How does xylitol prevent tooth decay

Chewing xylitol gum for 3 weeks or more provides not only short but also long-term reductions in S. Even just the action of chewing the gum helps to rinse away lactic acids. In order to be effective against bacteria the optimal intake levels are at least g of xylitol per day.

Xylitol gums range from having. In order to reach those levels you will need to chew more than one piece at a time a few times a day. After meals is a great routine to get into, but make sure to wait for at least 20 minutes after eating food before chewing xylitol gum. Another approach is to include xylitol-containing toothpastes into your routine. Many types of toothpaste are now being made with xylitol as an active ingredient. Studies using xylitol toothpastes show that they lead to decreased MS levels in saliva and increased oral pH levels as well.

Xylitol containing syrups, gummy bear snacks and lollipops are also great alternative options for children. Regardless of how you take it — continuous, long-term use of xylitol is important to gain its benefits. It is evident that for it to be effective you have to make sure to be getting enough of it. A study by Migram et al. What they found was that there was no difference in the resultant S. Interestingly enough, at normal levels of consumption there is no known toxicity to humans and there have been no serious health risks found.

One caution to be aware of is that its absorption in the small intestine is very slow. All polyols share this characteristic and exhibit a laxative effect on the digestive system. In the EU Scientific Committee on Food published a report warning that ingesting 50g a day can cause diarrhea. For this reason, xylitol is banned from being used in soft drinks in the EU.

Bell Harbour Dental is a family owned, patient-first dental practice located in Belltown. Check us on out Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram , or contact us today and boost your dental health! How does it work? What are the mechanisms of its magic? As it turns out, both the xylitol and the gum itself are important contributors to a caries preventing effect. The act of chewing gum itself can also combat tooth decay, as it leads to the production of saliva; this, along with the physical act of chewing, can help remove food debris from the mouth which could otherwise be fermented by bacteria.

On this basis, the authors suggested that g of xylitol per day in the form of gum would be effective, and this is the amount that the Sweet Bites team are promoting. You can read more about the Sweet Bites project over on their website, www. In fact, the oldest known sample of honey, found in an Ancient Egyptian tomb and dated to approximately years ago, was still perfectly edible. What is it, then, that gives honey this unusual property? To answer this question, we need to understand how bees make honey in the first place.

We all know that excessive sugar consumption is bad for us, but sweetened options are always much tastier. The problem is, the more we consume, the worse it is for our teeth. So, how do we combat cavities while also keeping sweets in our diets?