Introduction
Xylitol is known for a century and is studied for the purpose of dental caries for 40 years. It is mainly a white crystalline carbohydrate and is found in fruit and vegetables. Also as per Caledone dentist , if children regularly chew xylitol-based gum, a great amount of plaque is reduced. This is because xylitol consists of a chemical composition that is unfavourable to the bacteria growth.
But, it is still unclear whether gum having xylitol can actually prevent dental caries. You must visit Caledone dentist to assure if the gum which you have bought is effective or not.
Let us look at how Xylitol works.
Xylitol is sweet in taste. However, unlike sugar, it does not turn into acid in the mouth. As a result, there are fewer chances of tooth decay. It helps to prevent the decay-causing bacteria in saliva. The unique feature of xylitol is that it cannot get fermented due to oral bacteria. With its habitual consumption, tooth decay is preventable.
Uses and Effectiveness
Use xylitol based chewing gums depending upon its effectiveness. It is found that using xylitol-based products such as foods, chewing gum, candies, and toothpaste extracts 1-20 grams of xylitol per day. This ultimately reduces the amount of cavity formation in both adults and children of age group 5 years and above.
In comparison to products containing sorbitol, Xylitol products are more powerful in preventing dental caries. However, certain chewing gum brands have less xylitol content. It is somewhere around 1 milligram only. This amount is not sufficient to prevent tooth decay. Therefore, it is better to consult Caledone dentist for knowing which brand is appropriate.
Doses of Xylitol
- ADULTS
To prevent cavities in adults following doses are suggested.
The typical kind of dosage is 7-20 grams per day which are further divided into three to five doses. It is usually given to patients in the form of candies or chewing gum. Caledone dentist recommends chewing the xylitol gum for 10-20 minutes after meals.
- CHILDREN
Various doses are suggested for cavity prevention in children who are 5 years and above. Just like above, the dosage is 7-20 grams per day for kids. Children should chew Xylitol gum for 10-20 minutes post meals. Even they can suck the candies as it provides 5-8 grams of xylitol. This is beneficial to reduce tooth decay. However, still, it is not clear whether xylitol can reduce dental caries in children less than 5 years old. Xylitol is safe in the form of medicine for children up to 20 grams per day. Apart from that, it is suggested by Caledone dentist to keep flossing and brushing. One should not depend upon sugarless gums for preventing tooth decay.
