Does Hubba Bubba Gum Contain Xylitol? A Look at Ingredients and Nutritional Impact

October 26, 2025 •

3 min read

Over 70% of sugar-free gum products globally use polyols, including xylitol, to replace sugar. This makes it a common misconception that all sugar-free gum contains these beneficial sweeteners, which raises the question: does Hubba Bubba gum contain xylitol? The answer is nuanced and depends on the specific product.

Quick Summary

Some Hubba Bubba products, like the Skittles Minis, contain xylitol, while many traditional varieties are sweetened with sugar and other artificial sweeteners. This distinction significantly impacts the gum's effect on dental health, blood sugar, and safety for pets.

Key Points

Check the Label: Only specific varieties of Hubba Bubba, like the sugar-free Skittles Minis, contain xylitol. Many classic versions are sweetened with sugar and corn syrup.
Dental Health Benefit: Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that starves harmful oral bacteria, reduces plaque, and helps prevent cavities. Sugar-based gums, in contrast, promote bacterial growth.
Pet Safety Risk: Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia and liver damage. Sugar-based gums are also a choking hazard and can cause intestinal blockage.
Nutritional Differences: Xylitol has a low glycemic index and fewer calories than sugar, making sugar-free gum a better option for those monitoring blood sugar or calorie intake.
Not a Replacement for Brushing: While sugar-free gum with xylitol supports oral health, it does not replace the need for regular brushing and flossing.
Gastrointestinal Effects: Consuming excessive amounts of xylitol can lead to digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea.

Understanding the Hubba Bubba Ingredient List

For consumers concerned about ingredients like xylitol, the most crucial step is to read the product label. The Hubba Bubba brand includes both traditional, sugar-sweetened gums and sugar-free options that use a mix of sugar substitutes, including xylitol.

Ingredients in Hubba Bubba varieties

Hubba Bubba Mini Gum in Skittles Flavors (Sugar-Free)

This product explicitly lists xylitol as a primary ingredient, along with other sugar alcohols like mannitol and sorbitol. Its ingredients also include:

Gum Base
Natural And Artificial Flavors
Acacia
Citric Acid
Soy Lecithin
Acesulfame K and Sucralose (additional artificial sweeteners)
Carnauba Wax
Colors
BHT (to maintain freshness)
Aspartame

Hubba Bubba Original Bubble Gum Tape (Sugar-Based)

This classic version does not contain xylitol but is instead primarily sweetened with sugar. Its ingredient list typically includes:

Sugar
Gum Base
Corn Syrup
Glycerol
Corn Starch
Soy Lecithin
Natural And Artificial Flavors
Acesulfame K and Aspartame
BHT
Colors

The Role of Xylitol in Oral Health and Nutrition

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol known for its dental health benefits. Unlike sugar, it cannot be fermented by the harmful oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, which are responsible for producing plaque and cavities. This starves the bacteria and reduces the amount of plaque buildup on teeth.

Key benefits of xylitol gum for oral health include:

Prevents tooth decay: Regularly chewing gum with xylitol has been shown to reduce the incidence of cavities.
Increases saliva production: The act of chewing, combined with xylitol, stimulates saliva flow. Saliva helps wash away food particles, strengthens tooth enamel by promoting remineralization, and neutralizes acidic conditions in the mouth.
Neutralizes plaque acids: Xylitol helps to create an alkaline environment in the mouth, neutralizing the acids that weaken enamel.

Sugar vs. Sugar-Free: A Comparison

Understanding the fundamental differences between sugar-sweetened and sugar-free gums is vital for anyone concerned with diet and oral health. Below is a comparison of Hubba Bubba Original (sugar) and the Hubba Bubba Skittles Minis (sugar-free with xylitol).


Feature	Hubba Bubba Original (Sugar)	Hubba Bubba Skittles Minis (Sugar-Free)
Primary Sweetener	Sugar, Corn Syrup	Xylitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Sucralose, Aspartame
Effect on Oral Bacteria	Provides fuel for harmful bacteria like S. mutans, leading to plaque and acid production.	Starves harmful bacteria, reducing their growth and preventing plaque formation.
Effect on Enamel	Leads to enamel demineralization (cavities) due to acid production from bacteria.	Promotes remineralization of enamel by increasing saliva production and neutralizing plaque pH.
Glycemic Impact	High glycemic load; can cause blood sugar spikes.	Low glycemic impact; minimal effect on blood sugar levels.
Calorie Count	Higher calories per serving from sugar.	Lower calories per serving; xylitol has 40% fewer calories than sugar.
Safety for Pets	The gum base can be a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.	The gum can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and potentially fatal liver damage in dogs due to xylitol content.

What This Means for a Healthy Diet

From a nutritional standpoint, the presence or absence of xylitol in a gum like Hubba Bubba has several implications. For those managing blood sugar levels or watching their calorie intake, sugar-free options are the clear winner. However, sugar-free gums are not calorie-free, and they contain other sugar alcohols that can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in high doses.

As a supplementary tool for dental hygiene, chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol is beneficial after meals when brushing isn't an option, as it helps cleanse the mouth and neutralize acids. It is not, however, a replacement for regular brushing and flossing.

Conclusion

While some specific Hubba Bubba products, such as the sugar-free mini gum, do contain xylitol, many of the brand's classic and original varieties do not and are instead sweetened with sugar and corn syrup. This distinction is critical for anyone considering the nutritional and dental health impacts of their gum choices. For optimal oral health benefits, choosing a gum that contains xylitol is a science-backed strategy, but it requires diligent label-reading. For those concerned about pet safety, it is safest to assume all gum is dangerous and keep it out of reach. Ultimately, reading the ingredients list is the only way to know for sure what's in your pack of Hubba Bubba. For more information on oral health and chewing gum, visit the American Dental Association's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some sugar-free varieties, such as the 'HUBBA BUBBA Mini Gum in Skittles Original Flavors,' contain xylitol. You must always check the ingredient label, as not all sugar-free gums contain it, and most sugar-sweetened versions do not.

Yes, xylitol is generally considered a safe food additive for humans. It is a safe and beneficial sugar substitute used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer.

For dogs, xylitol is extremely toxic because it causes a rapid and severe release of insulin, leading to a dangerous drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This can be life-threatening and cause liver damage.

Chewing xylitol gum can help prevent cavities by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, increase saliva production to neutralize acids, and promote the remineralization of tooth enamel.

You must check the ingredient list on the product packaging. If it lists 'Sugar' and 'Corn Syrup' as primary ingredients, it is sugar-sweetened. If it lists 'Xylitol' or other sugar alcohols like 'Sorbitol' and 'Mannitol,' it is sugar-free.

The sugar-free versions containing xylitol are beneficial for dental health. However, like any gum, it is not a substitute for brushing and flossing. Chewing gum is only one part of a good oral hygiene routine.

No, most classic Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape varieties are sweetened with sugar and corn syrup and do not contain xylitol. This highlights the importance of reading the label for each specific product.