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What is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a carbohydrate that is found in plants such as raspberries, corn, oats, mushrooms and birch trees. A natural sweetener, it is comparable to sucrose in sweetness but contains fewer calories. Xylitol was first used in large quantities in Finland in the 19th century, where it was extracted from birch trees. Very quickly, it became a popular sugar substitute in Europe and is now used as the primary sweetener in chewing gums all across Europe and east Asia.
What are the Oral Care Benefits of Xylitol?
Xylitol is a carboydrate that cannot be processed by harmful bacteria in the mouth that cause plaque, tooth decay, gum disease, and ear and sinus infections. These bacteria are not able to digest xylitol. Held in the mouth, xylitol also stimulates saliva flow.* Additionally, xylitol has 40% fewer calories than sucrose and absorbs more slowly into the blood stream, reducing incidence of hyperglycemia.
3D Conformer.
Credit: PubChem
What Makes XyliMelts a Better Choice?
Clinical studies suggest that the benefits of xylitol are greatest when there is a continuous concentration of xylitol in your mouth. You must chew 2 to 3 pieces of gum 3 times a day (that’s 6-9 pieces of gum a day!) to obtain the full benefits. Because XyliMelts is an adhering disc that releases effective concentrations of xylitol over time and you can use it while sleeping when saliva flow is lowest, you don’t need to consume as much xylitol to achieve the same effect. This also means hours of relief for a dry mouth as the disc coats and moisturizes, releasing soothing oral lubricants and increasing saliva flow.* XyliMelts for Dry Mouth is designed for use while sleeping, when dry mouth is at its worst.
Lubricating Adhering Discs Review
A literature review and report examining the use of oral adhering discs for patients experiencing xerostomia.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.