Xylitol Benefits for Teeth

Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in candies and chewing gum. A sweet carbohydrate in use for more than a century, it is chemically similar to wood sugar and is derived from hardwood trees, predominantly birch. Xylitol also occurs naturally in corn and many fruits, and is even found in the human body as a product of normal metabolism.

Overall Oral Health

• More than two decades of clinical trials support the use of xylitol in chewing gum as a sugar substitute. Xylitol encourages the production of saliva, which is important to preventing and reducing plaque buildup on teeth. It also increases the pH of saliva, which helps inhibit bacterial growth on the teeth and gums. According to studies conducted by dentists in the pediatric department of Yeditepe University in Turkey, daily use of gum containing xylitol significantly reduced the levels of harmful bacteria in the mouth. In addition to reducing harmful bacteria, xylitol also inhibits the fermentation of mouth bacteria. Increased flow of saliva helps to clear the mouth of bits of food, which further contributes to less bacteria in the mouth.

Cavity Prevention

• According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Yeditepe University's dental studies in the 1970s demonstrated a lower incidence of dental caries among children and adults who regularly chew gum containing xylitol. According to UnboundMedicine.com, clinical trials conducted by KK Mäkinen and others in 1995 demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of cavities when children regularly use xylitol-containing gum. Clinical trials have successfully proved that xylitol use stimulates the production of saliva and lowers the pH of the mouth, which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and plaque development, and thus helps to prevent cavities.

Treatment of Dental Caries

• Once a cavity has occurred on the tooth surface, chewing gum sweetened with xylitol can prevent further deterioration of the tooth enamel. According to the Unbound Medicine website, studies have reported as early as 1962 that xylitol use can assist in the remineralization (growth of enamel) of the tooth surface where a cavity is small. If the patient keeps the cavity clear of food particles and chews xylitol-containing gum regularly, the tooth decay can be arrested and remineralization can occur. The results of clinical trials of xylitol on children in Belize suffering from cavities were reported in the International Dental Journal in 1995. After 18 months of regular use, clinicians observed arrested development and remineralization of existing cavities.