Benefits of Xylitol for Oral Health

Xylitol is a crystal like all natural sweetener that looks like sugar, taste like sugar, but unlike sugar its actually good for your teeth! 

    Derived from either trees, like the birch tree, or plants like corn, this sugar substitute has many wonderful benefits when it comes to oral health! Just to briefly state a few, xylitol is said to help lower the pH in the mouth, kill cavity causing bacteria, and increase saliva production. Before we get more into xylitol's amazing benefits lets briefly go over some of its more technical aspects like what it is exactly and where exactly it comes from. 

What is Xylitol? 

    In chemistry terms, xylitol is a five carbon polyol. What is that you ask? Well, according to Polyols.org, a polyol is a sugar alcohol, which is neither a sugar nor an alcohol, but instead is "a group of low-digestible carbohydrates derived from the hydrogenation (a chemical reaction involving hydrogen) of their sugar or syrup source <https://polyols.org/polyols-benefits/> ". It is called a sugar alcohol because part of its chemical structure resembles that of sugar while another part looks similar to alcohol. So what exactly does this mean? As it relates to oral health, this means that given its chemical structure the bacteria in the mouth is unable to metabolize the polyols and produce the acid that often leads to cavity formation. 

Where does xylitol come from? 

   The most common sources of xylitol are from birch tree bark and corn cobs. Its also found in many other fruits and vegetables but not in high amounts. It is said that xylitol  derived from corn is more sustainable and eco friendly then that from the birch tree since it takes a short period of time to grow corn, and it uses something ( the cobs) that usually would just be left over waste.

Benefits of xylitol for oral care

    When it comes to oral care, xylitol has many beneficial characteristics that make it a great addition to your oral care routine. The chemical structure of xylitol kills off the most common cavity causing bacteria, streptococcus mutans (strep mutans for short). This is because when this bacteria consumes xylitol it is losing energy in the process of breaking it down and does not gain any in return, thus causing it to die from starvation. This aspect of xylitol and other polyol sweeteners prevents the streptococci bacteria, which is the main bacteria in the mouth that causes plaque formation and tooth decay, from metabolizing the sweetener thus causing it to die off. 

Another benefit of xylitol for oral care is its alkaline pH. When we eat acidic foods the pH in our mouths increases leading to a process called demineralization, which is the leeching of minerals from the tooth structure, which over time causes a weakening of the enamel and eventually tooth decay. An alkaline pH in the mouth, which xylitol helps to create, stops the acid erosion creating a more health environment in the mouth, thus contributing to the reverse process of remineralization.

The last beneficial aspect of xylitol for oral care that I will cover in this post is its ability to increase saliva production in the mouth. This aspect of xylitol helps to treat dry mouth and supports the remineralization process leading to an overall healthy mouth and healthy teeth. 

To get all these benefits and more try out Evolved Essentials Mineral Rich Tooth Powder. Our tooth powder is an all-natural FOAMING remineralizing tooth powder that is made with food grade calcium bentonite clay, non-GMO xylitol, a natural plant based form of calcium that comes from red algae, 100% pure essential oils, activated charcoal, white oak bark, and a sulfate free foaming agent derived from coconuts and naturally occurring amino acids. Not only will Evolved Essentials remineralizing tooth powder provided your teeth and mouth with essential nutrients needed to maintain good health, it will also leave your teeth with a polished after the dentist clean feeling. Order yours today! You won't be disappointed!. Currently available in three flavors: Cinna-mint, Just Mint, and Orange Spice! Order on Etsy.com.