the Benefits of Xylitol. Natural Dental Car. Immune Builder. Antiflammatory. Antibacterial.

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efficiently stimulates the immune system, digestion, lipid and bone metabolism. Xylitol helps in glycemic and obesity control; reduces ear and respiratory infections. Xylitol treats diseases that cannot be cured through antibiotics or by surgery.

Xylitol efficiently stimulates the immune system, digestion, lipid and bone metabolism. Xylitol helps in glycemic and obesity control; reduces ear and respiratory infections. Xylitol treats diseases that cannot be cured through antibiotics or by surgery.

Many diseases, including caries, chronic inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and obesity, are associated with uncontrolled sugar consumption.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is commonly used as a sweetener. It can be found naturally or artificially prepared mainly from plant materials chemically or by fermentation of hemicelluloses from agricultural biomass by yeast or bacteria strains.

This polyol has a significant antiplaque effect on teeth surface and can reduce the gingival inflammation; it is being used as a preventive agent for dental caries due to decreasing the growth levels of pathogenic Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sangui at the very early stages.

Xylitol can bind with calcium ion leading to consequent remineralization of teeth enamel; it is also able to prevent osteoporosis.

This polyol can treat respiratory tract and middle ear diseases due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential and prevent some diseases which cannot be cured through antibiotics or surgery.

Xylitol can reduce constipation, diabetes, obesity, and other body syndromes or illnesses; it has also revealed its stimulating effect on digestion and immune system.

However, it can produce some side effects such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, nephrolithiasis, etc., when consumed in excessive amounts.

Different vehicles are used for delivering the xylitol into the human body, but chewing gums occupy a leading position.

The present review is devoted to comprehensive analyses of the positive and negative effects of this polyol on human health.

Key Points•

The health benefits of xylitol are not limited to oral hygiene.

• Xylitol efficiently stimulates the immune system, digestion, lipid and bone metabolism.

• Xylitol helps in glycemic and obesity control; reduces ear and respiratory infections.

• Xylitol treats diseases that cannot be cured through antibiotics or by surgery.

Keywords: Artificial sweetener; Caries; Health care; Metabolic disease; Oral microbiota; Preventive effect; Xylitol.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32638045/#:~:text=Xylitol%20efficiently%20stimulates%20the%20immune,digestion%2C%20lipid%20and%20bone%20metabolism.&text=Xylitol%20helps%20in%20glycemic%20and,reduces%20ear%20and%20respiratory%20infections.&text=Xylitol%20treats%20diseases%20that%20cannot%20be%20cured%20through%20antibiotics%20or%20by%20surgery.

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Is xylitol an antibiotic?
Xylitol also has a low GI, which makes it an attractive alternative to sugar for people wishing to lose weight and those with diabetes. Some research also suggests that xylitol has antibacterial properties that can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and ear infections.

Is xylitol an antiviral?
Both in vitro and animal model studies have demonstrated the antiviral properties of xylitol against the human respiratory syncytial virus [25]. Both iota-carrageenan and xylitol are safe for humans, being used in much larger amounts as food additives than what may be used for nasal delivery.

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Is xylitol anti-inflammatory?
Abstract. Background: Xylitol is a well-known anticaries agent and has been used for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of xylitol are evaluated for possible use in the prevention and treatment of periodontal infections.

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Can xylitol help strep throat?
Xylitol has been shown to inhibit bacterial growth and coat the throat wall;

Does xylitol have another name?
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XYLITOL is a sweetener that is found in a wide range of products. It might also go by other names, including wood sugar, birch sugar, and birch bark extract

Xylitol’s Health Benefits beyond Dental Health

Xylitol has been widely documented to have dental health benefits, such as reducing the risk for dental caries. Here we report on other health benefits that have been investigated for xylitol. In skin, xylitol has been reported to improve barrier function and suppress the growth of potential skin pathogens. As a non-digestible carbohydrate, xylitol enters the colon where it is fermented by members of the colonic microbiota; species of the genus Anaerostipes have been reported to ferment xylitol and produce butyrate. The most common Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species do not appear to be able to grow on xylitol. The non-digestible but fermentable nature of xylitol also contributes to a constipation relieving effect and improved bone mineral density. Xylitol also modulates the immune system, which, together with its antimicrobial activity contribute to a reduced respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, and otitis media risk. As a low caloric sweetener, xylitol may contribute to weight management. It has been suggested that xylitol also increases satiety, but these results are not convincing yet. The benefit of xylitol on metabolic health, in addition to the benefit of the mere replacement of sucrose, remains to be determined in humans. Additional health benefits of xylitol have thus been reported and indicate further opportunities but need to be confirmed in human studies.

Keywords: sugar alcohol, prebiotic, bowel function, immune function, respiratory tract infections, otitis media, sinusitis, weight management, satiety, bone health

Xylitol is best known for its dental benefits, such as reducing the risk for dental caries [3]. This is thought to function through three mechanisms: xylitol replaces cariogenic sucrose, xylitol may stimulate salivation, and xylitol may have specific inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans—the main causative microbe of dental caries [4]. Although a recent meta-analysis concluded that there is a need for high-quality studies on the dental benefits of xylitol, the same study concluded nevertheless that xylitol is an effective strategy as a self-applied caries preventive agent [3]. Furthermore, the European Food Safety Agency has approved a health claim “xylitol chewing gum reduces the risk of caries in children” [5]. Here, however, we want to focus on other potential health benefits of xylitol, such as skincare, respiratory, digestive, immune health

SKIN

Topical exposure of the skin with xylitol has thus been shown to reduce skin moisture loss. The mechanism appears to relate to increased tight junction and barrier formation in the skin. Also, dietary exposure to xylitol has been found to improve skin thickness. The antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens has been documented mainly in combination with other compounds and the contribution of xylitol to the observed effects needs to be determined. Furthermore, many of these results have been obtained in vitro and in animal models at relatively high doses (10% of the diet); their applicability to humans thus still needs to confirmed.

Nose, Throat and Ear

Benefits of Xylitol in Respiratory Health
In vitro studies have shown that 1% and 5% xylitol markedly reduced the growth of alpha-hemolytic streptococci, including S. pneumoniae in a dose dependent manner. The inhibitory growth pattern was similar to that previously seen with S. mutans. Xylitol reduced slightly the growth of beta-hemolytic streptococci but not that of H. influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis [49]. Although in vitro inhibition of S. pneumoniae was observed, nasal infection of rats (20 animals/group) with S. pneumoniae could not be reduced, as evaluated by PCR, with 3 day exposure to dietary xylitol (20%) or nasal spray with 5% xylitol compared to control animals not exposed to xylitol [50].

Furthermore, 250 µl of 5% xylitol sprayed for 4 days into each nostril of 21 healthy volunteers significantly decreased the number of nasal coagulase-negative Staphylococcus compared with saline control treatment in the same volunteers. Counts were reduced from 597 CFU/nasal swab during the control treatment to 99 CFU/nasal swab during the xylitol treatment; no other organisms were assessed [51].

A nasal spray with xylitol has been reported to improve the quality of life in patients with non-allergic nasal congestion. Subjects were randomized to either receive xylitol spray twice daily for 5 days (n = 14) or saline (n = 14). Objective rhinometry measures were not significantly different from control and baseline, and subjective measures of nasal obstruction, by questionnaire, only exhibited a trend for improvement from baseline. However, the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire indicated a significant improvement from baseline for the xylitol group, but not for the control group [52].

Despite some anti-pathogenic effects by xylitol on some potential pathogens of the upper respiratory tract, the consumption of 5 pieces of 15% xylitol-containing chewing gum by 106 pharyngitis patients for three months was not found to be associated with a reduction in pharyngitis and did not perform better in reducing symptoms; difficulty in swallowing and sore throat as compared to no chewing gum control subjects (n = 110). Data were collected by questionnaire [53]. Inhalation of xylitol aerosol has been suggested to reduce salt concentration in airway surface liquid (ASL); increased salt concentrations are associated with reduced antimicrobial activity of ASL and may partially explain the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis [51].

As will be discussed below under immune-modulatory effects of xylitol (Section 6.2) there is substantial animal model data indicating a benefit of xylitol consumption and immune modulation which improves resistance to experimental viral infections by the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and influenza A virus (H1N1).

4.3. Benefits of Xylitol in Sinusitis
A reduction of the ionic composition of ASL by xylitol has been hypothesized to be beneficial not only for respiratory tract infections but also for the treatment of sinusitis. In vitro, 5% and 10% xylitol in saline significantly reduced S. epidermidis and S. aureus biofilm formation after 1 h, and after 24 h also of P. aeruginosa compared to saline. After 4 h 5% and 10% xylitol significantly reduced the growth of planktonic S. epidermidis, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa compared to saline. There was no difference between 5% and 10% xylitol [54]. As mentioned above, 2%, 10%, and 20% xylitol in water have also been shown to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa in a biofilm model [19].

Indeed, in experimental sinusitis through P. aeruginosa infection of 26 rabbits, and local pre-administration (20 min) of 0.1 mL 5% xylitol for five days, reduced the number of recovered P. aeruginosa compared to administration with saline in the other sinus of the same rabbit (control). Culturing showed counts of 5.37 × 106 CFU in control sinuses and 1.93 × 106 CFU in xylitol pretreated sinuses. However, simultaneous or subsequent administration of xylitol and P. aeruginosa infection resulted only in a non-significant reduction in P. aeruginosa [55].

A 10-day nasal irrigation with a 5% xylitol solution by 15 subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis resulted in a significant reduction in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) score compared to control irrigation with saline. The volunteers, however, did not self-report an improvement in their sino-nasal wellbeing. No adverse events were reported [56]. In a subsequent study with 30 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal irrigation with a 5% xylitol solution for 30 days has indeed been found to lead to an improvement in symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis reported as SNOT-22 [57]. As a potential mechanism, a reduction in the viscoelasticity of mucus has been proposed [58].

4.4. Acute Otitis Media
As noted above, S. pneumoniae is one of the main causative agents of AOM; 1% and 5% xylitol has been shown to inhibit the growth of S. pneumoniae in vitro [49]. Ultrastructural analysis of the pneumococci showed that the cell wall became more diffuse, the polysaccharide capsule became ragged and the proportion of damaged pneumococci increased after exposure to 5% xylitol for 2 h, but not after exposure to other sugars or control medium [59]. In fact, exposure to 5% xylitol lowered pneumococcal capsular locus (cpsB) gene expression levels significantly compared with those in the control and glucose media [60]. However, in clinical trials, xylitol did not decrease nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococci; even though AOM risk was reduced. Nevertheless, xylitol at 0.5% solution has been observed to reduce the growth of 20 pneumococcal clinical isolates in vitro compared to other carbon sources. Also in vitro pneumococcal biofilm formation was reduced and expression of genes involved in biofilm formation—capsule, competence, and autolysin—was reduced [61].

A recent Cochrane review investigated the benefit of the prophylactic administration of xylitol to healthy children up to 12 years of age on the risk for the development of AOM. In all, 5 clinical trials were identified and included in the analysis, which involved 3405 children in total. Doses used ranged from 8.4 to 10 g/day. The authors concluded that there is moderate-quality evidence that xylitol (in any form) can reduce the risk of AOM from 30% in the control group to approximately 22%. However, xylitol was not found to be effective in reducing AOM among healthy children during respiratory infection or among otitis-prone healthy children [48]. Furthermore, the authors expressed the concern that there is only a limited number of studies, mainly from the same research group. In that sense, it is interesting to see that at least two clinical trials are on the way to investigate the effect of xylitol on AOM (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02950311 and NCT03055091 [62]).

4.5. Conclusions
Some subjective benefits for xylitol were observed in relieving congestion

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723878/
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Xylitol can starve the harmful bacteria in your mouth, reducing plaque buildup and tooth decay. This can help prevent dental cavities

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/xylitol-101

Xylitol can be processed from trees like birch or from a plant fiber called xylan (1Trusted Source).

Even though sugar alcohols are technically carbohydrates, most of them do not raise blood sugar levels and thereby don’t count as net carbs, making them popular sweeteners in low-carb products (2Trusted Source).

Though the word “alcohol” is part of its name, it’s not the same alcohol that makes you drunk. Sugar alcohols are safe for people with alcohol addictions.

These oral bacteria feed on glucose from food, but they can not use xylitol. As such, replacing sugar with xylitol reduces the available fuel for the harmful bacteria (11Trusted Source).

While these bacteria cannot use xylitol for fuel, they still ingest it. After absorbing xylitol, they are unable to take up glucose — meaning that their energy-producing pathway is clogged and they end up dying.

In other words, when you chew gum with xylitol or use it as a sweetener, the harmful bacteria in your mouth starve to death (12Trusted Source).

In one study, xylitol-sweetened chewing gum reduced levels of bad bacteria by 27–75%, while friendly bacteria levels remained constant (13Trusted Source).

Animal studies also suggest that xylitol may increase absorption of calcium in your digestive system, protecting against osteoporosis and strengthening your teeth (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

Human studies demonstrate that xylitol — either by replacing sugar or adding it into your diet — can reduce cavities and tooth decay by 30–85% (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

Because inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases, reducing plaque and gum inflammation could have benefits for the rest of your body as well.

SUMMARY
Xylitol can starve the harmful bacteria in your mouth, reducing plaque buildup and tooth decay. This can help prevent dental cavities and inflammatory gum diseases.

Xylitol Reduces Ear and Yeast Infections
Your mouth, nose and ears are all interconnected.

Therefore, bacteria that live in the mouth can end up causing ear infections — a common problem in children.

It turns out that xylitol can starve some of these bacteria in the same way that it starves plaque-producing bacteria (19Trusted Source).

One study in children with recurring ear infections observed that daily usage of xylitol-sweetened chewing gum reduced their infection rate by 40% (20Trusted Source).

Xylitol also fights the yeast Candida albicans, which can lead to candida infections. Xylitol reduces the yeast’s ability to stick to surfaces, thereby helping prevent infection (21Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Xylitol-sweetened gum can reduce ear infections in children and combat candida yeast infections.

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Other Potential Health Benefits
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, found in large amounts in skin and connective tissues.

Some studies in rats link xylitol to increased production of collagen, which may help counteract the effects of aging on your skin (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).

Xylitol may also be protective against osteoporosis, as it leads to increased bone volume and bone mineral content in rats (14Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).

Keep in mind that studies in people are needed to confirm these benefits.

Xylitol also feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut, acting as a soluble fiber and improving your digestive health (25Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Xylitol may increase collagen production and reduce your risk of osteoporosis. It also feeds the friendly bacteria in your gut.

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xylitol sinus rinse

In the short term, xylitol irrigations result in greater improvement of symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis as compared to saline irrigation.
In the short term, xylitol irrigations result in greater improvement of symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis as compared to saline irrigation.

sequential 10-day courses of daily xylitol and saline irrigations in a randomized fashion, with a 3-day washout irrigation rest period at the start of each treatment arm.

There was a significant reduction in SNOT-20 score during the xylitol phase of irrigation (mean drop of 2.43 points) as compared to the saline phase

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21994147/

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Is sinus rinse with xylitol safe?
Using a nasal spray with xylitol is an effective tool for washing the nose and flushing away harmful bacteria and pollutants that might otherwise lead to sinusitis, ear infections, and upper respiratory disease.

Xylitol helps prevent the causes of sinus issues and upper respiratory discomfort by stimulating the body's natural cleansing process to clear away contaminants and irritants in the nasal passages. If they can't stick to the tissue, they can't cause problems.

How do you use xylitol for sinuses?
Xylitol nasal irrigations have the additive benefit of not only flushing the nasal cavities and sinuses out with irrigation, but it also has an antimicrobial and anti fungal effect as well.
...
In an 8 ounce nasal sinus irrigation bottle:
Add 8 oz of distilled water.
1/4 tsp of salt.
1/4 tsp of baking soda.
1/2 tsp of Xylitol.

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Does xylitol prevent COVID-19?
There are some reports that suggest xylitol nasal sprays could help prevent COVID-19. It has been proposed that they may help reduce the amount of virus in your nose and stop it from entering your body. One preprint lab report suggests that the ingredients in xylitol nasal sprays can help lower viral load.

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Is xylitol good for allergies?
You can also find xylitol in nasal sprays with other ingredients like cayenne and oregano oil, but be prepared for a wakeup call with those spicy, but effective ingredients. I suggest using a nasal spray with xylitol in the morning and evening during the seasons that increase your allergen response.

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Can mold stay in your sinuses?
The nasal and sinus lining develops severe swelling. This causes a blockage of the sinus outflow tracts, trapping some mold to grow and accumulate inside the sinuses. Associated pooling of sinus secretions creates a secondary bacterial infection in most cases as well.

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The most economical way to use Xylitol (3 times a day)
- Let Xylitol dissolve in mouth and then swish vigorously with mixture a minimum of 1 minute, but better if 5 minutes. Spit when done rinsing, or continue to use mixture to brush teeth*. Spit, but do not rinse out.

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Xylitol Pulling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t58ucaPcGE

Can xylitol help receding gums?
Eliminating Gum Disease

Xylitol is anti-bacterial and will help to make the harmful bacteria disappear and over time the pockets that you've developed in your gum line will heal and recede back to their normal condition.