Xylitol is a sugar substitute not only low in calories but may also help prevent dental caries. Xylitol is a natural sweetener found in various berries, corn, birch and other plant sources. Xylitol - a sugar alcohol - has minimal effects on blood sugar and insulin release. As a rule, xylitol is a healthier sweetener than sucrose or fructose. There is some evidence that xylitol may reduce tooth decay. As for baking, stevia is preferable to xylitol.
   Researchers in Finland have been working with xylitol for the last three decades. In Russia xylitol has been used as a sweetener for diabetics. Virtually unknown in Japan a few years ago, xylitol sales have soared to over 400 million dollars yearly. My favorite no calorie sweetener is stevia, the clear liquid form, which is available for sale by clicking Stevia-Clear-Liquid. You will also find other forms of stevia, such as stevia drink packets, Stevia chewing gum, and stevia powder.
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Xylitol gum and dental cavity prevention
Xylitol -containing chewing gum may significantly reduce the growth of mutans streptococci and dental plaque which are associated with dental caries.
   Gummy bears containing the sugar substitute called xylitol reduce cavity-causing bacteria on young children's teeth. Research has shown that the sugar substitute reduces levels of mutans streptococci bacteria, which are known to cause cavities. Xylitol differs from others sugars, like table sugar and glucose, which mutans streptococci bacteria use for energy. Mutans streptococci bacteria "take in" xylitol, but can not break it down to use for fuel.

Xylitol side effects - Xylitol danger
No major side effects have been reported with reasonable amounts of Xylitol sweetener. Excess consumption may lead to mild diarrhea. It's best to use as little xylitol as one needs to sweeten food.

Xylitol product
Books are available that have dishes with a xylitol recipe.

What is Xylitol?
Pure 100% pharmaceutical-grade xylitol is a white, crystalline carbohydrate that is classified as a sugar. It is found naturally in fibrous vegetables and fruits. Xylitol is produced by the human body during normal metabolism. It is a naturally occurring form of the 5-carbon sugar, xylose. The main sources of commercially produced xylitol are corncobs and wood scraps from the lumber industry.

Summary of Xylitol Benefits
Xylitol is a sweet-tasting sugar substitute that has been approved for use in more than 40 countries. Consumption of xylitol is associated with a significant reduction in tooth decay, resulting in fewer cavities. Xylitol has been shown to contribute to increased bone density, weight loss, stabilization of blood sugar and lowering of insulin levels.

Xylitol Research Update
The effect of xylitol chewing gum on mutans streptococci in saliva and dental plaque.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2004 Dec;35(4):1024-7.
Dental caries are one of the most common infectious diseases occurred in Thai children. The chewing of xylitol, sorbitol, and even sugar gum has been suggested to reduce caries rates. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of xylitol chewing gum on mutans streptococci (MS) in saliva and dental plaque. Ninety-one children, aged 10-12 years, with more than 1 x 10(5) MS per milliliter of saliva were included in this study. They were divided into three groups balanced according to their MS counts at baseline: one control group (no supervised gum use), and two xylitol groups (supervised 55% and 100% xylitol gum use). Whole saliva and pooled plaque samples were obtained after 90 school days. When comparing the MS counts between the groups, those chewing 100% and 55% xylitol gum showed significant reductions, but a dose response effect was not demonstrated. Chewing 100% xylitol gum caused significant reductions on salivary MS scores which was little different from the 55% xylitol group. The results suggest that the use of xylitol chewing gum can reduce the levels of mutans streptococci in plaque and saliva.

Effects of a long-term dietary xylitol supplementation on collagen content and fluorescence of the skin in aged rats.
Gerontology. 2005 May-Jun;51(3):166-9.
Dietary xylitol has been shown to increase the amounts of newly synthesized collagen, and to decrease fluorescence of the collagenase-soluble fraction in the skin of both healthy and diabetic rats. As in diabetic rats, a decreased rate of collagen synthesis and increased collagen fluorescence has also been detected in the skin of aged rats. We hypothesize that dietary xylitol supplementation may protect against these changes during aging. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether a long-term dietary supplementation can protect against the decrease in the amounts of newly synthesized collagen, and against the increase in fluorescence in the collagenase-soluble fraction in the skin of aged rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. After weaning, the rats were divided into 2 groups of 12 animals. The rats in the control group were fed a basal RM1 diet, while the rats in the experimental group were fed the same diet supplemented with 10% xylitol. After 20 months, the rats were killed and pieces of skin from their dorsal areas were excised. The thickness of the samples was measured with a micrometer screw gauge. The collagen contents of rat skin were measured as hydroxyproline, and glycosylation as fluorescent intensity of collagen. Statistical significances of the differences between the groups were determined using the unpaired t test. No general side effects were detected in the rats during the experimental period. The skin of the xylitol-fed rats was a little thicker than that of the control rats. The hydroxyproline content of the acid-soluble fraction was significantly greater in the xylitol group as compared to the controls. However, there were no significant differences in the hydroxyproline content of the collagenase-soluble fraction between the groups. The fluorescence of the collagenase-soluble fraction was significantly smaller in the xylitol-fed aged rats than in the aged rats fed the basal diet. The results of this study indicate that xylitol caused an increase in the amount of newly synthesized collagen and a decrease in collagen fluorescence in the skin of aged rats.

Use of xylitol chewing gum in daycare centers: a follow-up study in Savonlinna, Finland.
Acta Odontol Scand. 2003 Dec;61(6):367-70.
The use of toothbrushes in daycare centers has been questioned because of the possibility of infections spreading through unsupervised brushing. Several field studies have demonstrated a caries-preventive effect of xylitol chewing gum--a measure that could be a practical way of taking care of oral hygiene during daycare hours without brushing. A community trial was conducted in Savonlinna, Finland to test the caries-preventive effect of xylitol chewing gum at these centers. A total of 921 children were recruited. The daycare centers were randomly distributed to xylitol chewing gum or brushing groups. An additional 270 children who had not been in daycare centers were later organized into an external reference group in order to check whether the children in the daycare centers were representative of all children in Savonlinna. The results revealed a statistically significant but clinically small difference between the xylitol and brushing groups in favor of the xylitol group. Many families used the daycare services irregularly. Changes in workplace, periods of unemployment, the birth of other children in the family, etc., affect the likelihood of families keeping their children in a daycare center for many years. Despite the fact that conditions were not optimal, oral health status in the xylitol group was a little bit better than in the control group. The use of xylitol can therefore be recommended, especially if the personnel do not have the possibility to supervise the brushing.

Xylitol questions
Q. Under alcohol sugars on your site you mention the possibility of diabetics having issues with these sugars. Is this just with Sorbitol, because the information I've gathered on Xylitol seems to show that it may be helpful for diabetics. Perhaps you could go into a little more detail about Xylitol. It's up there with Stevia for me.
   A. Xylitol appears to be a good sugar and hopefully its popularity will increase.