Fighting Tooth Decay With Sugar, Using Xylitol to Prevent and Control Cavities
Xylitol gives dentists another weapon in the battle against tooth decay. Xylitol is a natural sugar that doesn’t cause cavities and provides a simple solution for tooth decay in children. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in trees, fruits, and vegetables. As well as found naturally in the human liver.
Unlike table sugar, which breaks down in the mouth and creates an acidic, cavity-promoting pH, xylitol does not break down and therefore does not create any harmful acids. Xylitol can be found in an array of products including candies, mints, lemonade mixes, all-purpose sweeteners, and certain brands of chewing gum which can help patients fight cavities without forcing them to drastically change their daily oral hygiene regimen.