Did you know that chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after a meal could reduce your child’s risk of tooth decay? Many people think of gum as similar to candy and assume it’s harmful to children’s teeth. But as long as the gum in question is sugar-free gum, chewing it can actually benefit your child’s dental health.

Ready to learn more? In this article, we will cover the following topics:

How Can Chewing Sugar-Free Gum Reduce a Child’s Risk of Cavities?

The short answer is, “by increasing saliva production.” 

When starchy or sugary foods are inside your child’s mouth, cavity-causing bacteria feed off of them and produce acid. Those acids hurt your child’s teeth by causing them to lose minerals, which can eventually lead to cavities. Similarly, when your child eats acidic foods, the acids can contribute to harmful dental erosion. The longer sugary, starchy, and acidic foods linger in your child’s mouth, the worse the damage.

Enter saliva: your child’s unsung hero. Saliva can minimize – and even reverse – the damage caused by sugary, starchy and acidic foods by 

  • clearing food particles and acid out of your child’s mouth;
  • acting as a buffer between your child’s teeth and harmful acids; and
  • replenishing lost minerals.

The more saliva your child produces after a meal, the better – and chewing gum can help quite a bit. According to the American Dental Association, chewing unsweetened, unflavored gum increases the rate of saliva production by 10-12 times. Chewing sweetened, flavored gum increases the rate even more. (Note that the gum does not need to be sweetened with sugar to have this effect – in fact, ideally, it should instead be sweetened with sugar substitutes for the reasons described below!)

Do note, however, that chewing gum can be a choking hazard for young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping gum away from children until they are at least 4 years old (or older, depending on the individual child’s developmental stage and maturity level).

What Makes Sugar-Free Gum Sweet?

How do chewing gums with “sugar-free” labels taste so sweet? They are sweetened with artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame, acesulfame-K, and sucralose) and/or sugar alcohols (such as xylitol, sorbitol, lactitol, mannitol, and maltitol).

Artificial sweeteners are a class of sugar substitutes that are significantly sweeter than regular table sugar. Sucralose (more commonly known by the brand name Splenda®), for example, is 600 times sweeter than table sugar. Because of their high sweetness intensity, very little is needed and artificial sweeteners contribute few to no calories to the foods and drinks to which they are added.

Sugar alcohols, in contrast, are only 25% to 100% as sweet as regular table sugar, and they do add calories (though not as many calories as table sugar would). 

The benefit of both artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols is that they do not lead to tooth decay like table sugar does. While chewing sugary gum after a meal does increase saliva production, the benefits of the additional saliva are reduced or even outweighed by the dental harms caused by the sugar. If your child instead chooses a sugar-free gum, his or her teeth will receive a greater net benefit.  

Are Xylitol-Sweetened Gums Better Than Other Sugar-Free Gums?

The answer here is…“possibly.”

From a dental perspective, all sugar alcohols are useful alternatives to sugar because, unlike sugar, they do not cause tooth decay. Xylitol in particular has been extensively studied, and some research suggests that this particular sugar alcohol might actually prevent tooth decay. However, xylitol’s cavity-fighting powers are not as well-established as some product packaging would have you believe. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has concluded that the current evidence on xylitol’s prevention capabilities is mixed and more research is needed.

When purchasing products with xylitol, do keep in mind that large quantities of xylitol can cause gastrointestinal issues and that xylitol is toxic to dogs.

Is It Okay for My Child to Chew Gum Instead of Brushing?

If your child often resists brushing or flossing, it might feel tempting to allow your child to simply chew sugar-free gum instead. But chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing and flossing. A soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste can scrub away sticky plaque that your child’s saliva cannot. It’s sort of like a dirty plate with stuck-on food – rinsing the plate with water is helpful and can remove some of the mess, but to really get the plate clean, you need to scrub it with dish soap. Similarly, dental floss can clean debris that is stuck between your child’s teeth and inaccessible to a toothbrush. 

Chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after a meal or snack can be a helpful way to minimize your child’s risk of cavities, but it is essential to make sure that your child is also brushing twice a day and flossing before bed.

Should My Child Chew Gum If It Makes His or Her Jaw Sore?

According to the American Dental Association, chewing gum requires your jaw to work harder than chewing food does. When children chew gum regularly and for extended periods, it could lead to jaw pain and increase the risk of developing a TMJ disorder (a disorder of the joint that connects your child’s jaw bone to his or her skull). 

To help minimize this risk, encourage your child to spit out chewing gum after 20 minutes. If your child experiences jaw pain, clicking or locking when chewing gum, take a break from gum and discuss these symptoms with a pediatric dentist. If your child has been diagnosed with a TMJ disorder, your child should avoid chewing gum entirely. 

Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists in Hurst, TX

For more tips on keeping your child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free, schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified pediatric dentists. Dr. Lin and Dr. Chou both have extensive training in preventative measures for pediatric tooth decay.

Hurst Pediatric Dentistry is located in Hurst, Texas, and proudly serves pediatric patients from Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Colleyville, North Richland Hills, Arlington, Irving, and the surrounding area.

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This article is intended to provide general information about oral health topics. It should not be used
to diagnose or treat any disease or as a substitute for the advice of a healthcare professional who is
fully aware of and familiar with the specifics of your case. Always seek the advice of your dentist or
other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY:

Dr. Jin Lin

Doctor Jin Lin, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Jin Lin is a board-certified pediatric dentist with a passion for helping children achieve healthier, more beautiful smiles. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. After graduating cum laude from dental school, he completed his post-doctoral pediatric dentistry training at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where he served as chief resident and worked with children with a wide variety of special medical and dental needs, including children with rare syndromes.