foodconsumer.org: Oral xylitol syrup helps prevent early childhood caries

Oral xylitol syrup helps prevent early childhood caries
================================================================================
admin on 07/07/2008 04:21:00
 
SUNDAY July 6, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Xylitol may be a new weapon to fight
tooth decay in toddlers, according to a new study presented during the 86th
General Session of the International Association for Dental Research.
The trial was conducted in the Republic of the Marshall Islands involving
children ages 6 to 15 months to determine whether the substance can prevent
early childhood tooth decay.
In the trial, participants were given daily oral doses of xylitol in
fruit-flavored syrup.
Researchers found that among those who received xylitol, 76 percent were free of
tooth decay by the end of the study as compared to 48 percent of the children in
the control group who did not receive the syrup.
Researchers were from the Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health
Disparities and the Department of Dental Public Health Sciences at the
University of Washington, Seattle.
Xylitol is a naturally occurring non-cavity-causing sweetener, commonly used by
people with diabetes.   Earlier studies have already shown that this substance
is tooth-friendly and even prevents tooth decay.
Finnish studies conducted in the 1970s found that those who used chewing gum
with xylitol had 1.04 decayed, missing, or filled teeth compared to 2.92 in
those who used chewing gum with sucrose, according to Wikipedia.
Another study showed that the xylitol group had their risk of cavities reduced
by 70 percent compared to those who did not use xylitol.
The Food and Drug Administration reportedly has allowed the claim that
xylitol-based products do not promote dental cavities.
It is unknown whether the use of xylitol caused any side or adverse effects in
toddlers in the current trial.   Caution needs to be exercised because xylitol,
like most sugar alcohols, can have a laxative effect, according to Wikipedia.
The free online encyclopedia also cited a study saying that dogs ingesting foods
containing high doses of xylitol experienced low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
which can be life-threatening.
For more information on xylitol, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol
By Jimmy Downs, and edited by Heather Kelley.
July 6, 2008 - 11:39:50 PM