Substantiation of health benefits

Chewing gum as a confectionery product provides good taste over a prolonged period of time, plus a number of other benefits, including breath freshening, dental benefits, fortification by addition of minerals and vitamins, clean teeth and prevention of dry mouth.

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Freshens Breath

Chewing gum moistens and refreshes the mouth and throat and sweetens the breath.

 

Helps Maintain Tooth Mineralization and Helps Neutralize Plaque Acid

Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which helps neutralize acids from foods that may cause tooth decay.

Chewing a sugar-free chewing gum has been shown to stimulate the production of saliva by up to ten times the normal unstimulated rate. Saliva neutralizes plaque acid in the mouth and helps reduce the risk of dental caries by up to 40%. The stimulated saliva also helps repair early dental lesions through remineralization of the tooth’s surface. Dental professionals recommend sugar-free gum as an aid to oral health and to prevent tooth decay. 

A UK study by the University of York Health Economics Consortium investigating the economic impact of chewing sugar-free gum concluded that if the entire British population chewed sugar-free gum, the National Health Service (NHS) could save over £100 million per year on dental care.

In a recent publication from the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), the benefits of chewing gum containing non-cariogenic sweeteners and the importance of their contribution to reduce the impact of the prevalence of dental caries are available here. 

Dental health benefits of chewing gum has been recognized widely, for example in the European Union, based on thorough scientific reviews performed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (e.g., here). 

Convenient Way of Taking Vitamins and Minerals

Fortified gum provides a convenient way of taking vitamins and minerals.

 

Helps Maintain Clean Teeth

Certain chewing gums have demonstrated their ability to whiten teeth and to prevent stains from forming.

 

Promotes Concentration

The repetitive act of chewing gum increases the heart rate and aids concentration.

 

Relief for Sufferers of Chronic Dry Mouth

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, thereby providing relief from dry mouth.

 

Helps Support Healthy Lifestyle

At 5 to 10 Calories per serving, chewing gum is an ideal between-meal snack alternative to higher calories foods.

 

Helps to Support Smoking Cessation

Chewing gum provides a burst of flavor in an easy-to-use format, so chewing gum may provide assistance to those who are trying to give up smoking.