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THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG...
Abstract: Xylitol is a sugar substitute not well known in the United States. This sugar substitute is not only low in calories but can also help prevent dental caries. The U.S. Army Dental Command's Health Promotion Program is constantly seeking additional prevention measures to enhance the oral health of America's Army. The Dental Command has created the "Look for Xylitol First" initiative aimed at training all members of the dental care team on the positive benefits of xylitol and to teach patients how to be smart consumers and evaluate products for their xylitol content.
Prevention of dental caries is fundamental to any Oral Health Promotion and Prevention Program. The U.S. Army Dental Command (DENCOM) utilizes a prevention toolbox that includes, but is not limited to, sealants, fluoride, diet modification, oral hygiene instruction, and the use of chemotherapeutics such as chlorhexidine. The purpose of this article is to introduce the use of xylitol as another useful adjunct for our prevention program.
Few Americans know that regular use of a sugar substitute called xylitol (pronounced zi-la-tol) helps prevent caries, but this product has been widely used in Europe and Asia over the last 20 years. One advantage of xylitol is that it tastes good and patients can enjoy a positive health impact while simply chewing gum or eating mints. Oral health professionals know that xylitol is not a panacea, but can be a very useful adjunct as a part of an oral health prevention program. The DENCOM has created the "Look for Xylitol First" initiative, and its first objective is to train all members of the dental care team on the positive benefits of xylitol. secondly, it is to teach patients how to be smart consumers and evaluate products for their xylitol content.
What Is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a Food and Drug Administration approved, polyol sweetener (sometimes called a sugar alcohol, although it has no alcohol content) that has caries reducing properties over and above sugar replacements.1 Xylitol is the only naturally occurring sugar alternative and can be found in raspberries, cauliflower and organic substances, even hardwood. Xylitol was originally produced in Finland through an extraction process...