The second half of the year is loaded with holidays. Starting with Halloween in October and running through the end of December, there’s one big event after another. That means plenty of holiday goodies, and especially candy.
All of those goodies contain sugar, of course. When sugar and the bacteria in your mouth meet, the result is an acidic byproduct, which is what causes decay and cavities to form.
Does that mean you have to give up on your holiday goodies? Not necessarily. What if we told you there was a natural sweetener that would let you enjoy wonderful holiday goodies but also protects your teeth from cavities?
The good news is—there is!
The sweetener is called xylitol and it’s found naturally in the fibers of plants. How does it protect teeth? By responding differently to the mouth’s bacteria. Instead of creating an acidic byproduct, the combination of xylitol and bacteria promotes a neutral environment in which it’s harder for bacteria to cling to teeth. That’s why some brands of toothpaste use xylitol instead of fluoride to protect teeth from cavities. Beyond this, xylitol can be used instead of sugar for baking, and there are even brands of candy that are made with xylitol.
Do you want to learn more about xylitol? Read about it here. And to schedule an appointment with Dr. John Robison or Dr. J.D. Robison of Robison Dental Group, call us today. We’re happy to help patients from Canton, Ann Arbor, Northville, Westland, and Plymouth.