The effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral flora

Abstract

Dental caries, the most chronic disease affecting mankind, has been in the limelight with regard to its prevention and treatment. Professional clinical management of caries has been very successful in cases of different severities of disease manifestations. However, tertiary management of this disease has been gaining attention, with numerous methods and agents emerging on a daily basis. Higher intake of nutritive sweeteners can result in higher energy intake and lower diet quality and thereby predispose an individual to conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Non-nutritive sweeteners have gained popularity as they are sweeter and are required in substantially lesser quantities. Xylitol, a five-carbon sugar polyol, has been found to be promising in reducing dental caries disease and also reversing the process of early caries. This paper throws light on the role and effects of various forms of xylitol on dental caries and oral hygiene status of an individual.

Different Treatment Approaches for High Caries Risk Adolescents: Case Report

“…Ksilitol farklı preparatlar ile özellikle yüksek çürük riski bulunan bireylerde, tüketilen karyojenik gıdaların yıkıcı etkisini elimine etmek ve S. mutans sayısını azaltmak amacıyla önerilmektedir. 33 Bu çalışmada, tedavisine değinilen birinci olguda, beyaz nokta lezyonlarının derinliği göz önüne alınarak mikroabrazyon yöntemi ile tedavi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu sayede invaziv tedavi seçe-neklerinden kaçınılarak renk stabilitesi sağlanmış-tır.…”

Effectiveness of Xylitol in Caries Prevention

“…It has also been found that xylitol causes a disruption of bacterial protein synthesis [2,3,8,9]. No adaptation of the bacteria to a xylitol metabolism was found, even after one year of using the xylitol chewing gum [10].…”

Study on the effects of varying concentrations of xylitol on the weight, and blood glucose, and cholesterol levels of Mus musculus L. (ICR mice)

“…[10] It is usually found in sugar-free chewing gums, mints, and candies, and even claim that it does not promote tooth decay. [11,12] This is because xylitol, unlike glucose, is not converted into its acidic form, which is the cause of tooth decay, because bacteria in the mouth do not feed on xylitol, which may lead to decreased plaque formation. [11] Although it looks and tastes like table sugar, it has 40% lesser calories because the body cannot fully break down and only absorb 50% of xylitol.…”

“…[11,12] This is because xylitol, unlike glucose, is not converted into its acidic form, which is the cause of tooth decay, because bacteria in the mouth do not feed on xylitol, which may lead to decreased plaque formation. [11] Although it looks and tastes like table sugar, it has 40% lesser calories because the body cannot fully break down and only absorb 50% of xylitol. [8,9] This means that it intake will not increase the blood sugar and production of insulin.…”

“…It can bind with calcium, which facilitates calcium absorption through the gut wall that contributes to the remineralization of enamel and prevention of osteoporosis. [11] Xylitol is a non-digestible sugar since it has not much readily available enzymes to break it down found in the digestive tract. Furthermore, bacteria found in the digestive tract also have no means of digesting xylitol.…”