Xylitol Sugar Substitute Helps Prevent Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a problem that has plagued people for centuries. Although there are many factors that make people more or less susceptible to cavities, like tooth shape, genetics, and the quality of saliva, the basic equation has always been the following:high and frequent amounts of sugar intake = tooth decay.
That's not the entire story, however. Sugar by itself in the mouth is powerless to cause a cavity on a tooth. It requires a certain bacteria called Strep. mutans to convert the sugar into acid that can eat a hole in the tooth, thus forming a cavity. The bad news is that everyone has those nasty Strep. mutans in their mouth. They act like little acid factories that can produce their acid long after the sugar source is gone from the mouth.
Enough about the bad news. Here's the good news. If we can limit the number of acid producing bacteria in the mouth, studies show that the rate of tooth decay will decrease dramatically. Xylitol, a naturally occuring sugar substitute, can specifically reduce the number of those acid factories in the mouth.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is one to one just as sweet as sugar. It doesn't have that unusual aftertaste associated with other artificial sweeteners. Xylitol has gained popularity in the United States over the past decade and can be found in baking supplies, sweetened beverages, mints, and gums.
Gums and mints are the most helpful forms of delivery for Xylitol in the fight against tooth decay. These forms keep Xylitol in the mouth for prolonged periods of time to fight against those little acid factories, Strep. mutans. Using gums and mints will also stimulate salivary flow that can help protect the teeth.
What a wonderfully effective and simple new tool we have in the fight against tooth decay. For more information about Xylitol or to order Xylitol gums or mints on line click here:
www.epicdental.com/xylitol.asp We also supply the mints and gum through our office.
Yours in the interest of better dental health,
Gregory T. Randall D.D.S.
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