Jenkki Original Spearmint xylitol chewing gum 100g

Xylitol chewing gum. 35% xylitol.

"Properties of Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural sweetener whose raw material can be found in e.g. in birch, corn and beech. Xylitol appears to be found in small amounts in almost all plants, especially berries and fruits. Xylitol was discovered by German and French scientists as early as the 1890s, but its tooth-friendly effects were verified in the 1970s in the so-called Turku sugar studies of the University of Turku's Department of Dentistry.

Chemically, xylitol is a carbohydrate that belongs to polyols, sugar alcohols. Xylitol is produced industrially mainly from birch fiber, xylan. This is why xylitol is also called birch sugar. In a chemical process, xylan is broken down into xylose, which is converted into xylitol.

Xylitol is one of the raw materials that replace sugar, such as sorbitol and maltitol. However, xylitol differs from sorbitol, maltitol and other sweeteners because instead of six carbon atoms, its chemical structure consists of five carbon atoms. The bacteria are therefore unable to use xylitol as food. The degree of sweetness of xylitol is roughly the same as regular sugar and it tastes not only sweet but also cool and fresh.

Xylitol has the ability to prevent the growth and transmission of the tooth decay-causing Streptococcus mutans bacteria from one person to another. The bacteria are unable to use xylitol as their energy source, so an acid attack harmful to the teeth does not occur. In addition, the amount of plaque containing bacteria on the surface of the tooth decreases and it becomes easier to brush.

The benefits of xylitol

* interrupts the acid attack and prevents tooth decay
* repairs enamel damage that has already started
* reduces the amount of plaque and makes it easier to brush
* prevents the transmission of caries from mother to child
* reduces ear infections in children
* increases the amount of saliva - helps with dry mouth"