Here is a detailed description:
With regular use, the effect of xylitol is equal to four times positively: it dissolves in the mouth, it promotes saliva formation. Saliva contains a lot of calcium phosphate, which is responsible for the formation and hardening of the enamel. In connection with the deposition of minerals xylitol is promoted in the enamel.
In addition, the saliva in the mouth diluted acids present, thus increasing the pH and thus protects the teeth, because low pH levels are essential for the decay-causing bacteria in order to adhere to the teeth. Only in an acidic environment (pH 4 - 5) clump caries bacteria (Streptococcus mutans), attach themselves to the teeth and form a harmful plaque. No plaque - no caries.
The presence of xylitol prevents the bacteria usable for sugars and other carbohydrates, they can metabolize harmful to dental lactic acid. With regular use, the oral flora changed: xylitol promotes streptococcal population with significantly reduced cariogenic power.
Xylitol does not kill bacteria - it only prevents their harmful work.
When sufficient Xylitmenge were in the Finnish studies 6-12 grams per day - divided into several portions - determined. This can be done by means of chewing gum, lozenges or xylitol powder.
Sugar promotes tooth decay and periodontal disease
In Germany one per cent of adults are only about caries-free. Tooth decay occurs when teeth are attacked by bacteria produced acid. The bacteria, a special type of streptococcus that produce acid in the metabolism of carbohydrates, such as sugar or starch. Only a few (5) minutes after eating is reaches the maximum. The bacteria require an acidic environment (pH 4 to 5.5) in order to adhere to the teeth. Only there they can develop their full deleterious effect.
A periodontal disease occurs when bacteria accumulate on the tooth necks and form a so-called plaque. Here, they secrete substances that cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). In advanced stages of periodontitis leads to breakdown of gum and bone.
Caries prevention with xylitol
As with all preventable diseases is the best defense against tooth decay and periodontal disease a good prophylaxis. In addition to regular dental care with brushing and flossing, the food plays an important role: who feeds on sugars and fully satisfying needs before caries little to fear - especially with regular xylitol use.
As caries prophylaxis xylitol is applied several times a day:
Take immediately after each meal with half a teaspoon of xylitol in your mouth and let it dissolve (not bite). In this case, abundant saliva is produced, the pH in the mouth is increasing (positive). The mixture rinse back and forth, 1 Minute usually enough. The decay-causing bacteria but do not fight with it directly, xylitol is not an antibiotic. But living in the mouth bacteria that normally produce harmful dental lactic acid from sugar are prevented in the presence of xylitol in their "work".
In addition, is prevented by increasing the pH, the bacteria clump together and attach to the teeth. They do in fact only from a pH below 5.5. With regular use, the bacteria can adapt to xylitol and also metabolize. But this way, no dental noxious substances.
The most noticeable effect of xylitol rinse is smoothing the tooth surface via their remineralization by the calcium phosphate contained in the saliva. The smoothing of the tooth surfaces is improved with each flush. This allows bacteria have also increasingly difficult to adhere to the tooth.
