What You Should Know About Xylitol

Most of us are familiar with fluoride and the dental benefits that go along with it, but you may not know about the positive attributes of xylitol. This naturally occurring substance can be found in many different fruits and vegetables. The only problem is that it’s very difficult to consume enough produce to reap the benefits provided by xylitol.

Several categories of dental patients are good candidates for xylitol, including the following:

• Older patients
• People who have a problem with dry mouth (often brought on by certain medications or breathing with your mouth open at night)
• Patients who have undergone chemotherapy treatments
• People suffering from acid reflux on a regular basis
• Patients who eat and drink a lot of acidic foods and beverages

All of these people are likely to have an acidic pH, and when pH is low tooth decay is more likely to form. Xylitol helps return pH balances to normal, as well as relieving the discomfort associated with dry mouth. Although there are many advantages of xylitol, too much of it can cause gastric upset, so you should be careful and avoid ingesting too much xylitol. It’s also important to remember that you should avoid giving xylitol to your pets, since this is one of many food products that may be harmful to the non-human members of your family.

Ask your dentist for more information about xylitol and whether it would be an appropriate choice for you and members of your family.

Source: http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2014/12/the-benefits-of-xylitol-for-your-dental-patients-are-numerous.html