|
|
|
|
|
Many dentists recommend chewing gum with xylitol to reduce tooth decay.
Xylitol gum has the unique effect of cooling the mouth while chewing it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Pure xylitol is a white crystalline substance that looks and tastes like sugar.
On food labels, xylitol is classified broadly as a carbohydrate and more narrowly as a polyol. Because xylitol is slowly absorbed and only partially utilized by the body, a reduced calorie claim is allowed: 2.4 calories per gram or 40% less than other carbohydrates.
Xylitol has been used in foods since the 1960?s. It is a popular sweetener for the diabetic diet in some countries. In the United States, xylitol is approved as a food additive in unlimited quantity for foods with special dietary purposes.
Over 25 years of testing in widely different conditions confirm that xylitol is the best sweetener for teeth. Xylitol use reduces tooth decay rates both in high-risk groups (high caries prevalence, poor nutrition, and poor oral hygiene) and in low risk groups (low caries incidence using all current prevention recommendations).
Sugarfree chewing gums and candies made with xylitol as the principal sweetener have already received official endorsements from six national dental associations.
Side effects from xylitol are unavailable or none have been reported.
According to the FDA, as reported in November 1999, "Sugar Alcohols: Though not technically considered artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols are slightly lower in calories than sugar and do not promote tooth decay or cause a sudden increase in blood glucose. They include sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, mannitol, and maltitol and are used mainly to sweeten sugar-free candies, cookies, and chewing gums. FDA classifies some of these sweeteners as "generally recognized as safe" and others as approved food additives."
|
|
|
|
Sign up for our periodic newsletter to get the latest tips, tricks, hints, help, recipes, site updates, and much more.
|
|
|
|
