Is brushing twice a day enough?

Daily brushing is essential - but when access to routine dental care is limited, and snacking on the go is commonplace, additional protective measures can make a meaningful difference. That’s where sugar-free gum comes in.

Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva flow, neutralising plaque acids and aiding remineralisation.¹ When used after eating or drinking, it can complement toothbrushing by helping to reduce the risk of dental caries - particularly between brushing episodes.² In fact, regular chewing of sugar-free gum has been shown to reduce caries incidence by up to 28%.³

A simple step with a big impact

Improving access to preventive tools is increasingly urgent. NHS dentistry is under strain, and patients are turning to desperate measures - 70% of dental professionals have seen a rise in ‘DIY dentistry’.⁴ One-in-five adults under 35 have missed at least two weeks of work due to oral health issues.⁴

Economic analysis from Frontier Economics shows that widespread uptake of sugar-free gum could save dental services £194 million annually.⁵ That’s the equivalent of 5.5 million extra check-ups each year - helping to ease pressure and reach patients who need care most.

What does the guidance say?

The Government’s Delivering Better Oral Health toolkit encourages good oral hygiene behaviours, and while 78% of dental professionals say they already recommend sugar-free gum,⁴ there is scope to go further. Making chewing gum a routine part of personalised preventive care - especially for patients at higher caries risk - can support both individual and system-wide health outcomes.

Building prevention into everyday life

Sugar-free gum is not a substitute for brushing and flossing - but it can be a powerful adjunct. Portable, accessible, and cost-effective, it’s a practical tool for patients, and an underutilised asset for clinicians.

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References

1. Dawes C, Watanabe S. The effect of taste stimuli on the flow rate of human parotid saliva. Arch Oral Biol. 1987; 32(3): 151–155.

2. Dodds MW, Johnson DA, Yeh CK. Health benefits of saliva: a review. J Dent. 2005; 33(3): 223–233.

3. Newton JT et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of chewing sugar-free gum on plaque and dental caries. Am J Dent. 2015; 28(1): 11–18.

4. Wrigley Oral Health Programme. Survey of dental professionals, 2024.

5. Frontier Economics. The economic impact of sugar-free gum in oral health, 2023.