A seminal xylitol study wanted to find the differences in the rate at which cavities formed as influenced by different kinds of sugars. The scientists found a large reduction in cavities with the use of xylitol. 

• Scheinin, A., Mäkinen, K. K., & Ylitalo, K. (1976). Turku sugar studies. V. Final report on the effect of sucrose, fructose and xylitol diets on the caries incidence in man. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 34(4), 179–216. 

K.K. Makinen, one the of pioneers of xylitol research, wanted to see how xylitol and other polyols affect oral health by remineralizing teeth. “The scientific and clinical information available today indicates that habitual use of xylitol can be associated with significant reduction in the incidence of dental caries and with remineralization.” 

• Mäkinen, K. K. (2010). Sugar alcohols, caries incidence, and remineralization of caries lesions: a literature review. International Journal of Dentistry, 2010, 981072. 

In one study, researchers found that a combination of trimetaphosphate, xylitol, and erythritol affected the uptake of fluoride so much that it strengthened enamel 33% more than fluoride alone. 

• Marcato, R. A., Garbelini, C. C. D., Danelon, M., Pessan, J. P., Emerenciano, N. G., Ishikawa, A. de S., Cannon, M. L., & Delbem, A. C. B. (2021). In situ evaluation of 200 ppm fluoride toothpaste content trimetaphosphate, xylitol and erythritol on enamel demineralization and dental biofilm. Journal of Dentistry, 111, 103724. 

Studies have shown that using xylitol has long-lasting effects on tooth health. In one study, the likelihood that subjects would develop cavities was still reduced even after 5 years since they regularly chewed xylitol gum. “When teeth erupted during the second year of habitual xylitol gum-chewing, the long-term caries risk reduction was 93%.” 

• P. P. Hujoel, K. K. Mäkinen, C. A. Bennett, et al., “The optimum time to initiate habitual xylitol gum-chewing for obtaining long-term caries prevention,” Journal of Dental Research, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 797–803, 1999. 

This study found that xylitol blocked adhesion of bacteria to epithelial cells, showing that xylitol inhibits bacteria from sticking to tissue, which allows the body to wash them away. 

• Kontiokari, T., Uhari, M., & Koskela, M. (1998). Antiadhesive effects of xylitol on otopathogenic bacteria. The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 41(5), 563–565. 

Studies show that there is a link between oral health and whole-body health. Researchers have found that gum disease is connected to cardiovascular disease among other conditions and diseases. A happy mouth leads to a happy body. 

• Dhadse P, Gattani D, Mishra R. The link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease: How far we have come in last two decades? J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2010 Jul;14(3):148-54.