If you’re like most people, you probably reach for gum to freshen your breath or pass the time.
But here’s something you likely didn’t know: chewing a single piece of sugar-free gum for just a few minutes can capture and remove up to 100 million bacteria from your mouth.
Yes, you read that right.
That sticky little square isn’t just masking garlic breath—it’s actively sweeping away microbes, scooping them up from every corner of your mouth like a microscopic janitor.
In a recent study out of the Netherlands, a team of researchers led by Stefan Wessel at the University Medical Center Groningen found that chewing gum rivals brushing and flossing when it comes to reducing bacterial load.
The kicker?
It does this in a different region of the mouth—one that’s often missed by conventional oral hygiene practices.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, offers a compelling case for rethinking that casual stick of gum as more than a breath-freshener.
It might be one of the most underrated tools in your dental care routine.
More Than Just a Sweet Habit
Let’s talk numbers.
The average person’s mouth contains between 800 million to 1 billion bacteria at any given moment.
Not all of these are bad—many are part of a healthy oral microbiome—but the overgrowth of certain strains is directly linked to gum disease, cavities, and even systemic issues like heart disease.
Here’s where gum steps in.
When researchers asked five biomedical engineering students to chew two different brands of sugar-free spearmint gum for durations ranging from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, they discovered something fascinating:
Up to 100 million bacteria were extracted from the mouth by the gum.
And not just random bacteria, but those stuck in hard-to-reach areas—places floss and even toothbrushes struggle to reach.
What’s more, the gum didn’t just capture bacteria passively.
The team suspects the antimicrobial properties of ingredients like xylitol and peppermint oil actually helped kill some of the bacteria as they were being trapped.
According to the study, “Chewing gum can remove bacteria in a manner comparable to brushing with a new toothbrush (no toothpaste) or flossing.”
That’s not just good news for gum lovers—it’s a revelation for dental health.
But Wait—Isn’t Gum Kind of Gross?
That’s a fair point. Gum has suffered an image problem in recent years.
Between fears of sugar content, sticky sidewalks, and the rise of alternatives like mouth sprays and mints, gum has taken a back seat in the oral care market. U.S. gum sales have dropped by 11% over the past four years, and no one’s quite sure why.
Perhaps it’s the dessert-like flavors—“Raspberry Vanilla Cupcake” or “Radiant Pineapple Blend”—that have nudged gum too far into candy territory.
Or maybe we’ve just forgotten its roots as a functional tool for dental hygiene.
But this latest study might be what turns the tide.
Unlike mints, which dissolve and get swallowed (along with the bacteria they touch), gum traps the bad guys and spits them out—literally.
So yes, it’s sticky, but it might just stick it to plaque, too.
A Pattern Interrupt
Now here’s the curveball: most people think chewing gum is bad for you—a sugary crutch with no real benefits.
After all, anything that falls under “candy” can’t be good for your health, right?
Wrong.
This assumption doesn’t hold up when we zero in on sugar-free gum, especially those sweetened with xylitol.
Unlike traditional sugars, xylitol can’t be metabolized by the bacteria that cause cavities.
In fact, it inhibits their growth.
Let that sink in: A piece of sugar-free gum may actually starve harmful bacteria rather than feed them.
That flips the narrative on its head.
A 2008 review in Caries Research concluded that chewing xylitol gum consistently could reduce dental plaque by up to 30%, and even help reverse early-stage cavities in some cases.
Now, combine that with the mechanical effect of physically lifting bacteria from your teeth and gums—and it’s not hard to see why some dental experts are getting excited.
What the Study Found
Let’s go a little deeper into the study’s methods and results, because they’re worth unpacking.
The researchers had participants chew gum for various durations—30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, up to 10 minutes.
Afterward, the gum was carefully analyzed to determine the number and diversity of bacteria it had picked up.
Here’s what they found:
- The most bacteria were collected in the first minute of chewing.
- As chewing time increased, the quantity of bacteria decreased—but the diversity of the bacteria increased.
- By the 10-minute mark, fewer total bacteria were being caught, but they represented a broader sample of the oral ecosystem.
So what’s going on?
One explanation is that the concentration of bacteria in saliva naturally decreases during chewing.
Another theory is that the gum loses its stickiness over time, or that bacteria are being killed by flavoring agents like spearmint and preservatives, which have known antimicrobial effects.
Either way, the takeaway is clear: chewing gum is most effective in the first few minutes, but longer chewing helps collect a more diverse range of microbes.
A Complement, Not a Replacement
Of course, chewing gum isn’t about to replace your toothbrush or floss anytime soon.
But what this research suggests is that it can be a powerful complement to your existing routine.
Where brushing excels at cleaning surfaces and floss reaches between teeth, gum reaches the nooks and crannies those tools often miss—especially the soft tissues, cheeks, and tongue.
It’s also portable, requires no water or sink, and doesn’t come with the discomfort some people experience from flossing or aggressive brushing.
And let’s not overlook another hidden benefit: chewing stimulates saliva production, which is your mouth’s natural defense system.
Saliva neutralizes acids, helps remineralize tooth enamel, and flushes away food particles.
So anything that increases saliva flow (without introducing sugar) is a win.
What Kind of Gum Works Best?
Here’s the catch: not all gum is created equal.
To get these benefits, you need to look for:
- Sugar-free gum (always)
- Sweetened with xylitol or sorbitol
- Mint-flavored varieties tend to have higher antimicrobial properties
- Brands that don’t include artificial sugars that may disrupt gut microbiota (such as aspartame or sucralose)
And sorry to those still rocking Bazooka or Bubble Tape—those nostalgic treats are doing more harm than good when it comes to your oral health.
Can Chewing Gum Help Beyond the Mouth?
Interestingly, some researchers are looking beyond dental health.
The very act of chewing stimulates cognitive functions and alertness.
Several studies suggest that chewing gum can improve short-term memory, reaction times, and even stress relief.
In Japan, companies have developed functional chewing gums infused with everything from vitamins to herbal extracts, aiming to deliver targeted health benefits through the simple act of chewing.
And given the rising interest in oral microbiome research—with links being drawn between mouth bacteria and everything from heart disease to Alzheimer’s—it’s possible that gum could play a role in systemic health far beyond our teeth.
Time to Rethink Gum
Gum might not seem like a revolutionary health product, but in light of this research, it deserves a second look.
When a stick of sugar-free gum can remove 100 million bacteria in minutes, it becomes a tool worth having in your pocket—especially if you’re traveling, on the go, or need a quick refresh between meals.
So the next time you’re reaching for that mint, maybe reconsider.
A small piece of gum could quietly be doing the work of a toothbrush, a floss threader, and a tongue scraper all at once.
Your breath will be better.
Your teeth might thank you.
And now you’ve got a science-backed excuse to chew like it’s going out of style.
Sources: PLOS ONE, University Medical Center Groningen, Real Clear Science, Caries Research, NIH
