Origin & History: Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that can be found in the fi ber of many fruits and vegetables and is even generated by the body during metabolism. It is not a sugar, but a sugar alcohol. It differs from other sweeteners such as sorbitol, fructose and glucose because the Xylitol molecule has fi ve carbon atoms instead of six. Xylitol is considered a tooth friendly sweetener and has been clinically proven to fi ght cavities and discourage plaque formation. Most bacterias in the mouth are unable to make use of sugar alcohols. This is one reason why Xylitol helps prevent caries. Recent research suggests that Xylitol, having some chemical properties similar to sucrose, attracts and then starves harmful micro-organisms, allowing the mouth to remineralize damages teeth with less interruption. Xylitol based products are allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make the medical claim that they do not promote dental caries.
