Can you please comment on Xylitol, a cheap over the counter product for dental health.
Hilarion: It is a fascinating substance. Though it is found in nature, in tree bark and various trees that utilize it in different ways, it is primarily produced by artificial means.Therefore, it is useful to utilize it in relatively small quantities. In the natural state it can be ingested at higher levels. But, at the lower levels we see little harm that occurs to the body when taking it.
It has some unique properties in relation to dental health in ways in which the various bacteria that cause problems for teeth are those which are very attracted to xylitol. As a result, they are not able to thrive and when they perish, the destruction and difficulty that they can give to teeth is eliminated.
Part of this goes way back in human history, in ways in which bacteria are able to thrive and to work alongside human beings. But, we notice that in the child, in the infant and as the child grows even into the stage as near puberty, this bacteria causes destruction. There are six of them, but the most prominent is streptococcus mutans, which is simply not present. It is not in the mouth of these children and then at a later time it does show up. It is as if this substance interacting with this bacteria either is naturally occurring, that is small quantities of Xylitol or similar properties in the children causing its destruction or it is not present because it has never been introduced.
However, when an individual who has this bacteria in their mouth kisses another individual it is transmitted and there are so many substances in the mouth that the bacteria thrive on, then it tends to multiply. It is possible then, to use Xylitol in the ways that others have suggested to stop this bacteria and the damage that it causes as long as one is restricted to no more than approximately 20 grams per day of such material we see no problem.
There are those who would use Xylitol as a substitute for sugar, using as much as ½ of a cup of it in a cake recipe, for instance. This would not be recommended. Once you get way into many grams, many more than 20, you get into various digestive problems because the other bacteria that are harmed in the intestinal region may be necessary and beneficial for human health.
But, restricting this to the mouth area, by chewing a Xylitol mint, or using it in small qualities in a mouthwash; these activities seem quite harmless and ultimately quite beneficial.
December 21, 2024
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