Consuming three pieces of sugar-free gum per day is ‘clinically proven’ to have oral health benefits according to newly-released research.
The report analyses the benefits of sugar-free gum across several countries including the UK. It found that chewing three pieces of the gum daily can reduce caries incidence by 30%.
The report suggests that people in the UK consume 89 pieces of sugar-free gum per year on average – below the benefit threshold. It notes that consumption at this level costs approximately £55 annually. Therefore, the authors consider increasing consumption to be a feasible and affordable means of improving oral health.
How would this save public money?
If 100% of the target population increased their sugar-free gum consumption to this level, the report estimates a national cost saving of £388 million. If the intervention was successfully implemented by just half of this population, a saving of £194 million is still estimated. The report says this equates to more than 2% of the country’s current dental spending and could fund 5.5 million additional check-ups.
The researchers note that there could also be benefits beyond direct dental public health spending. For example, improved quality of life, a reduction in lost days of school/work and increased capacity for health systems.
Why is sugar-free gum beneficial?
According to the report, chewing sugar-free gum benefits oral health by stimulating saliva production. This contributes to neutralising plaque acids, maintaining tooth mineralisation and removing harmful microorganisms.
The authors said: ‘We recommend that all stakeholders – including global health organisations, national health departments, national dental associations and dental practitioners – consider placing a greater focus on preventive oral health interventions as part of a wider strategy to tackle the challenges in dentistry.’
These findings are part of the Benefits of Sugar-Free Gum – International Analysis report, released by Frontier Economics.
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