The dental and health benefits of Xylitol

Have you heard about this amazing sugar substitute?

Xylitol is frequently found in chewing gum and mints and can be used in place of sugar in baking an everyday cooking, it can also be added to tea and coffee. More and more shops and supermarket are now stocking it in granulated, cube and tablet form; it is no longer a health-food-shop-only item and is easy to introduce to our kitchens.

Xylitol is a naturally present substance found in the fibres of many fruits and vegetables. It can be sourced from carbohydrate molecules in the cell walls of birch and beech trees, rice, oat and wheat but the main source of this substance for commercial use is corn cobs. Not only does it look like sugar but it also contains the same sweetness and is much more similar in taste than a lot of other sweeteners; believe me, I have tried them all!.

Xylitol is seen to have significant dental benefits.

We know that diet plays a major role in dental health and that too much sugar causes tooth decay and periodontal disease (gum disease). Eating sugar causes tooth decay by creating a highly acidic condition in the mouth. Acidity strips teeth of enamel, causing them to weaken and making them more vulnerable to attack by bacteria. Ordinarily, saliva bathes the mouth with an alkaline solution that neutralises all acidity, helping the process of digestion. When saliva turns acidic because of too much sugar, bacteria in the mouth have a feeding frenzy, eating away at enamel. Xylitol can help to prevent this by raising the pH to a more alkaline state, greatly reducing the growth of bacteria that cause cavities.

Xylitol may be better for dental health compared to consuming large amounts of sugar, however, it is still a sweetener and as with other sugar substitutes, too much is not recommended. The best way to control dental caries is a balanced diet.

I have recently watch a documentary about "superfoods". Whilst watching I learnt that the Finnish government has put in place dental aid program in most primary schools. All primary school age children receive free xylitol tablets to chew after each meal. The presenter disclosed her teeth after  a sugary drink; this would show plaque in pink, and was very surprised to find that her teeth were covered in plaque; whilst the child who had her xylitol tablet did not show any significant amount of plaque.

Not just good for your teeth:

• Xylitol has a low GI value of 7, meaning it has little effect on blood sugar levels and insulin. It is therefore seen as a useful alternative for diabetics.

• It contains only 2.4 calories per gram and is slowly absorbed, unlike ordinary sugar; therefore it does not cause any spikes in  blood sugar levels  and is helpful in reducing sugar cravings.

• It is still early days for Xylitol in our country and we cannot claim that it is a miracle product.

• However it is a product which allows us to make small but beneficial changes in our everyday diet.

As they say, the proof is in the pudding, why don't you try it for yourself?

You might just love it!