Maltitol chewing gum and tooth plaque in teenagers
What it found
Chewing maltitol gum for 30 days raised plaque pH and lowered cavity-linked bacteria in teenagers.
The effects were similar to xylitol gum.
What they found
Studies in people
Plaque acidity levels
Both maltitol and xylitol gum raised the pH of tooth plaque compared to plain gum base or no gum. This happened right after the first chew and again after four weeks of daily use.
Cavity-linked bacteria
Maltitol and xylitol gum lowered four types of bacteria linked to cavities more than plain gum base did. Plain gum base also reduced these bacteria compared to chewing nothing.
Plaque buildup
Teens chewing maltitol or xylitol gum had less plaque growth over the 30 days compared to those who chewed no gum.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that sugar-free gum sweetened with maltitol or xylitol can lower plaque acidity in a similar way.
- They say this happens because the gums reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth.
- The authors note that using a plain gum base helped them show these effects came from the sweeteners themselves.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see how sugar-free gums sweetened with polyols affect tooth plaque. They aimed to better understand how these sweeteners might help prevent cavities.
They ran a trial in China with 258 teenagers aged 13 to 15. The teens were split into four groups: maltitol gum, xylitol gum, plain gum base, or no gum at all. They chewed the gum for 30 days, taking in about 10 g of polyol each day.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial lasted only 30 days, so it cannot show what happens with longer use.
- It measured plaque and bacteria, not actual cavities, so it cannot prove that maltitol prevents tooth decay.
The paper
- Title
- Effects of maltitol and xylitol chewing-gums on parameters involved in dental caries development
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Thabuis C, Cheng CY, Wang X, et al (2013). Effects of maltitol and xylitol chewing-gums on parameters involved in dental caries development. European journal of paediatric dentistry.PubMed 24313583
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error