DTUS1610

HYGIENE TRIBUNE | June 2010 News 3C Xylitol, the dietary substance long used in the management of diabetes and weight control, is proving to be a healthcare powerhouse, say scien- tists and dental professionals around the world. Repeated studies indicate the sugar substitute has strong cavity- fighting properties when used sev- eral times a day. Studies have also shown xylitol to reduce sinus and ear infections. “The action of sugarless gum and candy containing xylitol has been a happy surprise to the healthcare community,” said Dr. Allan Melnick, a clinical dentist from Encino, Calif. “This therapeutic sweetener sub- stantially reduces the bacteria strep- tococcus mutans in the mouth. It lowers oral acid levels, adjusts pH and reduces tooth plaque, resulting in less tooth decay and gum disease.” Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found in plants such as berries, corn and plums. It also is produced in humans during normal metabolism. Dental effects include inhibiting decay-caus- ing bacteria from multiplying in the mouth, research shows. These bacte- ria, which love to feed on sugar, pro- duce sticky acids that adhere to teeth. The acids damage tooth enamel by dissolving calcium on the tooth’s surface. Frequent use of xylitol — whether in the form of gum, mints, toothpaste or oral wash — appears to break this cycle. “A yearlong study in Finland showed an 85 percent reduction in caries rates for subjects who chewed gum containing 6.7 grams of xylitol each day,” Melnick said. “The same reduced decay rate was found in sub- jects who followed strict diet guide- lines and used xylitol as a sugar sub- stitute. In other short-term Finnish studies at Turku University, dental plaque accumulation was reduced by about 50 percent in less than a week of xylitol use.” Similar results were found in more recent studies in Russia, the United States, New Zealand, Thai- land and Canada. A Danish research- er has even correlated xylitol use by mothers with decreased tooth decay in babies. Decay in small children can have a devastating effect on the development of their adult teeth and urgently needs to be prevented, say dental experts. “A 40-month, multinational chew- ing gum study published in the Journal of Dental Research showed decreased tooth decay for children chewing xylitol gum in comparison to those who chewed none or had gum sweetened with other substanc- es,” Melnick said. “In a follow-up study five years later by the Univer- sity of Washington, xylitol subjects showed a 70 percent reduction in tooth decay — evidence of long-term benefits. That’s huge, especially for high-risk groups.” The sweetener has been linked to tooth self-repair, reduction in bac- terial levels, improved saliva levels in dry mouth patients and reduced ear infection cases in children, said Trisha O’Hehir of Arizona, a den- tal hygienist, educator and a well- known xylitol expert. She noted that there is no aftertaste and xylitol has only half the calories of sucrose. Xyli- tol also has a slower rate of absorp- tion than sugar — 88 percent slower — which helps to keep blood sugar levels stable. Additional research has shown that xylitol — like bacteria — has the ability to adhere to body tissues. In a controlled study, solutions of xylitol were able to reduce the presence of staph bacteria. Lab animals given xylitol also exhibited an increase in white blood cells, which are part of a body’s natural defense against bacte- rial infections. Animal studies in Finland indicate xylitol in the diet promotes the intesti- nal absorption of calcium and has the potential to reduce or reverse bone loss in humans. Its use is being con- sidered as a preventive measure to deal with osteoporosis, which affects more than 10 million people in the United States. The U.S. Army promotes the use of this sweetener in its “Look for Xylitol First” initiative, and in the last two years dental associations in Wiscon- sin, Hawaii, California and Arizona have endorsed xylitol for its preven- tive benefits. Several other state den- tal associations are planning the same endorsement shortly. “The average American consumes half a cup of sugar a day in some form or other. It’s having a devastat- ing effect on our teeth and overall health,” Melnick said. “So, it’s crucial that we make changes. While diet modification, brushing and dental office visits are obvious, something as simple as chewing xylitol gum a couple times a day can help dramatically. It tastes good, it’s something you can carry in your pocket, and you don’t have to make an appointment. I recommend it to all my patients.” HT (Source: PRWeb) Visit us at CDA San Francisco Booth #1405 AD Xylitol a superhero in crusade against cavities Organic formula (CHOH)3 (CH2 OH)2 Molecular formula C5 H12 O5 Molar mass 152.15 g/mol Density 1.52 g/cm3 Melting point 92 to 96 degrees Celcius Boiling point 216 degrees Celcius The properties of xylitol, a five-carbon sugar alcohol.