Xylitol

Xylitol, also called wood sugar, is a polyol used as a natural alternative sweetener and toothcare product. First derived from birch, it is probably most popular in Finland, where many sweets and candies are available in both sucrose and xylitol-sweetened varieties. The latter's market consists mostly of parents concerned about their children's teeth.

Xylitol, gram for gram, is roughly as sweet as sucrose, but contains 40% fewer calories. Its formula is C₅H₁₂O₅, with relative mass 152.15 amu.

In addition to discouraging tooth decay by replacing dietary sugars, xylitol may actively aid in restoring small caries (dental cavities). Recent research confirms a plaque-reducing effect and suggests that the compound, having some chemical properties similar to table sugar, attracts and then "starves" harmful microorganisms, allowing the mouth to remineralize damaged teeth with less interruption.

Xylitol can be used as a sweetener. It is a low-calorie alternative to table sugar (sucrose) (approximately 40% fewer calories), and is absorbed more slowly than sugar; thus it doesn't contribute to a rapid rise in blood glucose and the resultant insulin response.

Xylitol, like most sugar alcohols, can have mild laxative effects at high doses. It has no known toxicity; people have consumed as much as 400 grams daily for long periods with no ill effects.