3 ms·

Tangentially related, apparently xylitol gum can reduce cavity risk by killing off bacteria (which cannot digest but cannot differentiate xylitol from regular s

by wxw 2mo ago

Tangentially related, apparently xylitol gum can reduce cavity risk by killing off bacteria (which cannot digest but cannot differentiate xylitol from regular sugar) in the mouth.

mdasen 2mo ago
Xylitol is really cool that way. The bacteria waste energy trying to convert it to a form they can use, but they just end up with at a dead end with xylitol-5-phosphate. Once they realize that they need to get rid of it, they convert it back to xylitol (so it can cross the membrane easier and probably to keep the phosphate). Of course, that means the xylitol is back to fool some other nearby bacteria into wasting its energy. They end up wasting their energy on work that won't help them reproduce and needing to waste more energy getting rid of it.
- MengerSponge 2mo ago
  In that way I'm like a bacteria. "Ah beans, gotta undo all this work"
- wuschel 2mo ago
  Sounds interesting, indeed. Just dug up this review [1] that claims there were no adverse effects from any of the interventions, and that after 2.5 to 3 years of use, a fluoride toothpaste containing 10% xylitol may reduce caries by 13% when compared to a fluoride-only toothpaste. I wonder how well bacteria will adapt long term in your mouth to Xylitol exposure through bubble gum based adminstration. [1] Xylitol-containing products for preventing dental caries in children and adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD010743. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010743.pub2.
  - morjom 2mo ago
    Couldnt find any (relatively recent) studies that looked at bacteria over multiple years, but some earlier ones (1&2), or shorter period ones(3), that touch on it (aswell as caries, as that is the prevalent subject) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2758793/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2758793/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1810656/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1810656/ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.882636/full https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3...
- odyssey7 2mo ago
  Wouldn’t this also be a problem for gut flora?
  - danielheath 2mo ago
    Excessive xylitol consumption causes digestive problems, yes.
  - AlanYx 2mo ago
    Not just gut flora. High levels of circulating xylitol (and erythritol for that matter) have been shown in both mouse models and humans to be associated with increased platelet reactivity and elevated 3-year risk of major cardiovascular events. But we're talking significant levels of xylitol/erythritol, such as from keto-friendly ice cream and drinks, not the modest levels from chewing gum, and the dental benefits are well established.
  - GuB-42 2mo ago
    It certainly is a problem for the guts of some people. There is a hilarious Amazon review describing the effects of sugar-free gummy bears in rather graphic details. https://old.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1ktb95/most_helpful_amazon_review_i_wont_be_purchasing/ https://old.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1ktb95/most_helpful_... I don't know if it is xylitol, but if not, it is another sugar alcohol, like sorbitol, maltitol, erythritol,... that have similar properties
- 1PlayerOne 2mo ago
  I swish xylitol crystal after each meal for five minutes and then spit out. I no longer have plague on my lower bottom teeth, a problem area for most people. I like the fresh minty feel afterward as well. Wish I had learn about this earlier.
spike021 2mo ago
Just be careful around dogs and presumably other pets as it's toxic for them.
eurekin 2mo ago
It does? I wonder, what it does to the gut biome then
- toasty228 2mo ago
  It's already bad for your cardiovascular system. It's food as a mouth wash but don't swallow it, especially at the recommended doses of 3+ mouthwash per day with 3-5g each time
  - morjom 2mo ago
    The recent study on it gave the subjects a 300mL "standardized, artificially sweetened beverage containing 30g of xylitol diluted in water." Recommended amount is 5–10g per day (5 pieces of 100% xylitol gum, 36% is already effective), taken after meals.
m463 2mo ago
By the way, you should know some people have trouble with the *-itols, causing a range of uncomfortable gut problems. not only xylitol, but sorbitol, mannitol and maltitol. Also related are lactose, fructose, and *saccharides. the keyword is FODMAP, look up low-FODMAP diet. maybe: https://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/gi/faculty-staff-website/wp-content/uploads/sites/994/2020/06/8Jiii-FODMAP-Diet-UVA.pdf https://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/gi/faculty-staff-website/wp...

by wxw 2mo ago

Tangentially related, apparently xylitol gum can reduce cavity risk by killing off bacteria (which cannot digest but cannot differentiate xylitol from regular sugar) in the mouth.

mdasen 2mo ago

Xylitol is really cool that way. The bacteria waste energy trying to convert it to a form they can use, but they just end up with at a dead end with xylitol-5-phosphate. Once they realize that they need to get rid of it, they convert it back to xylitol (so it can cross the membrane easier and probably to keep the phosphate). Of course, that means the xylitol is back to fool some other nearby bacteria into wasting its energy. They end up wasting their energy on work that won't help them reproduce and needing to waste more energy getting rid of it.

MengerSponge 2mo ago
In that way I'm like a bacteria. "Ah beans, gotta undo all this work"
wuschel 2mo ago
Sounds interesting, indeed. Just dug up this review [1] that claims there were no adverse effects from any of the interventions, and that after 2.5 to 3 years of use, a fluoride toothpaste containing 10% xylitol may reduce caries by 13% when compared to a fluoride-only toothpaste. I wonder how well bacteria will adapt long term in your mouth to Xylitol exposure through bubble gum based adminstration. [1] Xylitol-containing products for preventing dental caries in children and adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD010743. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010743.pub2.
- morjom 2mo ago
  Couldnt find any (relatively recent) studies that looked at bacteria over multiple years, but some earlier ones (1&2), or shorter period ones(3), that touch on it (aswell as caries, as that is the prevalent subject) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2758793/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2758793/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1810656/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1810656/ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.882636/full https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3...
odyssey7 2mo ago
Wouldn’t this also be a problem for gut flora?
- danielheath 2mo ago
  Excessive xylitol consumption causes digestive problems, yes.
- AlanYx 2mo ago
  Not just gut flora. High levels of circulating xylitol (and erythritol for that matter) have been shown in both mouse models and humans to be associated with increased platelet reactivity and elevated 3-year risk of major cardiovascular events. But we're talking significant levels of xylitol/erythritol, such as from keto-friendly ice cream and drinks, not the modest levels from chewing gum, and the dental benefits are well established.
- GuB-42 2mo ago
  It certainly is a problem for the guts of some people. There is a hilarious Amazon review describing the effects of sugar-free gummy bears in rather graphic details. https://old.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1ktb95/most_helpful_amazon_review_i_wont_be_purchasing/ https://old.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1ktb95/most_helpful_... I don't know if it is xylitol, but if not, it is another sugar alcohol, like sorbitol, maltitol, erythritol,... that have similar properties
1PlayerOne 2mo ago
I swish xylitol crystal after each meal for five minutes and then spit out. I no longer have plague on my lower bottom teeth, a problem area for most people. I like the fresh minty feel afterward as well. Wish I had learn about this earlier.

spike021 2mo ago

Just be careful around dogs and presumably other pets as it's toxic for them.

eurekin 2mo ago

It does? I wonder, what it does to the gut biome then

toasty228 2mo ago
It's already bad for your cardiovascular system. It's food as a mouth wash but don't swallow it, especially at the recommended doses of 3+ mouthwash per day with 3-5g each time
- morjom 2mo ago
  The recent study on it gave the subjects a 300mL "standardized, artificially sweetened beverage containing 30g of xylitol diluted in water." Recommended amount is 5–10g per day (5 pieces of 100% xylitol gum, 36% is already effective), taken after meals.

m463 2mo ago

By the way, you should know some people have trouble with the *-itols, causing a range of uncomfortable gut problems. not only xylitol, but sorbitol, mannitol and maltitol. Also related are lactose, fructose, and *saccharides. the keyword is FODMAP, look up low-FODMAP diet. maybe: https://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/gi/faculty-staff-website/wp-content/uploads/sites/994/2020/06/8Jiii-FODMAP-Diet-UVA.pdf https://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/gi/faculty-staff-website/wp...