| Brushing, flossing, even chewing sugar | | | | Dr. Milgrom recently checked out many |
| free gum. We're all on a mission to stay | | | | popular products to see what it would |
| cavity free. But now, several gums and | | | | take to reach 6 grams. |
| mints have added a new sweetener that | | | | Smint Xylicare - a mint- contains less |
| can pull double duty for your teeth. | | | | than point two grams per serving, |
| The dentist's drill; it's something we | | | | meaning you'd need 30 mints per day. |
| dread. It's something Ryan Messner has | | | | Epic Xylitol gum contains just over one |
| never experienced. What helps him stay | | | | gram per piece, so you'd need to chew on |
| cavity free? Everything and anything | | | | six pieces a day. |
| sugar-free. | | | | One of the highest amounts: Carefree |
| "I'm addicted to gum," says Ryan | | | | Koolerz gum. But you'd need to chew four |
| Messner. I've been chewing it for ten | | | | sticks a day to get it. |
| years, pretty much a pack a day." | | | | It can be hard to tell how much Xylitol |
| Ryan says about a year ago, he noticed | | | | is in a product. Companies aren't |
| his favorite gum had new packaging. | | | | required to put that information on the |
| "It did say: with 'Xylitol' now," | | | | packaging and only a few do. Dr. Milgrom |
| according to Messner. | | | | is calling for clearer labeling. |
| What exactly is Xylitol? It's a natural | | | | The American Dental Association isn't |
| sugar substitute that's exploding in | | | | willing to go that far, but they are |
| popularity. It's in gum, candy, even | | | | keeping a close eye on Xylitol research. |
| pancake syrup and jam. | | | | Dr. Milgrom says, "If a consumer looks |
| According to dentist Dr. Milgrom, "The | | | | at a product where Xylitol is the first |
| papers show pretty clearly, Xylitol | | | | sugar that's listed, there's a good |
| prevents tooth decay." | | | | chance that the product contains enough |
| But only if you get enough. | | | | xylitol to be helpful." |
| Dr. Peter Milgrom has conducted several | | | | Messner's favorite gum doesn't disclose |
| studies on Xylitol. He says while there | | | | how much Xylitol is in each stick. But |
| are no official dosing guidelines, "We | | | | at a pack a day, which is his usual |
| estimate that a person needs to get | | | | amount, he figures that's close enough |
| about six grams of Xylitol a day spread | | | | to chewing his way to a healthier smile. |
| over maybe three different times during | | | | "I'll keep using it definitely," says |
| the day in order to get a benefit." | | | | Messner. |