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HYGIENE TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Hygiene Newspaper · U.S. Edition By Sandra Berger, RDH, BS The many sides of xylitol g HT page 3D What is xylitol? How does it work? How long has it been around? How does it benefit me? Where do I find it? How much do I need? Are there any disadvantages? These are some of the questions I am asked by my patients, friends and even cashiers when I mention xylitol. I’ve educated many a conve- nience store worker in my quest for a particular gum or mint I know to contain xylitol. This one ingredient has enhanced my life as well as the lives of many others. Xylitol was once only found in health food stores, however, it has become much more mainstream and is now readily available at retail outlets. This availability makes it much easier for patients to incor- porate it into their daily schedule, and as a result, reap the multi-sided benefits. What is Xylitol? Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute, is clinically proven to be a natural enemy of bacteria. Xylitol is often referred to as wood or birch sugar because it was typically man- ufactured from birch trees. Howev- er, today xylitol is mainly extracted from corncobs. This is more practi- cal considering the vast amount of xylitol that is being produced and consumed. Other natural sources of xylitol include plums, strawberries and raspberries. Pure xylitol looks like sugar because it has a white crystaline appearance and it even tastes like sugar. However, it has 40 percent less calories than sugar. Only one- third of the absorbed xylitol gets metabolized in the body. How does it work? Over 400 strains of bacteria inhabit the human mouth. Sugar is one of the major energy sources for these bacteria and helps them proliferate. When these sugars are con- sumed, acid is produced, creating a highly acidic enviroment in the oral cavity that demineralizes enamel and makes it vulnerable to attack by bacteria, leading to tooth decay. Because xylitol is a five-carbon polyol, it is not metabolized by mouth bacteria, and as a result, no acids are produced in the mouth that can cause tooth decay. The sweetness also stimulates saliva flow, which neutralizes any acids that have been formed and rinses away excess sugar residue. Xylitol helps keep an alkaline envi- roment in the oral cavity that is inhospitable for mouth bacteria. Thus, xylitol is both non-cario- genic in that it does not contribute to caries formation, and it is cario- static because it prevents or reduc- es the incidence of new caries. Xylitol actually reduces the amount of plaque and the num- ber of Mutans streptococci (MS) in plaque. How long has it been around? German chemist Emil Fisher and French chemist M.G. Bertrand first discovered xylitol in the late 1800s. The first attempt at producing xyli- May 2010 www.dental-tribune.com Vol. 3, No. 5 Jessica Simpson says she only brushes three times a week (really!) Some might call this “TMI” or “too much information,” but Jessica Simpson recently told Ellen DeGen- eres that she only brushes her teeth three times a week because she doesn’t like her teeth to feel “slip- pery.” Simpson made her dental hygiene confession recently on DeGeneres’ television show. Most dental professionals would assume that the blond bombshell, who some would say has a million dollar smile, would take better care of her pearly whites. Apparently, Simpson — who once wondered aloud on a televi- sion show whether a can of Chicken of the Sea tuna was tuna or chick- en — falsely assumes that flossing every day, using mouthwash and occasionally wiping her teeth with a shirt are acceptable alternatives to brushing. But a representative from the not-for-profit Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Ill., says Simpson is in danger of losing her smile, and that any chil- dren who may be looking to her as a role model could be in for some pain if they choose to follow her ill- conceived oral hygiene practices. “While flossing and using mouth- wash are certainly good oral health practices, doing these things while neglecting daily brushing is like running around in the shower and calling yourself clean. Sure, you feel pretty good afterward, but chances are you missed some crucial spots,” said Chris Pyle, director of public relations for the Delta Dental Plans Association, a provider of dental insurance. And that “slippery” feeling is actually a good thing, Pyle said. According to Pyle, there’s a name for that coating Simpson said she needs to give her lips traction, and it’s called plaque — a naturally occurring coating of bacteria. Flossing and mouthwash alone are not sufficient to remove all of the plaque that’s hiding on teeth, according to Pyle. What’s worse, he said, Simp- son’s hygienic transgression is not a victimless crime. Prospective love interests should know that harmful bacteria are transmissible through kissing. “Sure, at the end of the day, a person thinking about kissing Jes- sica will need to weigh the risks with the reward. In this case, it still might be worth the risk but, come on, Jessica, brush twice a day and the possibilities are endless,” Pyle said. Delta Dental is a national net- work of independent dental service corporations specializing in pro- viding dental benefits programs to more than 54 million Americans in more than 93,000 employee groups throughout the country. Delta Dental recommends that people brush their teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride tooth- paste, floss every day and make annual visits to the dentist. HT By Fred Michmershuizen, Online Editor (Photo/Karens4,Dreamstime.com) Jessica Simpson needs to take better care of her teeth, according to dental professionals. (Photo/Wallpaperez. info)