THE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO
THE MOST EXTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION TO XYLITOL THAT YOU’LL FIND ANYWHERE
CHAPTER 3
XYLITOL IN ORAL CARE
We know how counterintuitive this seems. A sweetener is good for your teeth? But it’s true. Let’s explain why.
The bacteria that live in your mouth feed off of the sugars we eat. When they eat these sugars, they use that energy to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on the teeth.
Xylitol doesn’t break down like sugars because the bacteria cannot metabolize it. This means that the bacteria basically starve thanks to xylitol. It also helps keep a neutral pH level in the mouth.
Xylitol also helps prevent the bacteria from sticking to your teeth in the first place. Which means they never even get the chance to set up shop and start the destruction process.
Because the bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities are unable to digest xylitol, their growth is greatly reduced. In fact, acid-producing bacteria can fall as much as 90%!
Studies show that consuming 5 grams of xylitol every day can give you these dental benefits. This is a really simple thing to accomplish, when you add xylitol products to your dental regime. Xlear Inc. has a full line of dental products containing xylitol. From xylitol toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewing gum and more, getting the recommended 5 grams of xylitol per day is easy.
As if the dental benefits of xylitol weren’t enough already, research has shown that the use of xylitol also helps repair damage to the enamel. Saliva actually contains all the components needs to repair early cavities, and xylitol helps increase saliva production. After using xylitol products the concentration of basic amino acids and ammonia in saliva and plaque may rise, and plaque pH rises as well. When the pH is above 7, calcium and phosphate salts in saliva start to move into those parts of enamel that are weak. That means the soft, calcium-deficient enamel begins to harden.