Research is showing that sugar-free gum, sweets and soft drinks can damage teeth and cause gastric problems. What’s more, they are unlikely even to promote weight loss.
A review of studies found that sugar-free foods and drinks contain acidic additives that can erode the enamel on your teeth. A commonly used group of sugar substitutes, called sugar alcohols or polyols, can cause such mouth acidity and dental decay.
According to the Guardian:
“The review raises the wider question of what health-related claims made on behalf of products can be trusted ... ‘Sugar-free may seem to indicate that a sweet or other product is tooth friendly, but this is not automatically the case’”.