Xylitol - Sugar Substitute with Health Benefits
Xylitol and Dental Health
While there are many health benefits associated with using the sugar substitute Xylitol, our focus for this month's edition is on dental health. February is National Children's Dental Health Month, and what better way to help children improve their oral health than by introducing xylitol-sweetened products as part of their daily oral care routine. Recently the Arizona State Dental Hygienist Association became the first American dental or dental hygiene organization to endorse the preventive and therapeutic benefits of xylitol, joining the Finnish Dental Association, Swedish Dental Association the British Dental Association and many other national dental associations to endorse and recommend the use of xylitol for better oral health.
Xylitol Feature Story
This month's feature story comes from Suite101.com and focuses on the health benefits of xylitol.
Xylitol: The Sugar Substitute with Dental Health Benefits
"Although being a sweetener, xylitol has dental health benefits. Unlike other sugar alcohols with a 6-carbon structure xylitol does not cause dental caries (cavities). The main bacterium that causes dental caries is Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium uses sugar alcohols, sugars and other carbohydrates for food through fermentation. On doing so, it produces acids that eat through the enamel on the teeth, which leads to decay. Streptococcus mutans cannot ferment xylitol. Additionally, xylitol causes the environment to become more alkaline inhibiting the bacterium's growth."
Dental Health Results from Xylitol Use
The article also says that xylitol "significantly reduces the incidence of dental decay. A randomized trial ‘Occurrence of Dental Decay in Children after Maternal Consumption of Xylitol Chewing Gum, a Follow-up from 0 to 5 Years of Age' by P. Isokangas et al. (2000) published in the Journal of Dental Research revealed interesting information. They found that when mothers consumed xylitol there were significantly reduced levels of Streptococcus mutans in their two-year old children. The children did not consume xylitol. Xylitol reduced the transfer of the bacterium from mother to child through saliva. This study compared the level of the bacterium compared to those taking fluoride. There was a 70% reduction in dental caries at the age of five years, compared to the fluoride group."
You can read the full story here.
