The desire for sweets is probably as old as mankind itself. But the precious sugar is blamed for a variety of problems when consumed frequently, including an increased risk of caries.
Those who snack frequently between meals and do not practice adequate oral hygiene develop more carious lesions in their lifetime than those who rarely reach for sweets and practice adequate oral hygiene – this is now well established.
The active ingredient
The sugar substitute xylitol allows sweetness without risk. It is formed as an intermediate product in carbohydrate metabolism and belongs chemically to the alcohols. It is metabolized independently of insulin and is found in every green plant. Emil Fischer, the Nobel Prize winner for chemistry, discovered the sugar alcohol. Its sweetening power is somewhat weaker than that of sugar, providing about 2.4 kcal of energy per gram. Xylitol is frequently found in diabetic products.
It is obtained either as glucose or from xylose, the so-called wood sugar.
A maximum of 50-70 g of xylitol should be consumed per day. Anything above that has a laxative effect, resulting in osmotic diarrhea (diarrhea).
But how can the sugar substitute xylitol – also called xylitol – protect against tooth decay?
The bacteria that cause tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans, are unable to break down xylitol to acid. At the same time, xylitol inhibits the growth of caries bacteria, which is called bacteriostasis. After ingesting the xylitol, the bacteria are unable to metabolize it.
With regular ingestion of xylitol, the number of caries bacteria in both saliva and plaque (dental plaque) is reduced, and plaque formation itself also decreases.
This is why xylitol is often used in the production of tooth-healthy sweets such as chewing gum or lozenges. Such treats are recognizable by the tooth manikin, a small tooth with an umbrella.
Eating chewing gum containing xylitol after a meal ensures that the pH value in the mouth does not fall below 5.7 within 30 minutes.
To build up effective protection against caries, about five to seven grams of xylitol should be consumed daily; some studies recommend up to twelve grams daily. A xylitol-containing chewing gum should be chewed for at least five minutes to actually develop the caries-protective effect.
Xylitol has a pleasant cooling effect that users find very positive.
To successfully protect against caries in the long term, it must be used daily. Children can begin to receive xylitol before the eruption of permanent teeth, depending on age and compliance, either dragées or, if spitting out the chewing gum works safely, also by means of chewing gum. Toothpastes containing xylitol are also available.
It should be used at least three times a day, preferably five, especially after starchy and sugary meals.
Benefits
Xylitol can help reduce the risk of tooth decay when used regularly, making it a valuable tool in prophylaxis.
