Xylitol is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a sugar alcohol manufactured from plant material, such as corncobs and hard wood like birch bark. It is found in small amounts in berries, mushrooms and lettuce. On a daily basis, the liver produces up to 15 grams of xylitol. It is a normal part of everyday metabolism.
Xylitol is a safe, natural, low-calorie sweetener without the bad side effects of sugar and artificial substitutes.
Although xylitol was discovered in 1891, and used in Europe since the 1960s, it has been relatively unused in the United States, primarily because cheap supplies of cane sugar made the more expensive xylitol less economically viable.
Xylitol is anticariogenic (does not cause cavities) and has a low glycemic index (the measure of a food’s potential of raising blood glucose) of 7, making it a great sweetener for people with diabetes. Unlike sucrose or table sugar (with a glycemic index of 58), xylitol’s energy is released slowly, keeping the feeling of satiety for longer periods of time than regular sugar.
Because a large percentage of xylitol is passed through the body before the carbs are absorbed, xylitol does not raise insulin levels, making it safe for diabetics. This also results in a low carb intake for those watching their diets.
Xylitol has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates than sugar making it slowly absorbed and metabolized, resulting in negligible changes in insulin.
It is important to note that xylitol is not a manufactured sugar substitute in the saccharine or aspartame class.
Over 25 years of testing in widely different conditions confirm that xylitol is the best sweetener for teeth. Xylitol reduces tooth decay rates and has received endorsements from six national dental associations.
The xylitol effect is long lasting and possibly permanent. Chewing xylitol gum for two years has proven to have effects six years after chewing the gum has ceased.
Streptococcus is one of the bacteria that causes cavities and likes to live in the grooves of teeth at a low pH (acidic). It lives on the sugars you eat and excretes acid that breaks down the protective coating (enamel) on your teeth. Xylitol, however, cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria, thus helping to restore a beneficial pH balance in the mouth.
When xylitol is present, Streptococcus will go for it first. Over time, Streptococcus will pass over sucrose and wait for xylitol. Xylitol is very effective in creating an oral environment that does not favor dental cavities.
Xylitol can be conveniently delivered to your teeth via chewing gum, mints or even candy. Also, Xylitol comes in a crystalline powder so it can be used in coffee, tea and on cereal. The use of xylitol is attractive because its action is not dependent upon reducing the amount of other sugars in the diet. Thus you can add xylitol to your diet without making additional alterations to your dietary patterns.
Studies show that 4 to 12 grams of xylitol per day are very effective. The “all xylitol” mints and gums contain about one gram of xylitol in each piece. You could begin with as little as one piece four times a day for a total of four grams. It is not necessary to use more than 15 grams per day. If used only occasionally or even as often as once a day, xylitol may NOT be effective. Use xylitol at least three, and preferably five times every day. Use xylitol immediately after eating and clearing the mouth by swishing with water, if possible. Between meals, replace ordinary chewing gum, breath mints or breath spray with comparable xylitol products.
The only adverse side effect is transient osmotic diarrhea that is caused by the way xylitol is absorbed in the intestines. Over time, the body can tolerate up to 45 grams of xylitol, which is 10 times the effective dose.
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Dr Samuel Romano DMD • Dr Allison Adams DMD • General & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, Snoring & Sleep Apnea
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