Article on Xylitol

[ElGrizzle]

Essentially, xylitol is beneficial for teeth because unlike other carbohydrates which are six carbon "hexose" units, xylitol is a five carbon or pentitol sugar alcohol. Since xylitol is held up by a "pentose" backbone bacteria cannot utilize it, plaque cannot ferment it, and ultimately less acid is produced. Xylitol use will generally aid in the decrease of harmful bacteria, yeast, plaque, plaque acids, insoluble extracellular polysaccharides, lipoteichoic acids, and the enzymes that process sucrose. Overall, this makes for a healthier mouth and better breath.

The most tooth damaging acid, lactic acid, is formed in favor through the fermentation of sugars by oral bacteria. Lactic acid contributes to a drop in pH and is able to chelate with calcium and dissolve it. Bacteria cannot ferment polyols which means with the use of xylitol, which has a beneficially high hydrogen to carbon ratio, no damaging lactic acid is produced. Basically, xylitol interferes with every destructive element and will help to push the balance in favor of dental protective factors.

It doesn't just stand by and watch but is instead quite active in promoting dental health by being non-acidogenic, anti-cariogenic, cariostatic, and by harboring the ability to enhance remineralization. Xylitol can also be used in place of fluoride for those who don't trust municipal tap water (like myself). For those who like their fluoride treatments, xylitol and fluoride work very well together.

So mow much do you need to use in order to promote dental health? Studies show that used xylitol occasionally will petty much do nothing regardless of how much you take. The best results are found in taking four to twelve grams per day split into about five separate doses. This is rather easy to do if you're a gum chewer. Just go out and get some of that xylitol gum (or mints) and pop one every couple of hours."

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