Preventing Tooth Decay With Xylitol
You’ve probably heard that xylitol is dangerous and toxic to dogs. If you have a family pet, you’re likely to be very careful about the products in your home that your dog might get into. But xylitol is also in food and dental products.
Exactly what is xylitol, and is it safe for you and your kids? Are there any xylitol benefits for dental health? Here’s everything you need to know.
Understanding Xylitol
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol found in plants, like strawberries, pumpkins, plums, cauliflower, and certain trees. It has five carbons and is one of many sugar alternatives used to sweeten foods with fewer calories. While xylitol is plant-based, it is classed as an artificial sweetener. It looks and tastes like sugar, so it can be used in a 1:1 ratio to replace sugar.
Xylitol in Dentistry
Xylitol is a common ingredient in many medications, lozenges, and dental products, like mouthwash and toothpaste. Most xylitol used in food and other products comes from beech or birch trees. Studies suggest xylitol may help with overall dental health. However, official dental associations recommend you use xylitol as one step in a comprehensive oral health routine.
Xylitol Benefits in Dental Health
Research shows that xylitol may have benefits for dental health, from lowering bacteria and soothing dry mouth to reducing your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Lowers Mouth Bacteria
Most cavities are caused by a specific type of bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans. These and other bacteria use fermentable sugars or carbohydrates as energy, which helps them grow. As they consume sugar, they create acid that breaks down tooth enamel and eventually causes cavities.
Xylitol is an unfermentable sugar alcohol, which means bacteria can’t process it or use it to grow. Using xylitol may help interrupt S. mutans bacteria, essentially starving them, leading to fewer bacteria and less acid and enamel damage.
Soothes Dry Mouth
Saliva is an essential part of a healthy mouth. It helps keep hard and soft tissues healthy, washes away food and debris, strengthens the surface of your teeth, and contains substances that fight disease and cavities.
A dry mouth can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and mouth infections. Fortunately, xylitol may help by stimulating saliva and increasing or neutralizing saliva pH. A higher saliva pH means you have less acid in your mouth and less chance of enamel damage.
More saliva also helps clear away food, so there’s less for bacteria to feed on or to get stuck in your teeth. Healthy saliva also helps keep plaque at bay.
May Lower Risk of Gum Disease and Cavities
The impact of xylitol on bacteria and saliva means it may help lower your risk of cavities and gum disease. Xylitol blocks bacterial growth, but it also stops bacteria from sticking to your teeth. The less bacteria can stick, the less they can create acids and damage your teeth and gums.
Preventing Tooth Decay With Xylitol
Xylitol is a safe ingredient and typically only causes side effects like GI upset at very high doses. However, since you only ingest a tiny amount of dental products, it’s unlikely to be an issue. The most common ways to use xylitol are chewing gum, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
Sugar-Free Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol for 20 minutes after eating may help prevent cavities. The combination of chewing itself and xylitol gum stimulates saliva, helping to lower bacterial activity in your mouth and wash away food debris. For best results, choose 100% xylitol gum and chew it three to five times daily after eating.
Xylitol in Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Xylitol in toothpaste and mouthwash may also be helpful. Some research shows that brushing with 25% xylitol toothpaste twice daily for three months significantly lowered cavity-causing bacteria. Still, guidelines generally suggest using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash rather than xylitol-based options.
Doesn’t Replace Oral Hygiene or Dental Care
Several studies have looked at how xylitol affects bacteria, cavities, and overall oral health. However, the results are mixed, showing conflicting effects. The consensus is that xylitol isn’t effective enough on its own to prevent cavities or tooth disease.
In many of these studies, xylitol only produces effects in very high amounts, which isn’t realistic for everyday use. Still, it does have a benefit as a sugar-free alternative that discourages bacterial growth in the mouth and helps prevent cavities.
That said, it isn’t a magic solution. Daily flossing, brushing and regular dental care and cleanings are essential, and xylitol is best used in combination with these practices.
Comprehensive Dental Care at Great Lakes Dental
Your daily hygiene routine and dental products have a big impact on your overall dental health. Xylitol can help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but regular dental check-ups and cleanings are also essential.
Our team at Great Lakes Dental, a dentist in Mentor, Ohio, offers total smile care using advanced technology and techniques. Book an appointment today to discover fast, easy, and expert care.