One of the amazing hidden ‘secrets’ of this century is xylitol. It is truly astonishing on two points. This 5 carbon sugar can help to prevent both tooth decay and gum disease because the bacteria that eat it cannot utilize xylitol as they can glucose (six carbon table sugar). 

The second fact to know about xylitol is that it has been both well known in one country and almost unheard of in many other countries at the same time. This astounds me because it clearly demonstrates the limited nature of our human awareness.

Let us take a closer look. Xylitol has been used and well documented to reduce the incidence of dental disease in Finland for over five decades now.  Yet here in the United States and many other countries you will hardly hear of a dentist that promotes it. There are a few, but they are not many.

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