Since sorbitol sweetener doesn’t get quickly broken down into acids by cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, it doesn’t cause cavities, making it a common ingredient in sugar-free gum, hard candies, and mints. But its benefits go far beyond just sweetness:

• Powerful Humectant: Sorbitol molecules effectively bind moisture from the environment. This hygroscopic property prevents fillings from drying out in pastries and bread, prevents blooming in chocolate coatings, and serves as a moisturizing and thickening agent in cosmetics, toothpaste, and facial cleansers.
• Medical Laxative: Sorbitol’s well-known “side effect”—mild laxative action—is, in fact, its intended clinical use. Oral sorbitol solutions can serve as osmotic laxatives, and the enema solutions made from it are widely known. They work by increasing osmotic pressure in the intestines and stimulating water secretion to soften stool. The common belief that “prunes relieve constipation” is based on the combined action of the natural sorbitol and fiber found in prunes.