Dental Health Information

Everyone knows that sweets are bad for your teeth, right? Well... While sugar (sucrose) is indeed a prime culprit in tooth decay and health problems, there is another sweetener that actually improves oral health, prevents decay and even strengthens tooth enamel.

Xylitol is a naturally occuring sugar alcohol, or polyol, found in birch trees, raspberries, plums, corn, strawberries and many other plants. Xylitol is produced during the metabolic process in the human body. Xylitol has been found to have an anti-bacterial effect, and particularly targets Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that cause dental caries, or tooth decay. It has also been shown to aid in the prevention of halitosis (bad breath) and xerostomia (dry mouth).

Studies conducted over the past 40 years have shown that 4 to 12 grams of xylitol daily reduces the occurrence of tooth decay, halts the progress of existing decay, and even reverses some dental caries as a result of remineralization of tooth enamel. Xylitol is safe for diabetics, since it has a low glycemic index of seven and is metabolized slowly, without the necessity for insulin.

At Nature's Provision Xylitolpro.com, we carry several types of xylitol products. One of the easiest ways to administer xylitol effectively is through gum and mints to be used after each meal or snack. Our gum comes in fruit and peppermint flavors, and we have mints in raspberry and peppermint. We also have sweetener granules, which can be used in place of sugar in direct proportion--and with 40 percent fewer calories and none of the detrimental efffects of sugar! Squigle and Tooth Builder xylitol toothpaste is also available with 36% xylitol and NO Sodium Laurel Sulfate, SLS.