Xylitol gum is a tooth-friendly sweetener that inhibits harmful bacteria and reduces plaque. It also has health benefits beyond dental health, such as reducing ear infections and being safe for diabetics. However, it can be deadly to dogs. To see effects, at least 4 grams of xylitol must be consumed daily through regular gum chewing.
Chewing gum can be sweetened artificially, using aspartame or sorbitol, or by using a natural sweetener, such as sugar or xylitol. Xylitol gum is made from xylitol, a tooth-friendly sugar alcohol found naturally in the wood of trees. Xylitol looks and tastes like sugar, except that unlike regular brown sugar or other sweeteners, xylitol offers many dental health benefits.
Xylitol has anticariogenic properties. In particular, xylitol inhibits Streptococcus mutans bacteria, the bacteria mainly responsible for the cause of dental cavities. Compare this to other sweeteners, which commonly promote bacterial growth. This wood sugar also reduces plaque by attracting and inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms, giving your teeth time to remineralize enamel lesions.
The benefits go beyond the teeth. A 1996 study in the “British Medical Journal” did a study to see if xylitol gum had any effect on children who had repeated ear infections. Half of the children chewed xylitol gum and the other half chewed regular bubble gum at the same frequency. Children who chewed xylitol gum experienced a significantly reduced rate of ear infections. Xylitol gum is also popular for diabetics because the sweetener is slowly absorbed by the body and has only a minimal effect on blood glucose levels.
Xylitol was first discovered in 1891 by a German chemist and has been used in US foods since the 1960s. There are no known serious risks to humans associated with xylitol. Wood sugar is a mild laxative, and some people may experience bouts of diarrhea. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) consider xylitol safe for everyone to consume, from infants to pregnant women and the elderly. However, products containing xylitol can be deadly to dogs.
The best way to get xylitol in your diet is to chew gum regularly. Xylitol gum can be purchased at mainstream grocery stores, health food stores, or online through the manufacturer. There are many flavors and brands to choose from.
This sweetener isn’t often used in baked goods because it can interact negatively with yeast. Xylitol gum typically contains about 1 gram of xylitol per piece. The only way to experience any health benefits associated with xylitol is to consume 4 to 12 grams of this substance per day. Xylitol gum containing 1 gram of sweetener must be chewed at least four times a day to see effects. Otherwise, the gum will prove ineffective, even if taken in larger doses but only once or twice a day.
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