Xylitol and Dentistry
Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute that can even be used in cooking. It is comparably sweet to regular sugar and has a very similar texture.
Recommendations and Benefits
Chewing gum with Xylitol is recommended for decay prevention. To get protection the recommendation is to chew gum 5 times daily for about 5 minutes. It turns out the bacteria that cause decay prefer the sucrose that is found in processed sugar. Studies show that there is a reduction in decay with xylitol use.
There are other dental benefits. Xylitol can stimulate saliva production which is helpful for patients with diseases like Sjogren’s Syndrome which lessens saliva flow. It also helps fight Candida albicans, a fungus which occurs in the mouth and appears as large white patches. It also makes the saliva less acidic, another benefit to fight decay.
Precautions
The only side effects, if you eat a lot, are diarrhea and gas, and feeling bloated. Not too bad!
Keep in mind that DOGS SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO EATING XYLITOL. There are deadly consequences if this happens, so best to keep this away from your dog.
So if you are on a diet where sugar is a no-no and you’re looking for something natural, Stevia and Xylitol seem to be 2 great choices to satisfy you sweet tooth.