Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is found in plants like corn, lettuce, raspberries, cauliflower, strawberries, pears, mushrooms, and even birch trees.
When you eat foods that contain simple carbohydrates, like table sugar, decay-causing bacteria feed on the sugar and produce an acid that attaches to a tooth's surface, weakens the enamel and eventually causes decay. But decay-causing bacteria can't digest xylitol. Without a food source, the bacteria die.
Children are born without any cavity-causing bacteria. Where do they get it? From you!
The caries bacterium is passed from the primary caregiver to the child through sharing food and kisses. So, when a new mom chews sugarless, xylitol gum or eats xylitol mints, for example, the bad bacteria eventually die and cannot be passed to baby. Studies indicate that if you use xylitol products for at least two years, beginning shortly after baby is born, your child can be protected from decay for as long as six years.
For xylitol to be effective, you need to get five exposures every day. Taking a boat load of xylitol all at once doesn't give you much effect. It's important to spread it out throughout the day. Xylitol gum contains about one gram of xylitol. Chew one piece of gum after each meal and brush with xylitol toothpaste twice a day to get recommended amount: Strive for Five.
Products that contain xylitol include mouthwashes, lozenges, tablets, toothpastes, cough products, nutraceuticals (food extracts that have medicinal qualities), syrup, candies, cookies, gels and pacifiers. Xylitol also comes in a granular form so you can sweeten beverages and even cook with it.
Xylitol is convenient—pop a stick of gum or a mint in your mouth—and away you go.
Ask us about xylitol products during your next office visit, or if it's time to schedule your hygiene check-up, just give us a call.
Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.
