Really? The Claim: Chewing gum can prevent ear infections?
New York Times, By Anahad O’Connor
In a meta-analysis published in the Cochrane database, a University of Toronto team analyzed several studies of 3,100 healthy children at day-care centers.
They found that children chewing xylitol gum were 25 percent less likely to develop acute ear infections.
Because the children chewed the gum up to five times a day, it’s not clear whether smaller amounts would have the same effect.