Do you have a sweet tooth and tend to indulge in the divine taste of cakes, chocolates and sweets as often as possible? Good news is some level of sugar intake is indeed needed for our brains to function, bad news however, is surpassing that level can lead to a lot of issues.
A diet rich in sweets is poor in nutrients, and can be quite harmful for your body as all the calories pile up. This causes weight and blood sugar problems, including being at risk of Alzheimer’s. All the sugar is also taking its toll on the health of your teeth and while a quick gargle or brushing might ameliorate the situation, they are not the safe-proof options for optimal health.
We frequently hear of sweeteners replacing sugar, but rarely do we know which ones can be trusted and which ones do more damage than actual sugar. Thankfully, a certain sweetener that sounds too good to be true (and yet it is not) is gaining popularity and might revolutionise how and what we eat. It is the case of xylitol and its beneficial properties make it the number one sugar replacement recommended by doctors and dentists.
As a component of berries, vegetables and plants, xylitol is a natural sweetener, which makes it different from most common sweeteners we usually see in food products. It is important not to confuse it with artificial sweeteners, such as Sucralose (Splenda) and aspartame, as they happen to cause many side-effects and are bad for the overall health.
Xylitol is the compound of alcohol and sugar molecules, and while it is as sweet as sugar, it has considerably less calories. The reason dentists are fervent supporters of xylitol is because of its role in the tooth decaying process. Bacteria responsible for plaque formation, called Streptococcus mutans, feeds on glucose sugar foods. When it is the case with xylitol, the bacteria does not thrive on it and yet still ingests it which leads to its destruction.
This is why it is advisable to include xylitol use in your daily habits. You can look for products and be able to find a variety of toothpaste, oral rinse, gums and mints. Since it is suggested to apply it every day for best results, you should consider getting more supplies, such as gum refill for instance. This way you can rest assured you have sufficient amount to keep you safe until your next purchase.
Regular consumption not only decreases plaque, prevents tooth decay and inflammatory gum diseases, but it also helps regulate the pH levels of the saliva to a height that enables calcium-deficient tooth enamel to harden, resulting in remineralisation. To maintain oral health in check and be on the safe side every day, make sure you get your stacks of gum refill.
Along with all this, xylitol is also ideal for reducing ear infections in children, has no bad effect on blood sugar and even helps patients with diabetes. If this was not enough, some recent studies also show its positive influence on increasing the production of collagen, lessening ageing signs, as well as reducing the risks of osteoporosis. Next time you think of eating desserts, replace sugar with xylitol icing if you want to keep your pearly whites squeaky clean.