for people who are prone to cavities, orthodontic patients, those with dry mouth, or who snack often and even kids. Davydov noted that “candies, lozenges and other forms of xylitol delivery also exist” and are a great alternative for picky kids.
When shopping for xylitol gum, Horowitz said, “You want to ensure xylitol is the primary sweetener and check the grams of xylitol per piece. If a product has more xylitol per piece, it’s generally more effective.”
Below, we’ve rounded up a selection of xylitol gum, including recommendations from our experts and editors’ picks that align with their suggestions. Take a look and pick the ones that look tastiest to you. Your teeth will thank you down the line! Just be sure to keep it away from pets, as it can be hazardous to their health.
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
A 3-pack of Epic xylitol gum
Dr. Lilya Horowitz, dentist and owner of Domino Dental in Brooklyn, New York, noted Epic xylitol gum among her list of popular brands that offer xylitol mints and gums specifically for oral health. It seems to be an overwhelmingly popular option among people who chew xylitol gum, with lots of rave reviews. It’s sugar-free, remineralizing and provides all the benefits of using xylitol. You can choose from a wide range of flavors. I am partial to this brand myself, and love the bubblegum and peppermint flavors most. My wife prefers traditional spearmint and wintergreen, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Multiple reviewers love it as a fix for dry mouth.
Promising reviews: “I’ve never been much of a gum chewer but old age has given me dry mouth. It affects my ability to talk and when I wake up my mouth tastes like an army tromped through it. This gum immediately made my mouth wet and my teeth feel slick and clean. The taste is great! The improvement is immediate. If this reduces cavities too, it’s going to be a lifetime habit. Can’t believe the difference!” — Laurie
“A repeat gum for sure. I chew a lot of gum, and this is my favorite, it makes my teeth feel clean and I like the taste. It helps with dry mouth because I’ve been using it to help with quitting Zyn, I usually use two peices though, just one ends up getting stuck in my teeth after a while. It does get sticky if you chew it for a long time.” — Jessee Riggs
A pack of coolmint-flavored Pur gum
Another Horowitz recommendation, this Pur gum has everything we love about xylitol gum with zero junk. It’s sugar- and aspartame-free, with a refreshing flavor that makes your teeth and breath feel squeaky-clean. This single pack comes with 55 pieces of gum.
Promising reviews: “Love this flavor the most! Can blow bubbles with it, definitely freshens breath! The size and texture are great!” — Sarah Bartlett
“I enjoy chewing gum, but don’t want to take sugar or aspartame, so I was pleased to find this xylitol sweetened option. The flavor’s nice, and the price is fair.” — Chilly
“This gum doesn’t disintegrate in your mouth while you’re chewing it. I tried several brands of aspartame free gum and this one was the longest lasting as far as staying chewable. I don’t like gum to be too minty because I have burning mouth syndrome and it helps to have something to chew on. This one has good flavor and isn’t one of those flavor explosion gums that makes like a nuclear bomb going off in your mouth. Just a nice minty flavor that lasts and holds it’s chewable structure for a long time.” — Anji Sandage
A six-pack of Simply Gum so you can sample every flavor
This sampler of Simply Gum is great for anyone curious about all of the brand’s flavors. Consider it an introduction to this highly-rated xylitol gum. The six-pack includes the brand’s best-selling options, including peppermint, wintergreen, Cleanse (grapefruit and pear), cinnamon, ginger and coffee. Tis vegan gum is not only sugar-free, but also soy-, GMO- and BHT-free. It doesn’t have a glossy coating or plasticky texture, giving it a nice, old-school chicle finish with a soft chew.
Promising reviews: “no aspartame no headaches now a can chew gum again like when i was a kid when aspartame was not on the market. simply is best thanks happy customer” — matthew
“I have a funny use case for this gum. I wear a dental appliance for sleep apnea, and thus its a good idea to chew a little gum in the morning as a way of exercising your jaw. I normally wouldnt eat gum in the morning, especially since Im a morning coffee drinker and the typical mint flavors of gum mix horribly with coffee. But thus: this Simply Gum with the Coffee Flavor It works perfectly” — Anonymous
“I was having digestive problems with gums containing Aspartame. Thought I d give Simply Gum a try. I tried other Aspartame free gums but this is the best overall I would highly recommend this gum if you re looking for an alternate good chewing good tasting Aspartame free gum” — Philip Corl
A fruity gum from Xylichew that can help with acid reflux
This Xylichew gum is made with natural ingredients that are beneficial to oral health and come in a variety of flavors like cinnamon and spearmint. It’s a popular option from previous HuffPost reporting, with all the benefits of xylitol and more. It comes in a range of different flavors, but I’m extra intrigued by the natural fruit option. One pack includes 50 pieces.
Promising reviews: “The best xylitol gum on the market! I chew this 24/7, even when I sleep, because I have very bad teeth problems. This keeps my mouth moist, free of bacteria and cleaner. The citrus flavor is my favorite by far. It’s super long lasting and the texture holds up unlike other gums.” — Rebekah Ranes
“This a great product for my acid reflux. Certain foods get stuck in my throat causing acid production. If I chew this gum it slows the acid reflux down and the food goes down. Great product for great relief!” — Janet J Schilling
A pack of dentist-recommended gum
Also on Horowitz’s list is Spry gum, a popular option available across multiple popular online retailers. This container holds 100 pieces of gum, though you can choose from a few different size options. It’s also available in a range of flavors, including licorice and green tea, which is interesting!
Promising reviews: “I’m currently on a carnivore diet. I can’t do sugar, so I have tried other brands of sugar free gum and they don’t last, have a weird consistency, or just plain taste bad. Had someone recommend Spry to me, and now I’m on my second jar! It’s just like normal gum (that’s what I want). It also keeps me in ketosis and tastes great. The jar is an added bonus, always stays fresh.” — Matt Horner
“This is the gum my dentist recommends! And, it tastes great!” — Steve
An affordable pack of XyloBurst gum
Available in traditional minty flavors as well as this fruity option, XyloBurst gum is another sugar- and aspartame-free xylitol gum that is worth checking out. It’s one of the more affordable options, with a single pack including 100 pieces of gum, though it does have a lower concentration of xylitol than the other ones on this list. It could be a good starter option for people curious about xylitol.
Promising review: “Honestly, this gum is such a great find! 🤩 It doesn’t taste sugary at all, and there’s zero “chemical” aftertaste. The flavor is light, pleasant, and not overpowering (which I love, because strong gum smells usually push me away). It simply freshens my breath without making me feel like I just walked into an essential oil shop 😅 The lasting effect is impressive, and I’ve already subscribed. Definitely repurchasing and recommending to my friends! 🙌” — iHerb customer
