Underbrush Remineralizing Gum: Does it Really Work?

In today’s health-conscious world, you’re likely always on the lookout for natural alternatives to everyday products. When it comes to oral health, the options can be overwhelming. Among the innovative products that have recently gained attention is Underbrush Remineralizing Gum – a product that claims to revolutionize how you care for your teeth while on the go.

But does this “miracle” remineralizing chewing gum actually deliver on its promises? In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive deep into what makes Underbrush gum different, examine the scientific evidence behind its claims, and help you decide if it’s worth adding to your dental care routine.

What Is Underbrush Remineralizing Gum and How Does It Work?

Underbrush remineralizing gum represents a significant innovation in the oral care market, offering what the manufacturer describes as a natural alternative to conventional chewing gum while providing substantial dental health benefits. Produced by Nathan and Sons, this product markets itself as “the world’s first miracle remineralizing chewing gum,” with the ambitious goal of transforming daily oral hygiene routines.

Unlike traditional gums that often contain a laundry list of synthetic compounds and artificial ingredients, Underbrush focuses on naturally derived components that support dental wellness while delivering a pleasant chewing experience. The brand emphasizes a “chew with purpose not poison” philosophy, highlighting their commitment to avoiding the artificial ingredients that dominate mainstream chewing gum products.

The Science of Tooth Remineralization

Before evaluating Underbrush’s effectiveness, it’s important to understand what tooth remineralization actually means. Remineralization is a natural process where calcium and phosphate minerals from your saliva are deposited into tooth enamel. This process helps replace minerals lost during demineralization, which occurs throughout the day as you eat and drink.

When remineralization exceeds demineralization, your teeth remain strong and healthy; when the opposite occurs, cavities can form. This delicate balance is crucial for maintaining long-term dental health.

Chewing gum may support remineralization through several mechanisms:

1. Increased salivary flow: Chewing stimulates saliva production, which contains minerals needed for remineralization and helps neutralize acids.
2. pH balancing: Saliva helps restore the pH of plaque to its resting level after acid attacks.
3. Mechanical cleaning: The physical action of chewing can help remove food particles and plaque.
4. Delivery of beneficial ingredients: Some gums contain ingredients specifically designed to promote remineralization.

Key Features and Ingredients of Underbrush Gum

What sets Underbrush apart from conventional gum products is its natural ingredient profile and transparency regarding formulation. Let’s examine what goes into this product and why these ingredients matter for your oral health.

Natural Gum Base

Unlike conventional chewing gums that typically use synthetic polymers, Underbrush’s gum base comprises three primary natural tree saps:

1. Mastic: A resin obtained from the mastic tree that adds a subtle piney and herbal flavor to the gum
2. Spruce: Contributes minor notes of fresh pine and earth
3. Chicle: A traditional natural gum base ingredient with a long history of use

This commitment to natural ingredients extends to their sweeteners and flavoring agents as well.

Tooth-Friendly Sweeteners

The gum is sweetened with dental-friendly sweeteners – Xylitol and Erythritol – which are known for their tooth-friendly properties. Research has shown that xylitol in particular can help prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the primary bacteria responsible for cavities.

Remineralizing Ingredients

According to the company, Underbrush gum contains “SEVEN essential minerals and Nano-Hydroxyapatite.” Hydroxyapatite is a key component of tooth enamel and has been studied for its remineralization potential. These ingredients are intended to provide the building blocks your teeth need for natural repair processes.

What’s Not in Underbrush Gum

The company strongly emphasizes what their product does NOT contain, highlighting common ingredients in conventional gum that they avoid:

• Polyvinyl acetate
• Aspartame
• Butadiene styrene
• Sucralose
• Microplastics
• Artificial flavors
• Talcum powder
• Preservatives

This focus on avoiding synthetic materials aligns with their claims of being gluten-free, cruelty-free, and “guilt-free.”

Claimed Benefits: What Does Underbrush Promise?

According to the company’s marketing materials, Underbrush remineralizing gum offers several oral health benefits beyond what you’d expect from traditional gum:

1. Naturally remineralizes teeth: The gum contains minerals that help restore tooth enamel, potentially reversing early signs of decay. The company explains that teeth are constantly in a state of demineralization and remineralization, and their gum provides vital minerals needed for effective remineralization.
2. Kills bad bacteria and freshens breath: The antibacterial properties help combat the microorganisms responsible for bad breath and tooth decay. Unlike brushing, which only kills bacteria for minutes, the gum claims to continue working throughout the chewing period.
3. Removes particles and plaque: The physical act of chewing, combined with the gum’s formulation, helps clean teeth by removing food particles and plaque.
4. Provides gentle cleaning anywhere: Positioned as a convenient alternative or supplement to brushing, especially when on the go.
5. Builds stronger facial muscles: The natural tree sap composition creates a “hearty chew” that exercises and tones facial muscles while cleaning teeth.

Scientific Evidence: Does Remineralizing Gum Actually Work?

While the concept of a remineralizing chewing gum is appealing, what does the science actually say about these products? Let’s examine the evidence.

General Research on Remineralizing Gums

While there are no peer-reviewed studies specifically testing Underbrush gum in the provided information, several studies have examined the remineralization potential of chewing gums containing various active ingredients:

1. Fluoride-containing gums: Research has shown that fluoride incorporated into chewing gum yields superior remineralization results compared to placebo gums.
2. Xylitol and calcium combinations: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over study found that xylitol gum containing funoran and calcium hydrogenphosphate had significantly higher remineralization effects on initial caries-like lesions compared to regular xylitol gum, sugar gum, and gum base.
3. Sugar-free gums: Multiple studies indicate that sugar-free chewing gum has significant effects on remineralization of enamel lesions. The mechanical action of chewing combined with increased salivary flow contributes to this effect.
4. Interdental debris reduction: A study showed that chewing sugar-free gum after meals, in addition to daily tooth brushing, reduced interdental debris by 14.18%, though it had no significant effect on established plaque on buccal and lingual surfaces.
5. Surface hardness: Research has demonstrated that chewing certain types of gum can increase the microhardness values of demineralized enamel surfaces, indicating some remineralization effect.

Evaluating Underbrush’s Specific Claims

Without specific clinical trials on Underbrush gum, we must evaluate its potential effectiveness based on its ingredients and the general science of remineralization:

Potential Advantages:

1. Natural gum base: The tree saps used (Mastic, Spruce, and Chicle) provide a natural alternative to synthetic gum bases, though their specific remineralization benefits haven’t been independently verified.
2. Sugar-free formulation: Underbrush uses xylitol and erythritol as sweeteners, which have been shown to benefit dental health by not feeding harmful bacteria.
3. Remineralizing ingredients: The product claims to contain essential minerals and Nano-Hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is indeed a key component of tooth enamel and has been studied for remineralization.

Limitations in Evidence:

1. Lack of specific studies: There are no peer-reviewed clinical trials specifically examining Underbrush gum’s effectiveness in the provided information.
2. Variable results in general studies: Research on remineralizing gums shows varying degrees of effectiveness depending on ingredients and study design.

How to Use Underbrush Gum for Best Results

For optimal results, the company recommends the following usage guidelines:

• Chew 1-2 pieces after each meal for maximum effectiveness
• Chew each piece for at least 30 minutes
• Use 2-4 pieces per day

A single pack contains approximately 18 pieces and is considered a one-week supply if following the recommended usage. The gum pieces are hand-made and hand-cut, resulting in varying sizes and shapes, contributing to its artisanal presentation.

According to customer reports, noticeable results typically appear within three weeks, including a cleaner feeling mouth, smoother teeth, fresher breath, improved gum health, and reduced sensitivity.

Real User Experiences: What Customers Are Saying

Customer reviews of Underbrush gum provide insights into the actual user experience beyond marketing claims:

Texture and Taste

According to detailed reviews, the gum’s texture is similar to commercially available gums but slightly stiffer. The taste is described as pleasant but not long-lasting, featuring a sweet mint flavor with subtle herbal undertones from the natural tree saps.

One reviewer noted that while the flavor fades quickly (likely due to the natural flavors rather than artificial ones), the gum itself maintains its chewable consistency for much longer than conventional gums.

Reported Benefits

Customer testimonials highlight various benefits:

• “My mouth feels just as clean and fresh as it does after a brush.” – Julie S., Los Angeles
• “Since I’ve switched out for this my breath is better and my mouth even feels better.” – Sarah Q.
• “You really start to notice how much of a difference this gum makes when you add it to your daily routine. After one month of use I can already see signs of cavities being repaired and I noticed my gums are not as sensitive as they used to be.” – Customer testimonial

While these testimonials are promising, it’s important to remember that individual experiences can vary, and these reports don’t constitute scientific evidence.

Comparing Underbrush to Traditional Oral Care Methods

How does Underbrush gum compare to your regular oral hygiene practices? The company positions their product as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, traditional oral care methods.

Brushing and Flossing vs. Chewing Gum

While brushing and flossing remain the gold standard for plaque removal and overall oral hygiene, they’re not always convenient throughout the day. This is where a product like Underbrush can potentially fill a gap:

• Convenience factor: You can chew gum anywhere, anytime – making it ideal for after meals when brushing isn’t possible
• Duration of action: While brushing only cleans for the minutes you spend doing it, chewing gum can work for 20-30 minutes
• Saliva stimulation: Brushing doesn’t stimulate saliva production the way chewing does

Mouthwash vs. Remineralizing Gum

Mouthwash provides a quick antibacterial rinse, but typically doesn’t offer remineralizing benefits unless specifically formulated to do so. Remineralizing gum potentially offers:

• Longer contact time with teeth
• Physical cleaning through the chewing action
• Continuous saliva stimulation

Potential Concerns and Considerations

Before investing in Underbrush gum, there are several factors you should consider:

Price Point

Underbrush remineralizing gum is available through the company’s official website (tryunderbrush.com) at $19.99 per pack. With approximately 18 pieces per pack, this makes it a premium-priced option compared to conventional gum products.

Counterfeit Products

An important consideration is the presence of counterfeit products in the marketplace. Online discussions reveal instances of fake versions being sold through social media advertisements and third-party platforms like Amazon.

These counterfeit products reportedly:

• Ship from locations other than the US (often China)
• Have a different texture that dissolves like sugar rather than maintaining a gum-like consistency
• Feature overwhelming scents and flavors
• May have packaging discrepancies or typos

To avoid counterfeits, purchase only from official channels (tryunderbrush.com) to ensure you receive the genuine product.

Not a Replacement for Professional Dental Care

While remineralizing gum may offer benefits, it’s crucial to remember that no gum – no matter how advanced – can replace regular dental check-ups and professional care. Dental professionals can detect issues that aren’t visible to the naked eye and provide treatments that aren’t possible at home.

Is Underbrush Remineralizing Gum Worth Trying?

After examining the available information, is Underbrush remineralizing gum worth adding to your oral care routine? Here’s our assessment:

Who Might Benefit from Underbrush Gum

1. Health-conscious consumers looking for natural alternatives to conventional gum
2. People seeking additional cavity prevention measures beyond brushing and flossing
3. Those who frequently eat out and need an on-the-go solution for oral hygiene
4. Individuals concerned about the chemical ingredients in mainstream gum products
5. People with mild tooth sensitivity who want to try a natural approach

Who Should Exercise Caution

1. Those with severe dental problems who need professional treatment rather than self-care products
2. Budget-conscious consumers who might find the price point prohibitive for regular use
3. People who require strong scientific evidence before adopting new health products

The Final Verdict: Does Underbrush Remineralizing Gum Really Work?

The concept of remineralizing chewing gum is supported by scientific evidence, with studies confirming that certain types of gum can contribute to tooth remineralization through increased salivary flow, pH balancing, and the inclusion of beneficial ingredients like xylitol and calcium compounds.

While Underbrush gum includes ingredients that have theoretical remineralization benefits, there are no specific clinical studies in the provided information that directly test this particular product’s efficacy. The gum likely provides general benefits associated with sugar-free chewing gums, including increased salivary flow and mechanical cleaning.

For those seeking natural alternatives to conventional gums, Underbrush may offer advantages through its natural ingredients and absence of synthetic compounds. However, you should maintain realistic expectations about its remineralizing capabilities in the absence of product-specific clinical evidence.

As with any oral health product, Underbrush gum should be considered a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, regular oral hygiene practices including brushing, flossing, and professional dental care. If you’re interested in trying an innovative approach to maintaining your dental health between brushings, Underbrush gum might be worth considering – just be sure to purchase from official channels to avoid counterfeits.

Have you tried Underbrush or other remineralizing products? What has your experience been? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!