A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on chewing gum, and whether it was good or bad. Generally, I said that it wasn't as bad as people perceived, and could be beneficial to your teeth, provided certain sugar-free gums were used. I then gave an example of Trident.
Well, I got many comments on that post (yes, I do read and appreciate them), and one comment mentioned how most flavors of Trident contained Aspartame (Nutrasweet), and a gum that contained Xylitol would be better. Well, while I feel Aspartame is not nearly as bad as some think, I do have to commend the commenter on pointing out Xylitol, as it is definitely something worth discussing. So thanks.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol. Before we go any further, let's define what a sugar alcohol is. A sugar alcohol is not sugar or alcohol, but it has properties of both (that's where the confusing name comes from.) Essentially, sugar alcohols are sugar substitutes that occur naturally in plants (especially fruits and vegetables), or are manufactured from sugars and starches. There are many different types, such as Sorbitol (which comes from corn syrup), Mannitol, which comes from seaweed (of all places!), Maltitol, (which comes from starch) and many others.
These sugar alcohols all have varying degrees of sweetness -- for example, Sorbitol is about 60 percent as sweet as sugar. This (obviously) makes it not the best "sugar substitute" as far as taste is concerned. The reason why Xylitol takes center stage is that it's the only sugar alcohol that is 100 percent as sweet as sugar in terms of taste. This makes it a widespread sugar substitute. But is it good for you?
The Benefits of Xylitol
Xylitol occurs naturally in many plants, especially in berry-type fruits (particularly strawberries and raspberries). These are sweet fruits, so it's easy to see why this sugar alcohol is popular. It's also very prevalent in Birch (in fact, that's the best way to process it.) It gives all the benefits of sugar, without many of the drawbacks. It has about half the calorie content of sugar, and is not fully absorbed by the body, meaning it does not raise blood sugar levels like pure sugar would. Thus, it is ideal for diabetics as a sugar substitute.
Another huge benefit of Xylitol is that, unlike many other sugar alcohols, the Xylitol molecule has five carbon atoms, as opposed to six. Now, let me apologize in advance for bringing back memories of ninth grade chemistry class, but this is pretty significant. Most mouth bacteria are unable to use this molecule, which means that Xylitol does not promote tooth decay or cavities. In fact, because it prevents the bacteria from "doing their thing," it actually helps prevent cavities. So yes, my blog commenter had a great point -- Xylitol gum is indeed a desirable thing for your teeth, and it gets my endorsement. Just search for "Xylitol gum" online and you'll find plenty.
Additionally, Xylitol has been so effective on oral bacteria that it has also been successfully used as a nasal rinse, and seems to be a solid defense against sinus based infection. Good stuff indeed.
Sounds great! Any side effects?
Okay, you knew this was coming. There are a few things about Xylitol you should know. The first is that overconsumption of such can lead to gastronomical problems, mainly bloating, diarrhea and flatulence. This is because Xylitol is not fully absorbed by the small intestines, and can ferment, creating excess gas and ... well, you know. We need not get into the lurid details (hey, I'm a cosmetic dentist, not a proctologist). This will vary from person to person, and in reality, it needs to be a decent amount -- chewing a few sticks of gum will likely have very little harmful effect. But in terms of human side effects, that's about it. So all in all, it's not a bad deal.
Notice I said "human" in that last sentence. Here's the second thing you need to know about Xylitol -- keep it away from Fido's food bowl. Like some other substances that are okay for us humans (like chocolate), dogs do not react well to Xylitol, and a large dose could kill them. This means no gum chewing for the dog. And chocolate made out of Xylitol is totally out of the question (you likely knew that!)
But other than those two, it's hard to find any drawbacks to Xylitol. Thanks to my commenter for sparking this suggestion, and if you have any comments, they are certainly welcome (and may spawn another post!)
Until next time, keep smiling.
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I can eat a lot of xylitol now without significant problems.
You shoud also mention erythritol which is much more easily tolerated for beginners.
http://www.womensconference.org/what-s-really-in-your-food/
The piece highlights artificial sweeteners and food prep. Great read!
Aspartame and the new sweetners (Truvia etc) can be found there too.
Chewing gum can lead to stomach distress and jaw problems
I would like you to do an article about why, in this day and age, nothing has been discovered that can just melt (as opposed to scrape) away plaque. I clean my teeth (sometimes flossing as well) after every meal, and I floss every evening but still battle plaque (don't smoke and consume very little added sugar).
Looking forward to the article.
I've had success using natural toothpastes that contain beneficial oils in them: peppermint, spearmint, clove, cinnamon oils are all naturally anti-bacterial and that's what we want to minimize for our health as well as our smiles.
I used to use Crest Tarter Protection which did OK, but once I moved on to oils I realized how harsh it was on my gums ( and everyone but me seemed to know that it can cause tooth sensitivity -it did).
I changed about 5 years ago and also began to choose "non-fluoride". No cavities and more often than not the hygienist will say I have very little tarter (precursor to plaque?). I'm a heavy coffee drinker and smoke a few per day, no sugar,but my teeth are not brown between cleanings.
Since learning about the loads of bacteria that builds overnight I try to remember to make the "just out of bed" brushing more thorough than the quick swish I used to do, brush before I go out for the day, floss/brush before bed.
My favorite brand is Natures Gate baking soda & spearmint oil or baking soda & peppermint oil (health food store - sometimes a big grocery natural section). I'm trying out Jason's right now but don't care much for the consistency (kind of sticky).
I use a Sonic Care electric brush and had great results even before becoming toothpaste picky.
Hope some of this helps...Good Luck.
I'll look out for some natural brands with oils next time I'm in Whole Foods or a health-food store. I used to use a sonic toothbrush. Think I'll get back to that as well.
I know what you mean about the morning brush. I clean my tongue in the morning as well.
When I googled the above, it looked like some little war is going on between which is worse junk - Splenda or Nutrasweet - so the whole argument goes right out the door and I can't trust the sources.
For me the decision is simplified in that I get really bad headaches when I consume Aspertame and so I avoid artificial sweetners whenever possible.
No calories, just expensive.
I soak a vanilla bean in it to cut the sweetness a little, it has a much better taste to me.
I have 2 plants growing in the backyard, they are about 3 and half feet tall now, maybe it will drive the cost down, if I can figure out how to dry and process them.
Guess it's status quo for me.
and what he said is correct. It did wonders with my gums, my gums were receding and then to my dentist's surprise it changed. I like Xylitol because it has no after taste like Splenda or Stevia.
Of course, one bag of 2.5 lbs last me 3 months.
contains Aspartame (Nutra Sweet)