Most of us chew gum, right? We pop a piece after a meal to help with our breath or maybe an aftertaste that was left in our mouth. We pop a piece when we are bored or when we are craving something sweet. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American chews 1.8 pounds of gum each year. So with all that chewing, what gum should you choose? The best chewing gum for your teeth of course. But what gum would that be?

The ADA, or American Dental Association, only gives their seal to sugarless gum. But why is sugarless gum the best gum for your teeth?

To start, sugarless gum is sweetened with non-cavity causing sweeteners, like xylitol. In fact xylitol, which can be found in all Spry gums, has been shown to help clean the mouth of bacteria and keep plaque causing bacteria from sticking to your teeth.

Sugarless gum is also the best gum for your teeth because it has been shown to increase the flow of saliva, which also helps reduce plaque acid, strengthen your teeth, and reduce tooth decay.

Chewing gum between meals can help you clean and protect your teeth when brushing isn’t an option. The food and drinks we consume have acids within them that can cause dental erosion. These acids can eat way at the enamel covering the teeth. When you chew gum, you produce more saliva which helps reduce the effectiveness of these acids. When you opt for a sugarless gum with xylitol, you do even more to reduce the plaque causing bacteria and acids in your mouth. Xylitol even helps your mouth maintain a normal pH balance.

It’s all of these reasons and more that we firmly suggest choosing a sugarless gum that contains xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that’s found in many fruits and vegetables and even in the human body. We think this makes it a perfect ingredient for sugarless gum. If you’re going to be putting something into your body, it might as well be something it naturally produces and something that helps your health.