Sorbitol gum, mouthfeel and tooth surface changes
What it found
In people, chewing sorbitol gum improved how moist and smooth the mouth felt for up to 60 minutes, alongside a more water-loving tooth surface.
The authors say this comes from sorbitol sticking to the tooth surface.
What they found
Studies in people
Mouthfeel improved
Chewing gum improved self-perceived mouthfeel for up to 60 minutes, whether or not Magnolia bark extract was added.
Tooth surface change
The tooth surface became more water-loving after chewing gum, matching the better mouthfeel.
Salivary film change
Salivary films showed an increased amount of O 1s electrons bound at 532.6 eV after chewing gum.
Chewing alone not enough
Chewing Parafilm did not change tooth-surface hydrophobicity or salivary-film composition.
Sorbitol is the cause
The authors say the adsorption of sorbitol, not Magnolia bark extract or extra saliva, is responsible for the improved mouthfeel.
What the authors conclude
“Accordingly, adsorption of sorbitol, rather than the presence of Magnolia bark extract or increased salivation, is responsible for improved self-perceived mouthfeel.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that adsorption of sorbitol, rather than the presence of Magnolia bark extract or increased salivation, is responsible for improved self-perceived mouthfeel.
How it was done
Sugar-free chewing gum is recognised for helping oral health by boosting saliva, clearing food debris and balancing biofilm pH. Magnolia bark extract is added to gum to cut bad-breath bacteria, but its effect on how the mouth feels was not known.
In a crossover clinical trial, volunteers chewed sorbitol-containing gum, with or without added Magnolia bark extract, three times a day for 4 weeks. A smaller group also chewed Parafilm as a chewing control. Mouth moistness and tooth smoothness were scored by questionnaire, and water-contact angles on teeth were measured before, right after and 60 minutes after chewing. Saliva samples were collected and the films that formed on glass slides were analysed.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial measured mouthfeel and tooth-surface changes, not long-term oral health outcomes.
- It cannot show whether these effects would be the same with other chewing gums or in different groups of people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
The paper
- Title
- Self-perceived mouthfeel and physico-chemical surface effects after chewing gums containing sorbitol and Magnolia bark extract
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Wessel SW, van der Mei HC, Slomp AM, van de Belt-Gritter B, Dodds MWJ, Busscher HJ (2017). Self-perceived mouthfeel and physico-chemical surface effects after chewing gums containing sorbitol and Magnolia bark extract. European journal of oral sciences. doi:10.1111/eos.12370PubMed 28857279DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error