Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar found in plants and fruits, is becoming an increasingly important agent against tooth decay as more, and younger, children do not have access to health care.
Dr. Peter Milgrom, a professor of dental public health sciences at the University of Washington and director of the Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, said xylitol can be more effective than fluoride. He said it stops bacteria in the mouth from emitting acid that causes tooth decay and cavities, and it makes it harder for bacteria to find shelter on the gums and teeth of young children.
In 2007, Milgrom, along with a team of researchers at the University of Washington, developed a study to test the effects xylitol has in decreasing tooth decay in children. The study, released earlier this month, monitored more than 100 infants as they received varying dosages of xylitol syrup each day for a year. Researchers concluded that the syrup prevented 50 percent to 75 percent of tooth decay in these toddlers.
“If you give kids regular fluoride treatments two or three times a year, you would get a 30 percent reduction in tooth decay,” Milgrom said. “We got double the amount of tooth decay prevention using xylitol.”
Milgrom said he hopes xylitol will also be used to aid children who otherwise would not receive adequate dental care. According to Milgrom, tooth decay in children 2 to 5 years old is increasing as many children lose access to dental care.
Tooth decay also disproportionately plagues immigrants and minority ethnic populations, adding to the problem, he said.
Dr. Tara Schafer, interim chair of the department of pediatric dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia and a practicing pediatric dentist, feels xylitol helps but researchers need to determine effective dosage amounts and how to administer the substance to children. Schafer warns that once researchers determine the specifics, xylitol should not be the only measure used to fight tooth decay.
“Nothing beats keeping your teeth clean ... brushing, flossing and using fluoride toothpaste,” she said.
Xylitol can be found in many products, including certain chewing gums, mouthwashes and rinses. But kids would have to chew a lot of gum or use a lot of mouthwash to receive the amount of xylitol in this study, Schafer explained.
Milgrom and Schafer believe that in the future xylitol will be used in dental offices across the country to help decrease tooth decay in young children.
“What I think will happen first is that when you come in to the dentist and get fluoride put on your teeth, you may come in and get xylitol on your teeth as well,” Schafer said. “It may end up being something that dentists prescribe ... like a xylitol rinse.”
If you want your child to have good oral health...
● Make sure you begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as his or her first tooth comes in.
● If the child is too young for toothpaste, you can use a damp washcloth or toothbrush to clean teeth.
● Avoid putting fruit juices or sugary substances in your child’s bottle.
● Monitor your child’s diet.
● Take your child for the first dental visit at age 1, or six months after the emergence of the child’s first tooth.
● Monitor your own dental health — most times bacteria that cause decay can be transmitted from parents to their children and children can pick up on their parents’ oral health habits. If you have a healthy mouth, there is a better chance of your child having fewer dental problems at a young age.
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