Dear Dr. Ellie:
Is there a certain length of time you need to chew the Zellies Xylitol gum to be effective 5 min, 20 min etc.?
Thanks.
FM
Dear FM:
It is the sugary solution (created when xylitol dissolves in mouth saliva) that helps teeth.
This xylitol is dissolved from the gum into mouth liquids in under 2 minutes. Extra chewing may help a little but the xylitol is quickly dissolved out of the gum. (You will notice the taste disappears quickly). Note: Taste will only stay on gum when attached to artificial sweetening agents.
As the xylitol dissolves it is working in three ways:
The xylitol solution is quickly absorbed by harmful mouth bacteria. These bacteria cannot process xylitol since it binds their internal proteins starving them in the long term and stopping them from producing acids in the short term.
Xylitol in solution stimulates mineral-laden saliva to flow into the mouth, bringing calcium and other minerals to bathe teeth
The mineral rich saliva creates an environment (by raising the pH) where minerals go into any softened areas on teeth to remineralize them.
I hope this answers your question.
Ellie Phillips, DDS
Categories: Xylitol