Unlike in Asia, it is quite hard to find xylitol gum here. I’m not sure why it is that so many of the sugar-free gums I come across in North America use sweeteners like aspartame instead of xylitol.
In Asia, especially in Hong Kong, I’ve noticed that xylitol gum is much more common, and it is often recommended as part of good oral hygiene. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that doesn’t feed cavity-causing bacteria the way regular sugar does, and chewing sugar-free gum also stimulates saliva, which helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids in your mouth. There is evidence that sugar-free gum, including xylitol-sweetened gum, can help reduce cavity risk when used as an addition to regular brushing and flossing.
So, I’ve always wondered why xylitol gum isn’t more popular in North America.
That was until I learned about PÜR Gum.
PÜR is headquartered in Toronto, which made me even more curious about why it can sometimes be so hard to find. Are people just scooping them up, or are they not as popular as I thought? 😂
I bought a pack and honestly, if it weren’t for the xylitol, I probably wouldn’t have liked it very much — especially when there are already so few alternatives.
PÜR Gum is sweetened with 100% xylitol and is completely aspartame-free. The company also says its gum is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial flavours and colours. One interesting detail is that although PÜR is headquartered in Toronto, the gum itself is manufactured in Switzerland.
I tried several different flavours, thinking maybe the short-lasting taste was just a flavour issue (because some flavours of gum naturally seem to lose their flavour faster), but of the few flavours I tried, they all had the same problem.
PÜR Gum doesn't last very long.
It usually starts losing its flavour at around the 10-minute mark, and by about 25–30 minutes, the gum starts to disintegrate. I usually spit it out at the 30-minute mark because it loses its chewiness and just doesn't feel like gum anymore.
This isn't exactly a cheap gum either. Compared to some of the other brands, it falls somewhere in the middle:
- Excel sugar-free gum: $6.69 for 60 pieces — $0.11/piece
- 5 Gum sugar-free gum: $2.99 for 15 pieces — $0.20/piece
- Mentos sugar-free gum: $3.98 for 50 pieces — $0.08/piece
- PÜR Gum sugar-free gum: $5.49 for 40 pieces — $0.14/piece
(Prices based on what I paid/observed and may vary by store.)
My biggest issue
For me, the biggest problem isn't the flavour itself — it's the fact that the flavour and texture don't last very long.
I actually like the idea of PÜR Gum quite a lot. I like that it uses 100% xylitol, and I like having a sugar-free gum option that doesn't rely on aspartame. But when I compare the actual chewing experience to other gums, I find myself disappointed by how quickly it loses its flavour and chewiness.
Conclusion
I really wanted to love PÜR Gum because it checks so many boxes for me: xylitol, sugar-free, aspartame-free, and made with ingredients I feel more comfortable chewing regularly. Unfortunately, the actual gum experience just isn't quite there for me.
If you're specifically looking for a xylitol gum, PÜR is definitely worth trying because there aren't that many options available. But if you're judging it purely on flavour longevity and chewing experience, there are other gums that I enjoy much more.
So, for now, I'll keep looking for that perfect xylitol gum — one that gives me the oral-health benefits I'm looking for and actually lasts long enough for me to enjoy it. 😅
Score: 6.5/10
Website: https://thepurcompany.com/
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