Xylitol: Less Bacteria Equals Healthier Teeth

Did you know that xylitol can help you keep your teeth healthy? Using xylitol is an effective, affordable and convenient way to help you reduce cavities. Everyone knows that traditional sugar is the main cause that leads tooth decay. Since it is quite an impossible mission to completely eliminate sugar from your diet, a more viable approach to keeping a good oral care is to substitute regular sugar for xylitol.

Experts explain that cavity happens when bacteria present in your mouth eat the sugars you consume. When you eat food rich in sugar, it gives bacteria on your teeth the supplement they need to multiply and start to produce acids that damage the enamel of your teeth. Xylitol, on the other hand, provides dental benefits. Xylitol is a natural sweet substance extracted from the fibrous parts of plants. Because it does not dissolve like sugar, it helps maintain the pH level in the mouth neutral. But the greatest xylitol dental benefit is its ability to prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth. This protects your teeth from tooth decay.

The bacteria present in your mouths is simply unable to digest xylitol. That means they cannot grow, leading the number of acid-producing bacteria to fall up to 90%. Less bacteria mean less acid, and less acid means healthier teeth!

If you have reduced salivary flow, you can also benefit from using xylitol as sugar substitute. Another great xylitol dental benefit is that it stimulates saliva flow. When saliva flow is decreased, important minerals of phosphate and calcium are not effectively deposited into enamel and these are vital for maintaining tooth enamel healthy. The increased saliva flow allow these minerals to be deposited to keep a strong enamel and relieve the discomfort of dry mouth.

Although xylitol is present in many fruits and vegetables, the problem is that people don't usually consume enough of these produce in their diet to enjoy the dental benefits. In such case, using Xylitol as your only sweetener will provide you with the amount necessary to provide protection for your teeth.

You should know that consuming too much xylitol can lead you to experience unpleasant gastric effects. The secret is moderation. In fact, too much of anything is not good for anyone. If you experience discomfort while consuming xylitol, try using it in smaller doses into your daily routine. This way your body will have time to get used to it. And one more important thing, to be effective against bacteria, increase saliva flow and neutralise the pH, xylitol should be the main ingredient and the only sweeter. Keep in mind that other sweeteners such as aspartame, sorbitol, or maltitol are considered a food source for bacteria and counteract the effects of xylitol.