Xylitol Benefits
Dental Uses
Xylitol Fights Cavities
With over 40 years of research and thousands of studies confirming its effectiveness and safety xylitol is one of the newest, easiest and tastiest ways that people can fight cavities. Research done in widely different conditions confirms that xylitol use significantly reduces reduces tooth decay rates both in high-risk groups (high caries prevalence, poor nutrition, and poor oral hygiene) and in low-risk groups (low caries incidence using all current prevention recommendations). Sugar free chewing gums and candies made with xylitol as the principal sweetener have already received official endorsements from six national dental associations.
Medical Uses
Xylitol Provides Nasal Relief
There are many health benefits related to xylitol. The addition of xylitol to saline nasal sprays, neti pots, and positive pressure bottles has been shown to make them much more effective at helping to prevent ear infections (otitus media) in children, sinus infections in adults, and asthma and allergies in people of all ages. Xylitol helps prevent the harmful bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections from sticking to the tissue, if they can’t stick to the tissue, they can’t cause infection. Xylitol helps the body’s natural cleansing process to clear away allergens, asthmatic triggers and harmful bacteria.
Nutritional Uses
Xylitol Has Been Used as a Sweetener in Foods Since the 1960’s
Xylitol is only slowly absorbed and partially utilized; therefore a reduced calorie claim is allowed: 2.4 calories per gram or 40% less than other carbohydrates. In addition, the body does not require insulin to metabolize xylitol, which has made it a widely used sweetener for the diabetic diet in some countries. In the U.S., xylitol is approved as a food additive in unlimited quantity for foods with special dietary purposes.
Healthcare Professionals
Dentists, doctors, and nutritionists should be acquainted with xylitol studies and research in order to talk to their patients about the benefits of using xylitol. Xylitol decreases bacterial adherence in the nose, prevents dental caries, and acts as a safe sugar substitute for diabetics. Dentists can encourage their patients to use xylitol daily (best when used about five times per day, following meals) to see a dramatic decrease in oral bacteria. Doctors and nutrionists can recommend xylitol to both diabetic and non-diabetic patients to see significant health benefits.
