Chewing gum has several properties that can either be beneficial or detrimental to oral health. On the one hand, most chewing gums sold are sweetened with sucrose and can contribute to the cariogenic "load" of the diet. On the other hand, the use of chewing gum after meals stimulates salivation and neutralizes plaque pH. Furthermore, sucrose in chewing gum can be replaced with artificial sweeteners like xylitol to reduce the cariogenic load of the diet.