You already know that Nip Energy Dip is a unique and safe alternative to smokeless tobacco, but did you know that it also uses a naturally occurring sweetener called Xylitol to give it it’s great flavor?
What is xylitol?
Xylitol is a sweetener that occurs naturally. It can be found, in berries, fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. The Finnish name for it, “koivusokeri”, or “birch sugar”, derives from the fact that the best way to make xylitol is from birch, by chopping up and rendering down the structural fibre of the wood, xylan.
How does xylitol differ from other sweeteners?
Chemically speaking, xylitol is not actually a sugar, but a sugar alcohol. It differs from other sweeteners such as sorbitol, fructose and glucose because the xylitol molecule has five, instead of six, carbon atoms. Most bacteria in the mouth are unable to make use of such sugars. This is one reason why xylitol helps prevent cavities.
Where does xylitol occur in nature?
Xylitol occur in small amounts in natural form, especially in fruit, berries, vegetables and mushrooms. For example raspberry, strawberry, yellow plum and endive contain xylitol. Xylitol also occur in human tissues.
Where was xylitol discovered?
Xylitol was discovered almost simultaneously by German and French chemists back in the late 19th century. In the Soviet Union it has been used for decades as a sweetener for diabetics, and in Germany in solutions for intravenous feeding. In China, xylitol has been used for various medical purposes.
Xylitol-Jenkki, the first xylitol chewing gum in the world, was launched by the Finnish company Leaf in 1975.
Can xylitol be used as more than a sweetener?
Research suggests significant benefits to using xylitol as a nasal wash, in addition to its dental application. Bacteria become “sticky” and adhere to the surface of the teeth leading to dental caries. Similarly, when Streptococcus pneumonia and other bacteria in the upper respiratory passages adhere to mucous membranes and nasal tissues, they can lead to infection and disease.
Xylitol , when used in a nasal wash, helps prevent bacteria from adhering and helps the body’s natural cleansing processes to clear away these harmful bacteria, reducing the risk of infection.
Is xylitol safe?
Yes it is. JECFA, a joint expert committee of WHO and FAO, confirmed in 1983 the fact, already known by scientists, that xylitol is a safe sweetener for foods. Also FDA confirmed this fact in 1986.
How does xylitol take care of a mouth dryness problem?
In terms of dental health, it is good to increase the salivary flow rate as often as possible, i.e. to secrete what is called stimulated saliva. The faster the saliva flow, the greater its buffer capacity, that is, its power of resisting the drops in saliva pH and thus in plaque pH.
In stimulating saliva secretion xylitol increases the amount of saliva in the mouth. At the same time it increases saliva’s initiate chemical capacity for reducing the harmful effects of bacteria.
Sucrose also stimulates saliva secretion, but even this increased salivary flow rate cannot compensate for the effect of the acids simultaneously produced by the cariogenic bacteria. So plaque pH falls and cavities start forming.
Chewing also helps promote saliva secretion. That’s why chewing gum is an almost perfect way of taking xylitol from the dentist’s point of view.
How much xylitol should one consume per day?
Xylitol is a natural and convenient way of supplementing daily dental care. Research shows that a mere 5-10g/ day is enough. In practice, this means 3-8 pieces of chewing gum a day. The pieces should be chewed immediately after a meal or a snack. If you eat more snacks, you of course need more frequent help from xylitol.
Is it possible to replace daily teeth cleaning by xylitol?
No. A healthy mouth and teeth are a important part of healthy everyday life. That is why it is important to take good care of them. To keep a beautiful and healthy smile brush you teeth daily with fluoride tooth paste and visit your dentists regularly.
Is Xylitol poisonous to pets?
Studies have shown that Xylitol is beneficial to humans, it is HIGHLY TOXIC TO DOGS, and should definitely be kept away from any and all household pets.