Sugar-free gum contains petroleum-based polymers and can trap over 100 million bacteria per piece. Mouthwash kills bacteria and reduces plaque by 32% and gingivitis by 24%, but also eliminates bacteria that help regulate blood pressure. Bryan Johnson would skip both and just brush.
Your breath stinks. Which one is worse, gum or mouthwash? Most sugar-free gums are made with a gum base, but here's the catch. US labeling allows manufacturers to list this as a single proprietary ingredient. What's usually in there is a petroleum-based polymer, the same family of plastics that are used in inner tubes. Sugar-free gum can reduce your risk for cavities, but it doesn't kill bacteria. In fact, it can actually trap it. One study showed over 100 million bacteria in a single chewed piece. Antiseptic mouthwash works by killing bacteria directly. A meta-analysis showed it reduced plaque by 32%, gingivitis by 24%. This is on top of brushing compared to a placebo rinse. But it's not all good. It also kills the bacteria that converts nitrate to nitric oxide, which is used to regulate your blood pressure. If I was forced to choose between gum and mouthwash, I would brush my teeth.
