---
title: "What Is Xylitol? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used to sweeten sugar-free gum and mints. Cavity-causing bacteria cannot turn it into acid the way they do with sugar."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/xylitol
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Prevention and Hygiene

# Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used to sweeten sugar-free gum and mints. Cavity-causing bacteria cannot turn it into acid the way they do with sugar.

Xylitol is a sweetener that belongs to a group called sugar alcohols or polyols. It is used in many sugar-free gums and candies. The ADA says sugar-free gums are sweetened with polyols such as xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol or maltitol, which are noncariogenic, meaning they do not cause cavities.

The ADA also suggests encouraging patients to chew sugar-free gum with xylitol, which can promote salivary flow and [remineralization](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/remineralization), and cannot be metabolized by cavity-causing bacteria. More [saliva](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/saliva) helps wash and buffer the mouth.

Gum does not replace brushing or flossing. Look for the ADA Seal on sugar-free gum. See [oral hygiene](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-hygiene) and cavities.

## Related terms

-   [Saliva](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/saliva)
-   [Remineralization](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/remineralization)
-   [Cavity (dental caries)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/cavity-dental-caries)
-   [Oral hygiene](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/oral-hygiene)
-   [Dry mouth (xerostomia)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dry-mouth-xerostomia)

## Sources

1.  [ADA: Chewing Gum](https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/chewing-gum)
2.  [ADA: Caries Risk Assessment and Management](https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/caries-risk-assessment-and-management)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)