The Wall Street Journal, Health Journal by Tara Parker-Pope

A Sugarless Gum May Help to Prevent Ear Infections in Kids
     "When Finnish Pediatrician Matti Uhari sees a child with chronic ear infections, he offers a simple treatment: After every meal and snack, chew two sticks of gum made with the sweetener xylitol. Children too young to chew gum are given xylitol syrup...Xylitol is one of a handful of promising developments in the prevention and treatment of otitis media, one of the most common childhood illnesses."