One of the common problems faced by most adults today is tooth decay caused by the consumption of sugar in drinks and starchy food. Nearly all adults experience this problem adding to the increasing global rate of tooth decay which is becoming a major health concern. Chewing sugar-free gum is a new preventive strategy that helps in reducing tooth decay risks and improving oral health. The oral benefits of sugar-free gum are widely recognized and approved by various regulators and government authorities such as the FDI, World Dental Federation, and other 20 national dental associations around the world.  

Recently, a first-of-its-kind global study published in the American Journal of Dentistry reported that chewing one additional piece of sugar-free gum per day could reduce global dental expenditures. The research in the study estimates that global dental expenses from the treatment of tooth decay could be decreased by US$4.1 billion per year if present consumers of sugar-free gum raise their intake by only one additional piece per day as part of a full oral hygiene routine. The data offers new perspectives that draw on the comprehensive body of evidence supporting the benefits of chewing sugar-free gum or oral health.  The study was sponsored by Wrigley and conducted by the Institute of Empirical Health Economics (IfEG), a specialist research organization in health economics, with guidance from an international scientific steering committee consisting of dental and public health and economic think-tank experts.

The research represents a strong and significant approach to the precise measurement of cost savings in developed countries resulting from an increase in the use of sugar-free gum. Potential cost savings in the U.S. hit $2.07 billion a year, representing about 3 percent of tooth decay care expenses. For the first time in addition to the well-established clinical benefits, this study models the reduction in the relative risk of tooth decay and associated cost savings for dental treatment as a result of increased use of sugar-free gum as part of a full oral hygiene routine. In contrast, possible cost savings could reach $ 1.1 billion a year in Europe and $ 149 million a year in China. These are exciting new findings that add to the comprehensive body of evidence on the benefits of sugar-free gum in oral care, though further studies are needed.