Now that’s something you don’t hear often. Dentists are usually hounding you about reducing your sugar intake. But this sugar is different. This sugar, known as xylitol is found in a lot of oral care products – but what is it? Research has shown that small amounts of xylitol are beneficial for your oral health and can prevent tooth decay. Since many of my patients haven’t heard of xylitol, I decided to write a bit of information about it. Let’s learn more about this sugar so we can make more informed decisions.
What is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol, essentially a carbohydrate, and literature shows it raises blood glucose levels less rapidly than standard sugar, has less calories and tastes acceptable. As such, some people use it as a sugar substitute. If you are doing this, I recommend you consume it in moderation. It is plant-derived, however it does undergo some processing to convert it into a powder form. Most side effects are related to gastrointestinal discomfort in high doses. High doses means anything greater than 30g/day. Important – being a sugar, it is not good for dogs so definitely keep it out of reach. My personal verdict: empty carbohydrate calories and raising blood sugar levels mean that I am not inclined to add it to my foods. I’d rather consume my carbs and sugars with more fibre such as through raw fruit. Remember moderation is key.
Xylitol and teeth
It is not often we turn a packet of chewing gum over and look at the ingredients list. Among many other ingredients, xylitol may be listed on there. Xylitol can be found in numerous dental products such as ‘Sugar-Free Chewing Gum’ and toothpastes. This is because xylitol has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on the bacteria growing in your mouth. This bacteria can cause decay to spread and holes to get bigger. As such, xylitol can be used to prevent cavities or tooth decay. There are not many products that can prevent cavities so this is what makes xylitol so unique from a dental perspective. My personal verdict: ingesting xylitol through chewing gum also helps stimulate salivary flow which will buffer any acids and wash away trapped food from the mouth. Brushing teeth with xylitol toothpaste will mechanically remove plaque and prevent holes from developing. In both scenarios, the level of ingested xylitol is very low, and as such benefits outweigh risks.
In a nutshell..
Use xylitol in toothpaste and chewing gum to help prevent cavities. Use it sparingly in food as a sugar substitute.
Hope this article has simplified xylitol for you, would be open to feedback and interested to hear current research in this area.
