XyliMelts^® for Oral Health

• Stimulates saliva flow,
• Releases an oral lubricant/humectant that coats and moisturizes the mouth, protecting it from drying out,
• Reduces harmful bacteria that flourish in a dry mouth,
• Lasts 1 to 6 hours in a dry mouth.
• 500 mg xylitol (1.2 calories), time-released, inhibits growth of bacteria that cause plaque, tooth decay, ear infections, sinus infections, bad breath, and infective heart disease.
• The tan, dimpled side discretely sticks to teeth or gums
  - no effect on talking or appearance.
• Helps people with dry mouth sleep through the night.
• Can be used with braces or dentures.
• All natural  mild mint flavor.

Potential Benefits of Xylitol

When maintained in sufficient concentrations in the mouth for an effective duration each day, xylitol provides these benefits for oral health:

1. Prevent tooth decay by suppressing the causative bacteria, Streptococcus mutans (SM), and reducing plaque.¹

2. Reduce plaque in the mouth,^2,3 which helps reduce tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.

3 Stimulate saliva flow,⁴ which helps reduce tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.

4. Reduce inner ear infections (behind the ear drum) by suppressing the common causative bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) and Haemophilus influenzae (HI) and reducing their adherence to human tissues.⁵

5. Suppress appetite: When used before a meal, xylitol reduces typical caloric consumption during the meal by more than the calories in the xylitol (but not enough to be worth using just for this purpose).⁶

6. Reduce tooth decay in children: When used in the mouths of caregivers starting when the child is 10 months old, xylitol reduces tooth decay in the child by suppressing the causative bacteria in the care givers’ mouths so the bacteria do not colonize the child’s mouth.^7,8

Xylitol use may offer the following additional benefits

which, as of January 2008, are not yet proven:

7. Reduced sinus infections: Because the bacteria that cause most ear infections also cause most sinus infections^9,10,11 and because the sinuses, like the inner ear, are connected to the oral cavity, it is possible that regular use of xylitol in the mouth will significantly reduce sinus infections.

8. Reduced bad breath and gum disease: Xylitol suppresses species of bacteria that significantly contribute to bad breath and gum disease,¹² which may cause it to reduce bad breath and gum disease by this process in addition to helping reduce bad breath and gum disease by reducing plaque and promoting saliva flow.

9. Reduced chances of cardiovascular disease: Current research shows that bacteria present in everyone’s mouth enter the bloodstream from the mouth when brushing teeth^13,14 and, for some people these bacteria cause cardio-vascular disease.¹⁵ Using four XyliMelts discs each day significantly reduces levels of bacteria that most contribute to such disease (Streptococcus mutans (SM), which also causes tooth decay.) Thus, to be prudent, people who are at risk of cardio-vascular disease should use at least four XyliMelts discs each day. This may be most valuable for people genetically predisposed to such disease, people who are overweight, people with periodontal disease or generally poor oral health, and frail older people where maintenance of good oral health is often problematic and cardiovascular disease is an increasing problem.

10. Whiter teeth: Dental plaque absorbs stains. Xylitol reduces plaque² and therefore should reduce stains.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet evaluated

these statements.

Prior xylitol delivery methods are inefficient

When delivered in typical chewing gum or candies, xylitol quickly dissolves and is swallowed and the benefits cease.^16,17 A person needs to chew 7-10 pieces of gum or consume 20 candies per day to maintain an effective amount of xylitol in the mouth.³ For many people this is undesirable, impractical, or impossible, and presents a risk of gut discomfort from excess swallowed xylitol.

XyliMelts optimize xylitol delivery and
dry mouth treatment

XyliMelts time release 500 mg of xylitol for maximum effectiveness per gram of xylitol to inhibit harmful bacteria. When SM, SP, and HI bacteria (and three other harmful species as well) absorb xylitol, it stops them from reproducing. The unwanted bacteria absorb xylitol as a preferred food instead of absorbing other available food. But, because they were not exposed to xylitol during their evolution, the bacterial energy supply is depleted by xylitol so they starve. In these harmful bacteria, the sugar absorption mechanisms favor certain sugars over others. For SP bacteria (and likely others), xylitol is favored over all kinds of sugars except fructose.¹⁸ When xylitol is present as well as sugars other than fructose, the bacteria will absorb the xylitol in place of the other sugars. When fructose is present as well, the fructose is selected and absorbed by the bacteria in place of the xylitol. For this reason, XyliMelts are likely most effective if consumption of fructose is avoided while a XyliMelts disc is dissolving and for about an hour after.

Directions:

Use two discs before bed, one on each side of the mouth, in the lower or upper part of each cheek. During the day, use as needed. Leave undisturbed until dissolved. You may adhere the tan, dimpled side to teeth or gums. You may remove the disc and re-adhere it. For maximum benefit, do not consume fructose (in fruit and added to many foods and sweet drinks – marked on the label as fructose or apple, pear, or grape juice) until one hour later. Some bacteria may evolve a resistance to xylitol. It may be best to suspend use of xylitol for about a week out of every two months to minimize such evolution.

Warnings:

• Not recommended for children under age 5 due to risk of choking.
•  
• Do not use while sleeping if you might pry it loose with your tongue – it might lodge in your throat or lung, causing discomfort until it dissolves.
• Do not give xylitol to dogs or other pets.

Ingredients:

Xylitol, vegetable gum, cellulose gum, mild natural peppermint flavor, calcium/magnesium stearate, and nothing else. CONTAINS NO: animal products, fermentable sugar, color, dyes, artificial flavoring, or preservatives and no products of peanuts, tree nuts, corn, wheat, rice, grain, gluten, soy, egg, fish, shellfish, milk or yeast.

Carbohydrate exchange for diabetes:

Xylitol raises blood glucose half as much per unit weight as typical carbohydrates.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use XyliMelts instead of, or in addition to, fluoride?

Although the dental benefits of fluoride far outweigh the risks, there are still people who choose to avoid fluoride. For them, XyliMelts is an alternative. And, when xylitol and fluoride are used together, each makes the other more effective against tooth decay.¹⁹

Do XyliMelts cause indigestion or diarrhea?

If their systems are not used to it, many people find that they have gut discomfort when they ingest more than about 10 grams of xylitol.²⁰ The time-release of XyliMelts allows a small amount of xylitol to be effective

(less than 5 grams per day), eliminating all risk of

discomfort.

What would happen if I inhaled a XyliMelts disc?

Whether the disc is in your mouth or throat or lung, the disc will entirely dissolve, so nothing would need to be done but give it time to dissolve.

References

1 Ly KA, Milgrom P, Rothen M; Xylitol, sweeteners, and dental caries; Pediatric Dentistry; 2006 Mar-Apr;28(2):154-63.

2 Badet MC; Effect of xylitol on a model of oral biofilm; J Dent Res 86(Spec Iss A):abstract number 1162, 2007.

3 Makinen KK, Isotupa KP, Makinen PL, Soderling E, Song KB, Nam SH, Jeong SH; Six-month polyol chewing-gum programme in kindergarten-age children: a feasibility study focusing on mutans streptococci and dental plaque; Int Dent J. 2005 Apr;55(2):81-8.

4 Makinen KK; New biochemical aspects of sweeteners; Int Dent J. 1985 Mar; 35(1):23-35.

5 Uhari M, Tapiainen T, Kontiokari T; Xylitol in preventing acute otitis media; Vaccine. 2000 Dec 8;19 Suppl 1:S144-7.

6 King NA, Craig SA, Pepper T, Blundell JE; Evaluation of the independent and combined effects of xylitol and polydextrose consumed as a snack on hunger and energy intake over 10 d; Br J Nutr. 2005 Jun;93(6):911-5.

7 Soderling E, Isokangas P, Pienihakkinen K, Tenovuo J, Alanen P; Influence of maternal xylitol consumption on mother-child transmission of mutans streptococci: 6-year follow-up; Caries Res. 2001 May-Jun;35(3):173-7.

8 Thorild I, Lindau B, Twetman S; Caries in 4-year-old children after maternal chewing of gums containing combinations of xylitol, sorbitol, chlorhexidine and fluoride; Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2006 Dec;7(4):241-5.

9 Brown CL, Graham SM, Cable BB, Ozer EA, Taft PJ, Zabner J; Xylitol enhances bacterial killing in the rabbit maxillary sinus; Laryngoscope. 2004 Nov;114(11):2021-4.

10 Benninger M, Brook I, Farrell DJ; Disease severity in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is greater in patients infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae than in those infected with Haemophilus influenzae; Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Oct;135(4):523-8.

11 Tapiainen T, Sormunen R, et al: Ultrastructure of streptococcus pneumoniae after exposure to xylitol. J Antimicrob Chemother. 54(1):225-228, 2004.

12 Han SJ, Jeong SY, Nam YJ, Yang KH, Lim HS, Chung J; Xylitol inhibits inflammatory cytokine expression induced by lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis; Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2005 Nov;12(11):1285-91 (periodontitis).

13 Lockhart PB, Brennan MT, Sasser HC, Fox PC, Paster BJ, and Bahrani-Mougeot FK; Bacteremia Associated with Toothbrushing and Dental Extraction; Circulation. 2008;117:3118-3125.

14 Lucas VS, Gafan G, Dewhurst S, Roberts GJ; Prevalence, intensity and nature of bacteremia after toothbrushing; J Dent. 2008 Jul;36(7):481-7.

15 Nakano K, Inaba H, et al.; Detection of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans in extirpated heart valve and atheromatous plaque specimens; J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Sep;44(9):3313-7.

16 Milgrom P, Riedy C., Ly K, Rothen M, Mueller G, Hagstrom M, Zhou L, Tolentino E, and Roberts M. Bioavailability of xylitol-containing products in saliva. J. Dent Res 86(Spec Iss A):Late Breaking News, 2007 (www.dentalresearch.org)

17 Milgrom P, Ly KA, et al: Mutans streptococci dose response to xylitol chewing gum. J Dent Res 85(2):177-181, 2006.

18 Tapiainen T, Kontiokari T, Sammalkivi L, Ikaheimo I, Koskela M, Uhari M; Effect of xylitol on growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the presence of fructose and sorbitol; Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001 Jan;45(1):166-9.

19 Goncalves N, Rosalen PL, Cury JA; Effect of fluoride and xylitol on the growth and acid production by Streptococcus mutans; J Dent Res 81(Spec Iss A):abstract number 2798, 2002.

20 Burt BA; The use of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum in caries control; J Am Dental Assoc; 2006 Feb; 137(2):190-6.