subject: Xylitol Keeps Your Diet Sweet Without Rotting Your Teeth [print this page] For people with a sweet tooth, it can be very difficult to resist sugary foods and drinks. Because of this, these people are at a much higher risk for tooth decay and disease. If you are one of these people and do not want to put yourself at a higher risk for tooth disease or decay, you should consider using the sugar substitute Xylitol to help protect your teeth. While equal in sweetness to sugar, Xylitol can actually work to prevent cavities in your teeth.
What Is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that has been shown to fight cavities. It has the same sweetness as sugar and can be used for a variety of the same things that sugar is used for. Xylitol fights cavities by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria that cause cavities. Unlike sugar, bacteria cannot utilize Xylitol to grow, which greatly reduces the chances that you will develop any cavities. If you consistently use Xylitol-containing products, over time there will be fewer bacteria that are able to accumulate on your teeth's surface and your likelihood for tooth decay will decrease.
How Do You Get Xylitol?
Currently Xylitol is most often found in chewing gum and mints. When at the grocery store, check the labels to see if a product contains xylitol. You can also ask your Grand Rapids dentist to recommend a good xylitol product to use. To maximize the cavity-fighting effect, it is recommended that you use gum or mints 3-5 times per day. By doing this, you will expose your teeth to the xylitol for the optimal amount of time. For people who consistently chew gum or suck on candies, a simple switch to a xylitol-based product can do wonders for their oral health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Xylitol as completely safe and also confirms the cavity-fighting properties of it.
Oral Health Is More Than Chewing Gum
Although Xylitol can be an important step towards achieving good oral health, it should not be seen as something that renders other methods obsolete. Some may think that they are taking care of their teeth simply by chewing on Xylitol-based gum for much of the day. While doing this is beneficial to the health of your teeth, you cannot neglect your other responsibilities to your teeth. Brushing twice a day and flossing once per day are still essential aspects to maintaining a healthy and clean mouth. In addition, it is also important to regularly visit your dentist for professional cleanings and to make sure you are not developing any problems.
To learn more about Xylitol or to inquire about what products are best to use, contact your Grand Rapids dentist to make an appointment today.
by: Gen Wright
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