Oral hygiene plays a significant role in overall health and well-being. Apart from regular brushing and flossing, diet also plays an important role in maintaining good oral health.

Sugary foods and drinks are known to be detrimental to oral health, causing cavities and tooth decay. However, there are alternatives to traditional sugars that can promote oral health, such as oligothermic sweeteners.

What are oligothermic sweeteners?

Oligothermic sweeteners are a group of low-calorie sweeteners derived from natural sources. They are also known as polyols or sugar alcohols. Oligothermic sweeteners are commonly found in sugar-free gum, candy, and other confectionery products.

How do oligothermic sweeteners promote oral health?

Oligothermic sweeteners have several oral health benefits. Firstly, they do not cause tooth decay like traditional sugars.

The bacteria that cause cavities cannot break down oligothermic sweeteners, so they do not produce harmful acids that erode tooth enamel.

Secondly, oligothermic sweeteners do not feed the bacteria that cause bad breath. Bacteria that cause bad breath thrive on sugars and produce volatile sulfur compounds that smell unpleasant.

Since oligothermic sweeteners do not contain sugars, they do not promote the growth of these bacteria, resulting in fresher breath.

Thirdly, oligothermic sweeteners stimulate saliva production. Saliva helps to neutralize acids and wash away food particles that can cause tooth decay and bad breath.

By promoting saliva production, oligothermic sweeteners help to maintain a healthy balance in the mouth.

Types of oligothermic sweeteners

There are several types of oligothermic sweeteners commonly used in food and drink products:.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the birch tree. It is found in sugar-free gum, candy, and mints. Xylitol is often used in oral hygiene products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and chewing gum.

It has been shown to reduce the risk of cavities by inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Erythritol

Erythritol is a natural sweetener found in fruits such as grapes and pears. It has 70% of the sweetness of table sugar but only 6% of the calories. Erythritol is commonly used in sugar-free products such as chocolate, ice cream, and yogurt.

Maltitol

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol derived from maltose, a type of sugar. It has a similar taste and texture to table sugar but contains half the calories. It is often used in sugar-free candy and baked goods.

Sorbitol

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol found in apples, pears, and peaches. It has 60% of the sweetness of table sugar but only 2.6 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for regular sugar.

Sorbitol is commonly used in diabetic and sugar-free products such as cakes, cookies, and chewing gum.

Isomalt

Isomalt is a sugar alcohol derived from sugar beet. It is commonly used in sugar-free candy and chocolate. Isomalt has a similar taste and texture to sugar but does not feed the bacteria that cause cavities.

Conclusion

Oligothermic sweeteners offer a range of oral health benefits, including reducing the risk of cavities, promoting fresh breath, and stimulating saliva production.

They are a great alternative to traditional sugars and are commonly used in sugar-free food and drink products. Incorporating oligothermic sweeteners into your diet can help to maintain good oral hygiene and overall health and well-being.