Xylitol

Xylitol, a naturally-occurring 5-carbon sugar alcohol found in small amounts in berries, mushrooms, corn cob, and vegetables, has a sweet taste and is not metabolized by oral bacteria to acidic end-products that trigger the development of dental caries. A dentist’s dream, xylitol – as opposed to fermentable sugars – is the sweetener in some sugar-free chewing gums and candies.

Beneficial Aspects of Xylitol

To understand the beneficial aspects of xylitol it is important to review the process leading to tooth decay.

The consumption of fermentable sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, serve as a food source for oral bacteria. The oral bacteria proliferate and form a biofilm, termed plaque, over the tooth surface.

Within the biofilm, bacteria metabolize fermentable sugars to yield acidic end-products which lower the pH. Lowered pH favors the de-mineralization of calcium and phosphate from the tooth’s surface enamel. However, eventually, the intake of fermentable sugars decreases, causing the pH to increase, now favoring the re-mineralization of the enamel, with the minerals dissolved in the saliva reincorporated into the enamel.

The balance between de-mineralization and subsequent re-mineralization is not the problem, but rather when the cycle is disrupted in favor of the de-mineralization of the enamel, resulting in a softened calcium-deficient tooth surface that becomes a region for bacterial accumulation and metabolism, eventually causing a “cavity” – dental caries.

Through several mechanisms xylitol, may reduce the incidence of dental caries:

1. Xylitol is not metabolized by oral bacteria, to acidic end products. As acid-producing oral bacteria cannot ingest xylitol, their proliferation is limited and they do not stick well to the tooth surface, thus formation of a bacterial biofilm (plaque) is curtailed.
2. Products containing xylitol stimulate the production of saliva, which is inhibitory to the formation of dental caries. Thus, in addition to preventing dental caries, xylitol prevents dry mouth. Saliva, acting as a flushing and cleansing mechanism, clears the oral cavity of foods and of bacteria, acts as a buffer to keep the pH neutral, delivers minerals for the re-mineralization of the enamel, and has antibacterial properties.
3. Xylitol, itself, has antibacterial properties, which may explain its usage as a syrup, nasal spray, lozenge, and chewing gum to reduce the occurrence of middle ear infection in preschoolers.
4. Xylitol is effective in inducing re-mineralization of the deeper layers of enamel.

When used as a cavity preventive, children and adults are limited to 7 to 20 grams/day, typically divided into 3 to 5 doses. Sugar averages 3.87 calories/gram. Xylitol is not calorie-free, but contains about 2.6 calories/gram and over consumption can cause weight gain and affect blood sugar levels.

For more information about Xylitol or to learn more about our pediatric dentistry practice located on the Upper East Side in New York City please call Dr. Sara Babich, DDS, hospital and university trained kids dentist at: 212.988.4070

Pediatric Dentistry: Dr. Sara B. Babich, DDS
116 E 84th St
New York, NY 10028
(84th St. btw Park Ave / Lex Ave)
☎ 212-988-4070

Contact us today to learn more about our
New York City pediatric dentistry practice (212) 988-4070