Frequently asked questions
re the use of pure xylitol acc. to dentist Dr. Bruhn‘s recommendations
The dental health benefits of using xylitol sugar for mouth rinses and tooth brushing have first been discovered by German dentist Dr. Ulrich Bruhn who in years of testing on himself and on volunteer patients has found xylitol powder highly effective against both tooth decay and gum disease (detailed background information and usage instructions can be found here).
The following pages feature the answer to numerous additional questions Dr. Bruhn has been asked about using xyiltol for rinsing teeth, as a toothpaste replacement and effective alternative tooth cleaning agent, prepared in concise form by Healing Teeth Naturally.[1],[2]
- What's best to use - xylitol chewing gum, xylitol drops/candy, xylitol gel or simply xylitol sugar (powder)?
- How long should I expose my mouth and teeth to xylitol and how much should I use?
- Is it more effective to suck/rinse with xylitol or to brush one's teeth with it?
- What about products which contain both xylitol and various other types of sugar?
- What is the simplest way to treat my teeth with xylitol?
- Xylitol and/or fluoride?
- Can I use xylitol immediately after a meal or should I wait 30 minutes before brushing my teeth (like with eating something sour, so as to avoid damaging the enamel)?
- So far, I've had no success rinsing/brushing my teeth with xylitol.
- The xylitol I bought looks and tastes SO much like sugar, how can I be sure it is a pure form of xylitol?
- Do Streptococcus mutans (cavity-causing bacteria) get used to xylitol?
- Why do my teeth appear smoother after using xylitol?
- Even the plain xylitol sugar is too expensive for me.
- Are there any things to avoid because they can interfere with Xylitol's beneficial effects?
- Where xylitol didn't help
- Does xylitol help against a dry mouth feeling?
- Does xylitol help with canker sores (aphthous ulcers) etc.?
Does xylitol also kill other bacteria? - Does xylitol do damage in the long run since it not only kills noxious bacteria but also the normal (beneficial) oral bacteria?
- After half a teaspoon of xylitol, my mouth runs over with saliva so I can't brush my teeth properly.
- Do I brush my teeth only after 5 minutes of rinsing with xylitol or immediately?
- Does xylitol help remove stains from teeth (from tea, coffee, red wine, cigarette smoke etc.)?
- Does xylitol affect fructose metabolism?
- Can I take xylitol or xylitol products along when travelling by air?
- My teeth feel rougher after sucking a xylitol candy or rinsing with xylitol.
- If I don't brush my teeth after eating sweets but simply pop half a teaspoon of xylitol, why would that work?
- After using xylitol, should I additionally use toothpaste?
- Can I forget my toothpaste (or even toothbrush) and just use xylitol to prevent cavities and care for my mouth?
- Can I use xylitol exactly like a toothpaste (with the same feel and consistency)?
- Can xylitol be used even with active tooth decay (large open cavities)?
- Xylitol hurts my mouth.
- Could xylitol use lead to a change in color in porcelain crowns, veneers etc.?
- How well does the oral mucosa tolerate xylitol?
- Help, I find xylitol too sweet/disgustingly sweet.
- My tongue starts burning when I rinse with xylitol.
- My sensitive tooth necks hurt when rinsing with xylitol.
- Can I rinse my mouth with xylitol before/after a tooth extraction?
- Are all xylitols created equal or are there differences in quality?
- Is xylitol made from birchwood the same as the xylitol made from corn? Do both serve tooth and gum health the same way?
- Which xylitol grain size (large crystals or powdered sugar) is the best choice?
- Tip for those who doubt Xylitol's tooth cleansing effect
- Are there any safety issues with xylitol?
- If xylitol is frequently made from GMO corn, isn't that dangerous for my health?
- Where can I buy xylitol in all confidence on the internet?
- Can I use other sugar alcohols and reap the same benefits as with xylitol?
Footnotes
1 Please note that Healing Teeth Naturally is not associated with Dr. Bruhn in any way, shape or form. In all likelihood, Dr. Bruhn might not endorse some, much or most other material published on this site.
2 Dr. Ulrich Bruhn himself does not seem to have a website. He actively participates in various forums, however, and it is mostly based on one such German-language forum thread (www.ht-mb.de/forum/showthread.php?1070229-Mit-Xylit-gegen-Karies-und-Parodontose-Dreimal-t%E4glich-ein-halber-Teel%F6ffel) that Healing Teeth Naturally has compiled this extensive while concise xylitol FAQ and all the other information presented on this site summarizing the essentials of Dr Bruhn's approach to dental xylitol treatment.
As is typical for forum and social media discussions, most of the text appearing in the above thread is highly repetitive or irrelevant, and it took me several days to read the thread alone (which meanwhile spans over 500 pages) and many more days to distil, compile and translate what is essential so it could be presented on this HealingTeethNaturally site in a user-friendly and extremely time-saving manner for the reader.
If you value this content and wish to support my work (all donations are gratefully received), please donate:
For saving me the Paypal fees and/or for a way to donate in many different currencies, please click here.