Xylitol and Your Dental Health

What if you were told that there was a natural sweetener that could improve your dental health? Would you believe it? Well, there is - and it’s called xylitol.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener, not an artificial one, such as aspartame or saccharin. In fact, your body produces small amounts of xylitol each day as you process carbohydrates. If you saw xylitol in its crystalline form you would think it looks like the sugar that you use in baking or in your coffee, although it is much lower in calories (2.4 calories/gram) than sugar.

Where Does Xylitol Come From?

Xylitol can be found in agricultural products such as berries, mushrooms, lettuce, corn cobs, and birch wood. Nowadays, it is most often taken from corn cobs. While corn cobs were once considered a waste by-product, they now allow for xylitol to be sourced in an economically and environmentally friendly manner.

How Does Xylitol Benefit My Dental Health?

Xylitol has some definite benefits when it comes to your dental health.

You know that tooth decay occurs when bacteria in your mouth eat the sugars that we eat. When you eat foods containing “regular sugar” (sucralose), bacteria eat this sugar and then start producing acids which erode your enamel causing tooth decay and cavities.

Xylitol does not break down like regular sugar and helps to keep your mouth at a neutral pH. Xylitol keeps bacteria from sticking to your teeth, therefore, reducing your chance of tooth decay and cavities. Xylitol can actually reduce the quantity of plaque on your teeth and make the remaining plaque less adhesive, enabling for easier removal when you brush. Because plaque build-up is a leading cause of gum disease, xylitol is also beneficial in preventing periodontal disease.

Where Can I Find Xylitol?

Xylitol is often found in chewing gums and some sweetened candies. You should also be looking for xylitol as a listed ingredient in your oral care products. Perfect Smile Oral Care products contain xylitol to help prevent plaque growth and reduce your risk of tooth decay. Be sure to use Perfect Smile Oral Care products to ensure good dental hygiene and health.

** Please note that xylitol, while perfectly safe for humans, is not safe for your pets. Please keep your products containing xylitol in a safe location away from animals.