Xylitol is something we produce in our own bodies...up to 15 grams per day. It occurs naturally in foods we commonly eat, such as strawberries, pears, cauliflower, lettuce, mushrooms. The source it's taken from, for sale and consumption is either corn cobs or birch trees. Table sugar comes from sugar beets or cane, but now we have an all natural sweetener that comes from plant sources and is already known to our bodies.
How Sugar Harms Teeth
Sugar causes an acidic condition in our mouths. Acid changes the tooth surface by stripping minerals from the tooth enamel(de-mineralization). The tooth becomes more vulnerable to decay-causing bacteria. When saliva turns acidic because of too many sweets,oral bacteria take over. These bacteria, combined with carbohydrate waste, stick to the teeth and tongue keeping the acid close to the teeth where it can erode tooth enamel.
Benefits of Xylitol
So how does xylitol differ from sugar?
- It has a sweetness level similar to sugar, but it is not a sugar. It is a polyol and, as such, it doesn't promote tooth decay.
- Harmful bacteria cannot digest xylitol. Because they cannot use it as an energy source, they stop producing acids.
- Xylitol enhances mineral absorption in tooth enamel, thus increasing its strength
To help prevent cavities, you need approximately 6-8 grams of xylitol throughout the day.
Use xylitol three to five times per day and for at least five minutes, right after meals. Xylitol is found most often in chewing gums and mints. For the amount to be at decay-preventing levels, it must appear as the first ingredient.
We now carry Epic brand Xylitol gum and mints! Get some today to keep away tooth decay!
No comments:
Post a Comment