Chewing Gum: Regular vs Sugar-free

What is the Difference between Regular and Sugar-free Chewing Gum?

Do you know the different types of Chewing Gum: Regular vs Sugar-free? Most of the time we buy Regular Chewing Gum without knowing what it contains and whether there are better options available for us in the market. In this article, we are going to find out the difference between regular and sugar-free chewing gums. This way when you order chewing gums from an online store or go to your local store, you can make an informed decision!

What are Chewing Gums made of? | What is Regular Chewing Gum? | What is Sugar-free Chewing Gum? | What is Xylitol? | Aspartame-free Gums | Conclusion | References |

What are Chewing Gums made of?

Before going into the differences between regular and sugar-free chewing gums, let’s first find out what are the general ingredients used in its making. All chewing gums have the following basic ingredients [1]:

1. Gum: This is the ingredient from which chewing gum inherits its chewy quality. It is a non-digestible, rubbery base.
2. Resin: Resin is the material that gives strength to gum and holds it together.
3. Fillers: To give a nice and tempting texture to gum, fillers are being used as an ingredient in gum. Fillers being used might include calcium carbonate or magnesium silicate (talc).
4. Preservatives: For every packaged food item, preservatives are a must. The same goes for chewing gum. The most popular preservative that is being used in chewing gum is an organic compound called butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
5. Softeners: Softeners are used in the making of chewing gum, to keep the gum moist and soft which ultimately prevents the gum from hardening. Most common softeners used in gums include waxes like paraffin or vegetable oils.
6. Flavourings: Different artificial flavouring is used to give the gum a desirable, tempting flavour that lures chewing gum lovers.
7. Sweeteners:  This is the ingredient that divides the gum into two different types; Regular gum and sugar-free gum. Different types of sweeteners are used in regular chewing gums. The most widely used sweeteners are Cane sugar, beet sugar and corn syrup.  For sugar-free sweeteners, bulk-polyol sweeteners and intensive sweeteners are being used.

As mentioned earlier, chewing gum is categorized into two types: regular vs sugar-free. This category depends on whether natural sugars or artificial sweeteners are used in their composition. Let’s explore the two types of chewing gum in detail.

Types of Chewing Gum: Regular vs Sugar-free

Chewing gums come in two types; one is regular chewing gum and the other one is Sugar-free chewing gum.

What is Regular Chewing Gum?

Regular chewing gum is the conventional sweet gum that contains sugar as one of its primary ingredients. It contains a gum base, sugar, or sweeteners, flavourings, and sometimes additional additives like softeners, colourings and preservatives. Sucrose is a widely used sweetener in regular chewing gum along with cane sugar, beet sugar and corn syrup. These sugar components in regular chewing gum provide sweetness and contribute to its calorie content. This is the type of gum we usually chew: a gum with a sweet taste that is used as a snack.

What is Sugar-free Chewing Gum?

Sugar-free gum is a type of chewing gum that does not contain sugar as a sweetening agent. Instead, sugar-free gum contains various artificial sweeteners. Sugar-free chewing gum has less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving and uses alternative sweeteners [2].  The most commonly mentioned sweeteners on gum labels are

1. Aspartame
2. Xylitol
3. Neotame
4. Saccharin
5. Sucralose
6. Sorbitol

According to King’s College London study from 2019 [3], chewing sugar-free gum on a regular basis reduces cavities by roughly 28% compared to non-chewing gum users. This effect is greater when fluoride toothpaste is used.

Among the above-mentioned sweeteners, the most commonly studied are xylitol and Aspartame and that’s because of a reason. Let’s dive deeper into the world of these two sweeteners.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a low-calorie naturally occurring sugar alcohol (polyol), often used as an alternative to various sugar-free and reduced-sugar products, including chewing gum. It is naturally found in small amounts in various fibrous fruits and vegetables, trees, corncobs and even the human body [4].  The fact that the sweetness of xylitol is comparable with that of table sugar but with fewer calories makes it a good substitute for natural sugars.

Xylitol in Chewing Gum: A Healthy Sweetener

Most of the research on xylitol is mainly focused on its ability to combat dental issues which majorly include plaque. Xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that are associated with dental cavities and helps in the prevention of plaque formation. A review paper published in 2020 stated that xylitol might be especially effective in combating the bacterial strains Streptococcus sangui and Streptococcus mutans [5].

Additionally, the researchers found evidence that xylitol may lessen tooth sensitivity and help demineralize the teeth, thereby reversing bacterial damage. This ability of xylitol may even help reduce the risk of cavities in future. Moreover, due to the anti-inflammatory properties of xylitol, it is thought to fight a painful skin condition called Angular chelitis that affects the corners of the lips and mouth.

So, if you have this stubborn plaque in your mouth, choose xylitol-containing sugar-free chewing gum without a doubt.

Aspartame-free Gums:

Other than Xylitol, Aspartame is also the talk of the town in the chewing gum industry. Aspartame is a non-nutritive sweetener (NNS). It has a sweet, sugar-like taste with no unwanted metallic or bitter taste. It is less costly than sugar. Aspartame is composed of Aspartic acid and phenylalanine and both of them are naturally occurring amino acids [6].

Why Should We Prefer Aspartame-Free Chewing Gums?

Unlike Xylitol, Aspartame is thought to be harmful to human health due to the following reasons [7]:

1. Aspartame was included by the WHO in 2023 among potentially carcinogenic substances for humans.
2. The potential effects of aspartame on the brain include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and changes in parts of the brain involved in memory and decision-making.
3. Higher and safer doses of aspartame have been linked to liver impairment, with oxidative stress and inflammation playing a role.
4. Oxidative stress in kidneys can be induced by Aspartame, which can lead to kidney damage and fibrosis.
5. Aspartame can affect heart function, thereby raising the risk of cardiovascular disease.
6. Aspartame may impair metabolic responses and contribute to inflammatory processes associated with metabolic diseases by altering the gut microbiota.

Therefore, due to the above health risks, aspartame-free chewing gums are preferred. This is the primary reason why Aspartame-free gums are generally called Healthy Chewing Gums.

So folks, before buying chewing gum blindly, read about its ingredients carefully in order to follow a healthy lifestyle and avoid risks.

Conclusion

Chewing Gum: Regular vs Sugar-free

In conclusion, we have uncovered the essential differences between regular and sugar-free chewing gums. Additionally, we have highlighted the benefits of sugar-free chewing gums specifically containing xylitol, which can fight against a plethora of dental issues. On the other hand, potential health concerns associated with aspartame are also being discussed.

So folks, before buying chewing gum blindly, take a moment to read about its ingredients carefully in order to follow a healthy lifestyle and avoid risks.

References

[1] The main ingredients of chewing gum are “gum, sweeteners, softeners, preservatives, fillers, flavourings” –https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chewing-gum-good-or-bad#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2.

[2] Sugar-free gum contains different artificial sweeteners – https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-about-chewing-gum

[3] Sugar-free chewing gums reduce cavities – https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/chewing-sugar-free-gum-could-help-reduce-tooth-decay

[4] Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol sugar – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324155#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

[5] Xylitol might be effective in combating the bacterial strains Streptococcus sanguine and Streptococcus mutants – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-020-10708-7

[6] Aspartame is a non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-011-0571-1

[7] Side effects of Aspartame on different body organs – https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/75/9/718/4101228