Gatsby
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
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 Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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There is nothing particularly new about this information regarding xylitol - birch sugar - and cavities. This was in the Wall Street Journal back in the late 70's or early 80s when Wrigley introduced Extra chewing gum with xylitol in the U.S. (the wikipedia article seems to have the date wrong). Extra was eventually reformulated and dropped the xylitol. You can still buy a variety of gum in the U.S. with xylitol.
Xylitol actually leads to a tooth with a cavity being rebuilt. Researchers tested this in a third world country where the kids had lots of cavities and little dental care. They gave them hard candy with xylitol and told them to suck on it a long time. Their cavities were often rebuilt, but with a black enamel.
Dental carries is due to a harmful bacteria that produces an acid that eats into the teeth. The xylitol appears to kill this bad bacteria, and perhaps support friendly bacteria, hence fewer cavities.
I assume Koreans know about this, to some extent, and that is why there is so much xylitol here. But I should have asked some people to be sure. They seem to be very afraid of cavities, with some teachers brushing their teeth obsessively five or 10 times a day. It doesn't seem to be working, judging from the mouths of many Korean adults and children. They really should fluoridate the water.
I think one reason xylitol is so popular here is that they think other artificial sweeteners are dangerous, and see xylitol as natural (even though the way it is industrially manufactured is anything but). Most Koreans are as convinced that saccharin will cause cancer as they are that American beef will cause their brain to turn to ooze. They are afraid to touch even one cup of tea with saccharin. Explaining they are misinformed and that there has never been any credible scientific proof that saccharin causes cancer, and if it did, most Americans would be dead by now is about as productive as arguing about mad cow disease.
I think saccharin may even have been illegal here. You can find one source of saccharin in the "New Sugar" bags for about 600 won.
In the U.S. you can buy packets of xylitol, 100 to the box, in Wal-Mart, among other places. They don't seem to work very well sweetening tea or coffee, though.
This country desperately needs more artificial sweeteners, especially in soft drinks. Koreans are starting to blimp out, starting with children, but including women in their 20s and 30s. Look around you. This country is going to have a lot of obese people in 10 or 20 years with rotten teeth. And they are going to blame America for it. Right.
Consuming large quantities of xylitol may not be a good idea, for a vairety of reasons. In moderation I presume it is safe for humans. But it should NEVER be given to cats or dogs, as I have seen claims it could cause fatal kidney problems.
Saccharin, on the other hand, appears to be safe, for humans -- not lab animals who take daily baths in saccharin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccharin
Oh, eating cheddar cheese (the real stuff) can also help prevent cavities, apparently by introducing friendly bacteria. |
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