Xylitol - The Sweetest Alternative

Xylitol - The Sweetest Alternative
By Dr. Peter Shelley

When it comes to finding sugar alternatives for your patients, you have probably heard the name Xylitol. Xylitol is one possible way of helping your patients avoid the negative effects of sugar.

Xylitol is an interesting compound, with an even more interesting history. Let's take a closer look at what xylitol is and how it works.

WHAT IS XYLITOL?

Simply put, xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol sweetener that has active beneficial properties for dental health and hygiene. It was first discovered just before the turn of the 20th Century. But, it wasn't until the 1970s that Finnish researchers caught on to its benefits for teeth.

As a naturally occurring compound, it can be found in a wide range of fibrous organic materials, like fruits or vegetables. Things like berries and oats, for example, often contain amounts of xylitol. The majority used in products today, however, is extracted from either corncobs or trees.

BENEFITS

For dental matters, xylitol has proven itself to be a remarkably effective weapon in the fight against tooth decay. Xylitol helps to limit the amount of damaging bacteria present in the mouth, and it makes it easier for the body to repair places where teeth might be damaged.

Even though it's healthier, Xylitol tastes almost as sweet as sucrose, or table sugar, and it has almost no aftertaste. Research has shown that it has no discernible ill effects, even when taken over an extended period of time.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Xylitol has a noncariogenic five-carbon structure. This keeps it from being metabolized or broken down by bacteria, reducing the amount of enamel-harming acid they can produce in the mouth.

Xylitol-heavy products like gum or mints help to promote the presence of saliva in the mouth. And, because of the less acidic pH levels, teeth are better able to remineralize before caries and spots with decay become a problem.

UNEXPECTED BENEFITS

Though it might be taking things a bit too far to call xylitol a miracle compound, it can be hard to believe just how useful a substance it really is. Because of its lower calories and the fact that it is not broken down as easily by the body, xylitol makes for a great artificial sweetener. In fact, one of its first uses was as a sugar replacement for diabetic individuals.

But, did you know that it's also been linked to benefits involving nasal relief (helping with asthma, sinus infections, and allergies), osteoporosis (by aiding in bone density), and respiratory infections (by preventing bacterial growth in the eustachian tubes)?

POSSIBLY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

Not everyone is in love with xylitol, however. If you look, reports of xylitol's effectiveness can vary pretty wildly. Some herald it as being something of a miracle substance and swear by its effects, while others hold fast to the notion that it does little to no real good for oral health.

Ultimately, the science behind the claims of xylitol's wonders is often inconclusive. Those who make one claim for xylitol's effects often come up against researchers who have not been able to achieve the same or similar results.

Clinical trials looking into xylitol's benefits often end up labeled as inconclusive, and in some cases researchers come to conclusions suggesting that it has no real effect on things like preventing caries.

In one recently concluded study, for example, nearly 700 participants between the ages of 21 and 80 tested the effectiveness of xylitol over a period of 33 months. Some participants were given xylitol lozenges, while others were given a placebo. In their trials, the researchers found only a minimal effect on the reduction or development of caries in each participant's mouth. The researchers only saw about a 10% reduction in the caries increment, too small to be of much scientific significance.

Still, there are plenty of people out there who swear that xylitol works well when used as part of a daily routine.

WHERE CAN MY PATIENTS FIND PRODUCTS WITH XYLITOL?

There are several companies out there that use xylitol as a primary ingredient in their products to help promote healthy teeth as well as overall health. Xlear, Zellies, and Dr. Johns are just a few of the places to go to when searching for products with xylitol.

If you have a patient who's looking to find products with xylitol, you can recommend they check out nearby health food stores. But, you can also find a wide range of items online, both from individual companies' websites (like Xlear or Globalsweet) and online marketplaces like Amazon.

You might be amazed just how many different kinds of products are out there! Beyond the expected toothpastes and mouthwashes, you can find everything from sugar-substitute xylitol sweeteners to mints, gum, and candy.

Of course, if you want to recommend xylitol products to a patient (or try it for yourself), remember that not all of them are created equal. Be sure to look for those that use xylitol as the primary ingredient and do not include things like citric acid, which can inhibit xylitol's effectiveness, or other sweeteners like maltitol, sorbitol, or mannitol, which can help feed tooth-damaging bacteria. Consider finding a brand that consistently offers quality xylitol products and recommend going with that brand.

Have you suggested xylitol to patients? Or, have you used products with xylitol yourself? If so, tell us about your experiences in the comments below!

Dr. Peter Shelley - Owner/Endodontist - http://www.engagedental.com

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