ArDent Care Dental» What’s New [ArDent Care Blog] http://ardentcaredental.com Eugene Oregon, Springfield Oregon Dentist Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:33:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Sweet Stuff http://ardentcaredental.com/dentist-info-eugene-springfield-oregon/sweet-stuff/ http://ardentcaredental.com/dentist-info-eugene-springfield-oregon/sweet-stuff/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:13:51 +0000 ardentcare http://ardentcaredental.com/?p=942 My grandfather used to joke that he didn't have a sweet tooth, he had thirty-two sweet teeth. Some days, we all may feel that way. Fortunately, a natural, healthy sweet alternative called xylitol is becoming more widely available to us. Xylitol has been around for a long time; it is a five-carbon sugar alcohol derived primarily from birch trees. It is found in some fruits, berries and vegetables and is produced in the human liver, which is why it's safe for humans to consume. ]]> My grandfather used to joke that he didn’t have a sweet tooth, he had thirty-two sweet teeth. Some days, I sure feel like I’ve inherited those genes. Fortunately, a natural, healthy sweet alternative called xylitol is becoming more widely available to us. Xylitol has been around for a long time; it is a five-carbon sugar alcohol derived primarily from birch trees. It is found in some fruits, berries and vegetables and is produced in the human liver, which is why it’s safe for humans to consume.

What makes xylitol unique and increasingly recommended by dental teams is that it not only doesn’t cause cavities, it actually helps prevent them. Cavity-causing bacteria are unable to metabolize xylitol, so it is not converted into tooth-dissolving acid, as sugar is. This hinders the bacteria’s ability to grow. Xylitol contains about 40% of the calories that sugar does and is safe for diabetics to use.

For decay reduction, between six and ten grams of xylitol per day is recommended (three to five servings). Xylitol is available in gum, candy, toothpaste and mouthrinses, as well as in crystalline form. These products can often be easily found online (websites include www.drjohns.com, www.Carifree.com, www.spry.com) and in health food or local Market of Choice stores. We have several xylitol-containing products available in the office. If you haven’t tried it yet, ask us for a sample at your next visit!

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