Dental gum available at clinic Published Dec. 7, 2007 By Capt. Bakhtiar A. Pribadi 62nd Medical Operations Squadron MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The holiday season is approaching and now that Thanksgiving Day is over, the second wave of sweet indulgence is about to begin. For those who are prone to cavities, this would have been time to pass on all the holiday sweets and watch helplessly at all the happy smiles on friends and family as they gorge themselves on chocolate Santas and candy canes. But this is the 21st century, the age of iPods and Blu-Ray, yet the cure for the common cold and dental cavities remained elusive until now. Recent studies have shown that the sugar substitute xylitol has multiple health benefits, with anti-cavity properties being one of them. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that resembles the table sugar sucrose, but with a third less calories. It is found in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables and tastes as sweet as sugar without the unique aftertaste of artificial sweeteners. Xylitol contains zero net effective carbohydrates and is considered safe for diabetics and people with hyperglycemia. However, the principal use of xylitol in the world today is with its anti-cavities properties. Recent studies have shown that the bacteria responsible for dental cavities cannot metabolize xylitol and thus dies of starvation. Currently, xylitol comes in two forms: as crystals for cooking and as candy or chewing gum, such as Smint® and Trident®. In order to get the full anticariogenic effect of xylitol, it must be present in the oral environment for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, xylitol-containing chewing gum would be the best mode for reducing dental cavities. Chewing a single stick of xylitol gum per day has been shown to significantly reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. The only drawback with xylitol is that it cannot repair teeth that are already cavitated. Xylitol is used mainly as an adjunct to preventing dental cavities. Chewing gum alone without brushing, flossing or seeing the dentist for regular cleanings is pointless. Xylitol alone isn't the magic bullet that we have been looking for, but in conjunction with brushing, flossing and fluoride treatments, dental cavities are sure to be suppressed. Currently, the availability of xylitol is not widespread. The commissary or the local market doesn't have a pound of xylitol, nor will xylitol packets be available at coffee shops. For reasons unknown, the market has yet to take advantage of this great food additive. Aside from small online distributors and specialty markets, xylitol can be found in Trident® chewing gum. However, always verify the ingredients contain xylitol before purchasing. There are still different flavors of Trident® that contain sorbitol instead of xylitol, and although sorbitol does not promote tooth decay, it does not have the anticariogenic properties that are unique to xylitol. For free samples of xylitol gum, visit the 62nd Dental Clinic or ask for samples during your next annual exam. The dental clinic is also giving away Preventive Oral Hygiene Supplements (POHS) to a select group of active duty airmen, active guard, and activated guard/reserve. Included in the POHS is: A toothbrush Toothpaste Fluoride mouth rinse Dental floss Samples of xylitol chewing gum Pamphlets, coupons and education materials Airmen at risk for dental cavities or those deploying may obtain a POHS. The POHS are available only during annual or deployment exams and are limited to one per patient. The POHS represent the essential methods of preventing dental cavities. When used on a daily basis, dental cavities are sure to be a thing of the past.