Xylitol and your teeth

The course of an acid attack

Streptococcus mutans bacteria are the primary cause of tooth decay. S. mutans is a common bacterium that lives in the plaque that is continually building up on the teeth. Every bite of food gives the bacteria energy, allowing them to multiply and start producing acid by a metabolic process. The result is the infamous ‘acid attack'. When the pH of this mass of bacteria, or plaque, falls below pH 5.5, calcium and phosphate salts start dissolving from the surface of the enamel. Cavities begin to form, though only very slowly at first.

After each meal or snack, it takes over half an hour before the pH of the plaque is restored to the normal level of around 7. If you eat several times a day, salts are dissolved off the enamel more and more deeply and the enamel becomes porous.

Xylitol stops acid attack

When you take xylitol, the acid attack that would otherwise last over half an hour is stopped in its tracks. Because the bacteria in the mouth causing caries are unable to ferment xylitol in their metabolism, their growth is reduced. The number of acid-producing lactobacilli and streptococci bacteria falls as much as 90%. Because acids are not formed, the saliva and plaque pH do not fall. After taking xylitol, the amount of lipoteichoic acid in the saliva and plaque also falls. The absorption of the bacteria on tooth surfaces is weakened and amount of plaque decreases.

Xylitol stimulates protective saliva and corrects incipient damage to enamel

In addition to its effects on bacteria, the sweetness of xylitol stimulates the secretion of saliva. Saliva in itself protects the mouth and teeth. Xylitol also relieves the problem of dryness in the mouth.

Saliva containing xylitol is more alkaline than the saliva stimulated by other sweeteners. This means that the buffer capacity of the saliva as well as its calcium and phosphate content rise causing remineralisation of caries damage. Thus any softening of the enamel begins to harden again.