my understanding is it actually destroys whatever mechanism that bacteria use to hold on to the teeth...
"Spry fights cavities and plaque by creating an unwelcome environment for bacteria; they simply cannot stick to teeth in a Xylitol-rich environment"
"Consistent use of Spry products can:
Reduce cavities by up to 80%
Inhibit the ability of cavity-causing, plaque-forming bacteria to stick to teeth
Reverse early cavity formation "
i bought the spry(
http://www.xlear.com/spry/) stuff today... i know a guy who reps for spry and he pretty much convinced me its the best xylitol products on the market. he's pretty knowledgable so i believe him. plus we had it in my store [tung]
i got the toothpaste, mouthwash, and gum... all taste pretty good and were pretty cheap
remineralization:
Remineralization effects of xylitol on demineralized enamel. We morphologically determined the effects of xylitol on the remineralization of artificially demineralized enamel. The samples were demineralized and then immersed in a remineralizing solution with or without 20% xylitol at 37 degrees C for 2 weeks. Samples immersed in a xylitol solution demonstrated less mineralization in the outer 10 microm of the outermost surface layers, but more mineralization in the middle and deep layerss. The MIP evaluation indicated that remineralization was more prominent in layers at depths of 50-60 microm in the xylitol samples than in the non-xylitol samples. These results indicate that xylitol can induce remineralization of deeper layers of demineralized enamel by facilitating Ca2+ movement and accessibility. Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial PMID: 14960009 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] J Electron Microsc (Tokyo). 2003;52(5):471-6.Miake Y, Saeki Y, Takahashi M, Yanagisawa T.
Xylitol is clinically proven to fight Plaque, Fight Cavities, Reduce the secretion of Plaque Acids, & Facilitates the Remineralization of Tooth Enamel
1: Int Dent J 1995 Feb;45(1 Suppl 1):65-76 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut
Xylitol chewing gum and dental caries.
Tanzer JM.
Department of Oral Diagnosis, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington.
There is an extensive peer-reviewed literature on xylitol chewing gum as it pertains to effects on tooth decay in human subjects, on human dental plaque reduction, on inhibition of dental plaque acid production, on inhibition of the growth and metabolism of the mutans group of streptococci which are the prime causative agents of tooth decay, on reduction of tooth decay in experimental animals, and on xylitol's reported contribution to the remineralisation of teeth. The literature not only supports the conclusion that xylitol is non-cariogenic but it is now strongly suggestive that xylitol is caries inhibitory, that is, anti-cariogenic in human subjects, and it supplies reasonable mechanistic explanation(s).
Publication Types:
Review
Review, Tutorial
PMID: 7607747 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]