Why are some subjects, like xylitol, so polarized–some experts praise them while others throw them under the bus?
In the same vein as our article on the safety of brushing with baking soda, today let’s explore whether it’s a safe and wise choice to use xylitol in the mouth on a regular basis.
As a quick personal disclaimer, for many years, we were rather strongly in the “anti-xylitol” camp.
Like many folks who have been on the health food bandwagon for decades, there was a point when we wondered if we should replace any sugar in our diets with xylitol.
Then one day we did a simple experiment and forever changed our perspective on xylitol. However, that story will have to wait for another day.
In today’s discussion, we’ll share our thoughts on the primary risks and benefits of using xylitol. It’s our hope that this insight will assist you in determining whether xylitol deserves a place in your oral hygiene routine.
For clarity, this discussion is only going to focus on the use of xylitol in the mouth, not on the broader issues of using xylitol as a sugar substitute.
While it’s true that ‘what goes in the mouth goes into the whole body’, the sheer quantity of any substance (including xylitol) is much, much greater if we consume it as compared to if we just use it in the mouth.
With that said, let’s jump in.
We see three distinct risks associated with using xylitol in the mouth on a regular basis.
Risk #1: Potential GMO product
Most xylitol is made from corn. Unfortunately, most corn is genetically modified.
Now, I’m sure there are some scientists out there who would argue that xylitol that’s made from corn (GMO or not) is molecularly identical to xylitol that’s made from birch or other wood pulp. (Historically, xylitol was made from birch trees.)
We are staunchly on one side of the GMO subject, and we prefer not to be guinea pigs in any experimentation with the relative safety of any genetically modified organisms. So we stick with non-gmo ingredients at all costs.
Want to make your own toothpowders? Thankfully, there’s an easy workaround to the GMO issue with xylitol: we can purchase xylitol that’s derived from birch. In fact, here’s a source for birch-based xylitol that’s produced in the US. 🙂
Risk #2: Highly processed product
The fibers of many fruits contain small amounts of naturally-existing xylitol.
However, the xylitol that we know as consumers is produced by hydrogenating xylan, a plant cellulose.
In other words, most xylitol isn’t nature-made, like real honey or maple syrup is. We can’t just tap a birch tree and boil down the sap into xylitol.
It might seem scary to see the word ‘hydrogenation’ in this explanation of how xylitol is produced (after all, most of us are now aware of the dangers of hydrogenated vegetable oils, like margarine). Should we steer clear of xylitol because of the hydrogenation?
The xylitol hydrogenation process commonly involves metal catalysts, like nickel, palladium or platinum. However, we think that the risk of metal residue toxicity is minimal to nonexistent provided that the xylitol is being manufactured in the US, Canada or Europe.
So, to help ensure that the xylitol you use is free from metal residue, be sure that it’s birch-based and that it was produced in North America or Europe.
Risk #3: Prebiotic (feeds bacteria)
One of the main arguments against xylitol is that it will, ‘rip apart your insides’ and ‘cause leaky gut’. (1) The research suggests that these claims are exaggerated.
It’s true that if someone eats too much xylitol, it will cause diarrhea, gas, and bloating. However, this isn’t due to xylitol ripping apart our digestive tracts.
Xylitol is a prebiotic, meaning it’s food for the bacterial colonies in our digestive systems. So, if a person consumes too much xylitol in one sitting, they may develop an overgrowth of bacteria in the small and large intestine, which, in turn, results in the gas and bloating.
This is why people who are working to recover from leaky gut are warned to avoid eating xylitol.
You see, xylitol is a sugar alcohol, also known as a polyol. Experts involved with FODMAPs, SIBO, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and the GAPS diet suggest that anyone who has compromised digestion should avoid eating xylitol. A big component to healing this bacterial overgrowth is to avoid feeding the resident bacteria in our bellies, which helps to reduce their populations.
We consider leaky gut to be extremely widespread and often undiagnosed, and we agree that it would be wise for anyone who has digestive challenges to avoid eating xylitol.
(As a side note, we should mention that xylitol is very toxic to dogs. Research suggests that unlike humans and many other mammals, dogs absorb xylitol extremely quickly, which can challenge their liver’s capacity to process the xylitol. This can cause them serious injury or even death. So, please keep all xylitol and xylitol-containing products well out of reach of any pets.)
Now that we’ve explored some potential risks of using xylitol in the mouth on a regular basis, let’s take a look at some of the potential benefits.
Benefit #1: Prebiotic
Wait a second… How can the fact that xylitol is a prebiotic be both a risk AND a benefit?
Like so many substances, the dosage defines whether xylitol will support or undermine our health.
Xylitol proponents suggest 5 ‘exposures’ a day to promote improved oral health.
Here’s our concern with this constant xylitol drip…
Just because something seems good for us doesn’t mean that more of it will be better.
The ‘sugar demon’ that each of us has within us (provided you grew up on earth in the 20th or 21st century) constantly lures us to eat more sweet foods. So, even though xylitol doesn’t negatively impact insulin production like sugar does, the more sweet foods we consume, the more sweet foods we crave. Sweet is sweet (yes, even if it’s stevia).
We liken eating xylitol to a ‘gateway drug’. Regularly consuming xylitol in your diet will increase your cravings for sweet foods.
So, a little xylitol gum here and there seems fine and offers the mouth support toward a healthier microbiome balance, but let’s not go overboard and eat lots of it.
Just be watchful for your sugar demon’s attempts to increase your sweet consumption. The research very clearly shows that our systems function most efficiently when we eat more healthy fats and eat very, very little to no highly sweet foods.
Benefit #2: Reduces risk of tooth decay
This has been exhaustively established in the scientific literature studying how to stop cavities.
The main ‘thug bug’ implicated with tooth decay is called ‘Mutans Streptococcus’, or ‘strep mutans’ for short.
In the mouth, strep mutans consumes xylitol along with fermentable carbohydrates, like sugar. However, because xylitol is a polyol (sugar alcohol), it doesn’t ferment the same way that most sugars do. As such, xylitol doesn’t contribute to the proliferation of strep mutans.
In fact, when xylitol is used habitually, over time, the strep mutans strains become less virulent (meaning that the main thug bug implicated with tooth decay gradually becomes weaker). (2)
Xylitol also helps us address tooth decay because its presence makes the thug-bug-formed dental plaque less adhesive.
Some studies show up to a 50% reduction in plaque accumulation from using xylitol in the mouth. (3) Plaque adhesion is a big deal when we’re talking about tooth decay. So, the fact that xylitol helps make plaque less adhesive is a real benefit in itself.
For a deeper dive into the benefits and strategies to keep plaque thin, check out our articles How to Balance Your Oral Flora and Can Some Plaques Actually Help Our Teeth Stay Healthy?
Benefit #3: Supports remineralization of tooth tissue
This is big. As we have discussed here for years, it’s best to use both ‘in the mouth’ and ‘system-wide’ strategies to travel this path to optimal oral health.
To help support greater remineralization system-wide, we can learn what causes decay, which foods undermine our oral health, and which foods support greater oral health. However, to really optimize our oral health, it’s also important to have ‘in the mouth’ tools to help with remineralization.
In the mouth, remineralization occurs because calcium and phosphorus are held in an available state to chemically remineralize tooth tissue.
An article in the International Journal of Dentistry titled, Sugar Alcohols, Caries Incidence, and Remineralization of Caries Lesions: A Literature Review states that xylitol helps maintain calcium and phosphorus in a stable state that’s available to be used to remineralize our teeth.
“It is important to observe, however, that the stabilizing effect of polyols (xylitol) on the Ca phosphate systems of the oral cavity is predominantly directed to the solubility of salivary Ca and phosphate, rendering their prolonged, dissolved, supersaturated state possible, compared with the presence of, say, sucrose, which tends to initiate instantaneous precipitation of Ca and phosphate in saliva (thus eliminating a part of those substances from remineralization). The polyols’ role in saliva and plaque fluid is one of stabilization; Ca and phosphate salts are stabilized in the presence of polyols…” (3)
Another study suggests that in addition to supporting surface remineralization, xylitol can also support remineralization of deeper dentinal layers of the tooth structure. (4)
Indirect Bonus Benefit: Supports a healthier pH in the mouth
We’ll mention that xylitol also supports a healthier pH balance in the mouth.
However, the literature suggests that the support isn’t directly from the use of xylitol, but rather from the fact that the presence of xylitol in the mouth causes increased salivation. It’s the saliva that balances the pH in our mouths.
If you’d like to read more about the role of pH in the creation or destruction of oral health, here’s an article on tracking your saliva pH. Also, feel free to check out our article and video that explain how to do Mouth Probiotics, a simple (free) technique to increase your saliva.
Putting together the pros and cons…
After this extensive review of the literature, we changed our stance on using xylitol in our mouths.
To us, the benefits of xylitol (remineralization support, reduced tooth decay, and reduced plaque adhesion) clearly support the use of xylitol in our oral hygiene routines.
Just make sure that the xylitol you choose isn’t coming from China or from the GMO agri-biz industry.
That’s precisely why we chose to include birch-based xylitol in the formulation of OraWellness Shine, our remineralizing tooth whitening powder. You can learn more about how Shine works here. You can also read the reviews for Shine here.
Looking for additional support? If you’d like to learn some simple strategies you can apply at home to help you stop and even reverse tooth decay, be sure to check out our FREE eBook, “How to stop tooth decay and remineralize your teeth” here.
Wrapping up…
Woof! Woof!
Please remember this! We love our family pets! Of course, we want to help them keep their teeth clean and healthy. Xylitol can be fatally dangerous to dogs. Please never use a xylitol-containing human toothpaste or tooth powder on your dog’s teeth.
How about you? Do you use xylitol? Do you consider xylitol safe? Please share your stance in the comments below so we can all continue to learn from one another.
Helpful, Related Resources:
How to Stop Tooth Decay and Remineralize Your Teeth [free eBook]
Is Baking Soda Safe to Brush with? [article]
How Teeth Decay (the interplay between sugar, pH and microbes) [article]
Why eating healthy fats is our #1 diet hack to heal cavities [article]
What’s the Real Cause of Tooth Decay? (and how to stop it) [article]
What Foods Undermine Our Oral Health and Why? [article]
What TO Eat to Support Optimal Oral Health [article]
Tracking Your Saliva pH: How to Know You Are Heading in the Right Direction [article]
Is the key to greater oral health already in your mouth? [article and free video tutorial]
OraWellness Shine Remineralizing Tooth Whitening Powder [product solution]
How Shine Works [informational video]
Sources:
What do you think of PUR xylitol gum or dr johns candies?
Aloha Ashley,
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
We haven’t researched or tried PUR xylitol gum or Dr. Johns Candies, so we don’t have any feedback to share on them at this time.
However, we will say that we are very particular about anything we put into or onto our bodies. So, if we were in your shoes, we would probably research their ingredients as well as any impact they may have on the rest of the body.
In particular, when we’re talking about xylitol, we only use birch-based xylitol (as opposed to corn-based). And, for chewing gum products, it can be helpful to read the company’s FAQ’s or reach out to them to ask what their gum base is made of. Finally, for both gums and candies, we would also dig deeper into what any ‘natural flavors’ might be derived from, and we’d be on the lookout to try to avoid things like artificial colorings, preservatives, inflammatory oils, etc.
We hope that helps!
I use Xylitol from the Birch tree daily. I put it on my Bass brush together with 5 drops of the Healthy Mouth Blend and Shine . Suggestions: Put the “Leave A Reply” section at the TOP of the “Comment ” section. Who wants to read something from July 26, 2015? Eliminate anything prior to 2018 and you will get more current comments…………
Aloha Greg,
Thank you for sharing how you incorporate Xylitol into your oral care routine. 🙂
Thank you as well for your suggestion. We took your suggestion to heart and made it so the most recent comments appear at the top of the comments section.
I always learn so much. Thank you for this! I liked the idea of xylitol floss…do you?
Aloha!
Thanks for stopping by!
We haven’t tried any xylitol floss yet, but we agree that it sounds like a promising idea. 🙂
In case you might find it helpful, here’s a link to our article that shares the floss brands that we’ve evaluated so far: What is the Best Floss on the Market and Why?
We hope that helps!
I hope you’ll soon share the story that changed your mind.
Thanks for all your good work.
Thank you so much for this clear, concise, and precise information!
It is an excellent comparison of the pros and cons, and done with a very neutral standpoint that is often lacking in the medical world.
Well done! This is a great article.
I have used xylitol floss for the last 5+ years and so far so good.
Would it benefit me even more to also put a drop of HealThy Mouth on the xylitol floss?
Ive been swishing with Xylitol more than 6 months and my hygienist is seeing great results in the reduction of plaque on my teeth. I had a tooth ache and used a Xylitol swish 3 times that day for 20 minutes each time. The tooth ache went away. I always spit out the Xylitol. In the evening i swish with a combo of coconut oil, essential oils like peppermint and clove along with Xylitol.
On the subject of dry mouth … I find if i do not drink enough water during the day i have a dry mouth at night. I would think dry mouth could also come from mouth breathing???
Aloha Jia,
Agreed on all points here. Dry mouth directly undermines our ability to create optimal oral health.
Thanks for stopping by to share your experiences.
I am not quite clear–do you feel xylitol is acceptable in toothpaste only for someone struggling with candida and sibo?
Thanks!
Aloha Michelle,
Thanks for stopping by to ask! I’m sorry how I wrote this article caused some confusion. What I believe I was making a reference to was that if a person has SIBO or a candida overgrowth, xylitol is not recommended. As a wood alcohol, xylitol can aggravate SIBO if ingested. That said, I have found that I can use xylitol in a tooth powder fine and still be on the mend regarding SIBO.
I hope this helps clear up any miscommunication on our part.
Thanks again for asking!
What brand of Xylitol toothpaste is recommended? Spry?
Aloha Lynda,
We don’t have a brand of xylitol toothpaste we can currently recommend due to other ingredients in the products. Stay tuned however as we are always reporting on this subject.
Thank you for stopping by to ask us!
What brand of xylitol do you recommend to make a toothpaste?
Aloha Lynda,
Thanks for stopping by to ask our take on this. We have mixed feelings. It depends on if you want to go corn based xylitol or birch based. Almost all corn based xylitol is produced in China. So that’s your judgment call whether you trust those products or not.
There are powdered xylitol products on the market which make a very fine addition to a DIY tooth powder/paste.
We hope that helps!
Thanks for the great information, Will! I love how your blog covers such a broad range of topics. Really helps reinforce the things I’m trying to heal some health issues. I’m currently avoiding sugar alcohols as I’m on the autoimmune protocol to heal gut issues.
I’ve been considering an oral probiotic, but they all seem to contain stevia, guar gum, or sugar alcohols. Do you have any recommendations? It would be awesome if you and Susan made one in the future! My husband and I love your products!
Aloha Isabelle,
Thank you for your kind words of support! I hear you on the sugar alcohol issue. I’m also currently on an autoimmune protocol actively (and successfully) addressing gut issues. 🙂
Stay tuned on the probiotic idea. It’s an excellent one!
Thank you and Aloha!
Hi Will and Susan!
What are your thoughts on chewing Xylitol gum? I started chewing the Spry brand after years and years of not chewing any gum at all. I have advanced cavities along my gum-line and gum recession due to a terrible bite that my biological dentist and I have been trying to rectify the best we can all while saving my teeth without root canals or removal! I thought chewing it after meals would help with plaque removal. Now, I am thinking I should stop the gum and try the rinse instead so I can spit it out! I would LOVE your input.
Also, our family of 6 is still using your HealThy Mouth blend and absolutely LOVING it!!!! Our youngest is turning 3 tomorrow and just a few weeks ago she even started wanting to use it! I couldn’t believe it! Our older children use one drop of your blend mixed in with Wellness Mama’s tooth powder. What a difference. Their dentist is always so pleased with their healthy little mouths. 🙂
Aloha Christianna,
Thank you for reaching out to us. We are so honored to be a part of your family navigating to greater oral health! Isn’t it wonderful when you get the ‘green light’ from the dentist too! 🙂
Yeah, we are mixed on xylitol gum. I think Susan has the best idea so far. She will chew some xylitol gum and wait for the xylitol and chewing to activate a mouth full of saliva. Then she swishes this around for several minutes to benefit from the combination of xylitol and saliva on remineralization. Then she spits it out and enjoys chewing her gum. 🙂
Give it a try and see if it works for you.
Thank you again for stopping by to share your good news!
i brush with healThy mouth and a xylitol tooth powder. My teeth feel so clean. Along with that and pretty clean diet I’m hoping to heal up a small cavity.
Aloha Marcia,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. It definitely sounds like you are heading in the right direction! Let us know how it goes with healing the cavity!
Very interesting about effects of xylitol on gut health! This explains why my candida worsened when I consumed xylitol. I could not believe it at first, but after three trials I producing/eliminating it, for me and my intestinal flora at least, xylitol exacerbated candida symptoms. Thanks for the article.
Aloha Lisa,
Thanks for stopping by to share with us. We’re glad that this article helped you put yet another piece of the puzzle in place along your path to optimal oral (and whole being) health and wellness!
Thank you Will and Susan for the great articles and videos so far! Having had gum disease for a long time I had begun to despair that I could ever change things. Having your knowledge, support and the tools really gives me hope that I could turn things around. I have just begun using the oralwellness formula and oregano oil and I have also started a no sugar/ grains diet and included a fermented fish/butter blend. Early days and it takes time but at least, a renewed sense of hope..Thank you again..Looking forward to the next videos and articles
Aloha Tania,
Thank you for your kind words of support. We are honored to be part of your team to help you navigate to optimal oral health! Given what you explain here, it definitely sounds like you are heading in the right direction!
Dear Sue and Will, thans for the article! I had just started using xilitol in out homemade toothpaste. I use it ocassionally for baking, but I do try to limit it. I am more comfortable with Stevia. Someone here mentioned using hydrogen peroxide. I’ve heard controversy also. Will you do an article on it too?
Aloha Francesca!
Thank you for the idea on doing an article on peroxide! We will put it on our ‘to write on’ list for sure! There are mixed opinions on this and we have some solid research to share, so perhaps we’ll get to it sooner.
Aloha Will,
Wondering if you missed my question under your reply last week to Dr. Dan Strader, it still shows waiting for moderation. Here it is again.
Why would you be concerned with oxidation from peroxide when ozone is a much more powerful oxidant? As I understand it, these should only kill bacteria and not harm the calcium phosphate material of enamel.
On another subject. Have you ever written a blog on biomimetic dentistry that you can share with a link? I would love to hear your thoughts on that subject.
On the subject of sweetners, I generally use honey, but recently tried lakanto, which comes from monk fruit. So far I like it, have you tried it and have any thoughts? Bought mine at amazon.
Aloha Jesse,
Thank you for reaching out to us and for the idea to write on biomimetic dentistry. I’ve put this idea on our ‘to write on’ list. 🙂
The issue with peroxide is using it in too strong of a concentration too regularly. Peroxide can cause stress on gum and tooth tissue as well. You are right that ozone is a much stronger oxidizer. However most of us don’t have an ozone generator at home to be able to use it regularly.
The issue with using any strong oxidizer in the mouth is it can increase sensitivity by increasing the size of the dentin tubules. So, I’m not sure if it doesn’t impact the actual tooth structure itself. Like many situations, whether something is health giving or negative to our health often depends on dosage.
Thanks again for stopping by to ask such a great question. I hope this helps.
I use xylitol as a swish in my mouth only and then spit it out rather than swallowing it. I feel that gives me the good benefits in my mouth without the negatives of sugar in my system and the other things mentioned in your article. Another insightful article. Thanks.
Aloha MP,
Thank you for the kind words of support. I think this is an excellent strategy!
I have to admit I am not a fan of xylitol. I make my own tooth powder and for years I did add xylitol (from birch) to it. I also used to chew xylitol gum regularly because of the suppossed benefits. After several years, my plaque just really started getting very bad, my tongue also had a coating on it.I realize that diet and health play a role in this– but I just could not get it to go away. I was doing some research when I came across a blurb that said xylitol can actually contribute to an overgrowth of yeast. Now granted I am no scientist, and this was over a year and a half ago, so I don’t even know where I saw that blurb anymore, but everything I read about xylitol at that time indicated that most of the claims were unproven and were just theories. I had also read that xylitol had not at that time been approved as safe for consumption, that it was allowed in gums and toothpastes because they are not considered foods. I really don’t know if that’s actually the case, and I don’t want to spread bad information, it’s just what I came across at the time. However, I did remove the xylitol from my toothpowder and I stopped chewing the gum, and my problem went away quite quickly after that. Was it coincidence? Perhaps… Not too long after this, I also increased the baking soda in my mix and added a hydrogen peroxide rinse which increases the oxygen when I brush and that definitely took care of any remaining problem. But as for myself, I still prefer to stay away from it. The fact that it can kill a dog quite quickly also makes me nervous of it, so I feel better not having it in my house anymore. Maybe after time and more definite studies I’ll try it again.
Thank you for sharing your story with us Valerie!
Incidentally, I just edited the article and added a blurb about toxicity and dogs with a link to a really solid peer reviewed article that explains the physiology of why xylitol is toxic to dogs but not to humans or other mammals.
Thanks for stopping by to add to the discussion!
Will you share about the experiment you did with xylitol? Curious minds want to know! The toothpaste I use – EarthPaste – has xylitol in it. Yes it can get absorbed into my body but I figure the amount that does is likely quite small. I had read about the dental health enhancing pluses you mentioned above, which is why I opted for this toothpaste.
Aloha Sue,
Thanks for asking! 🙂 Yes, we will definitely share our experiment with you all in an upcoming blog post.
i hear that xylitol killed lab rats. ??? Do u know anything about that?
Aloha Nicole,
Thank you for asking! I didn’t find any info about xylitol being problematic for rats. However, xylitol is toxic for dogs. Here’s a link to a peer reviewed article that explains this connection: https://www.dvm360.com/view/new-findings-effects-xylitol-ingestion-dogs
I have a dry mouth at night and have been using a product called Xylimelt recommended by my dentist. Your artical on xylitol was really encouraging. I’m in my early 70’s and started using a product called Xylimelt for dry mouth at night. I’m also using a toothpaste called Livionex in the evening to keep plaque from forming. I’ve also been using the Orawellness brushes which I really like.
Thanks for your articles.
Diana Ehorn
Aloha Diana,
Thank you for stopping by to share your story with us. We are honored that you find benefit from our articles and research. We are so glad you appreciate our products!
Livionex is great! All the ingredients are food grade.
Inquiring minds want to read about your xylitol experiment. Thanks!
Aloha Chi,
Hehe, we will write about it soon! Thanks for reminding us!
Yes, I felt sort of “cheated” that the experiment was mentioned, but no details given.
Good article. I avoid GMO’s but never thought about xylitol being GMO. I wake up with a very dry mouth (this came on this last year from aging I believe). I believe it caused 5 dental caries at the gum line after having a carie-free mouth for years. So I have been using these xylitol “adhesive” tablets in my mouth overnight and they do seem to work keeping my mouth less dry. Dislike the idea, but what is the alternative?? Sipping water throughout the night is not acceptable and only works for a very short time. I am guessing the source of the xylitol is not optimum.
Aloha Suzanne,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. What about calling the company who makes this product and asking them where they source their xylitol? As a small business, we always appreciate hearing from customers so we can better serve them (you). Perhaps this other company would also appreciate hearing that you want their product to be made from xylitol from birch rather than corn.
My husband has been swishing his mouth with dissolved Xylitol 3 times daily all this year with very positive results. His tongue is no longer coated like it used to be. His teeth never feel ‘furry’ now – even when he skips cleaning them regularly. His gums have stopped bleeding and he no longer has bad breath, which used to be a problem.
Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thanks for sharing about that, Elliot. I may have to give it a try.
I’m glad that the benefits are outweighing the risks in your research. As a hygienist, it is challenging to come up with products that will help stem the flow of caries in some people. While I encourage a diet without flour and sugar, the reality is that many of the kids in our practice still think that pop tarts are breakfast and nutella and peanut butter is lunch……and I work in an affluent and educated part of the country!
Aloha Lori!
Thank you for stopping by to share your experience with us. As a person who works ‘in the trenches’, I’m sure you come across so many crazy stories! (I recall being guilty of thinking that pop tarts were an appropriate breakfast way back when!) Keep on doing your good work. Step by step, you help so many people!
Thanks for your thoughtful article on xylitol. I’ve been using a tooth powder I make at home with activated charcoal, Redmond clay, cinnamon, xylitol and horsetail, and I forget now if there was anything else in there! My dentist and hygienist are so happy with the results that they’ve cut back my cleanings from every six months to once a year. I don’t use sugar or other sweeteners (other than a very occasional fruit), so I don’t worry about too much xylitol upsetting my gut. i don’t swallow the tooth powder anyway . . .
Aloha Nancy,
Thank you for stopping by to share your story with us. It’s amazing how little support the body needs once we get a diet that adequately supports us, isn’t it? My guess is having a health giving diet in place provides us probably 80% of the ‘work’ necessary to live a life free from dental challenges.