Xylitol Information Center participates in American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting

During October, Boston hosted the 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics meeting (AAP) and the Xylitol Information Center was there to position the benefits of Xylitol in reducing the risk of childhood tooth decay and the significance of Xylitol as an ingredient in confectionery and oral care products.

Promoting Oral Health

Xylitol has long been known amongst the dental professionals with dentists and hygienists increasingly recommending chewing gum and confectionery products containing appropriate levels of xylitol.  However, the Surgeon General as far back as 2000 initiated a “National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health”, due to concerns that tooth decay is the most prevalent infectious disease amongst American Children, causing much suffering and the need for invasive repairs at a very early age.  Since pediatricians are more likely to see young children frequently in their first years, the AAP is pushing hard to promote the Surgeon Generals initiative.

A record number of people, in excess of 10,000 attended the sessions and the focus for the meeting was “Oral Health in the 21st Century: Something to Smile About”. The Key Note speaker was Dr David Satcher – the Surgeon General responsible for stressing this Oral Health deficiency.  Other talks focused on pediatricians’ primary oral health activity being the prevention of oral disease, during which xylitol gum was identified as a tooth decay prevention strategy.

The Importance of Xylitol

Specific mention was made for recommending xylitol products to expectant and young mothers/parents to reduce transfer of the caries-causing bacteria to their young children, as well as introducing xylitol gum to children of suitable age, over 5 years old.  Advice was given on how to identify products containing suitable levels of xylitol, in particular to make sure it at least appears among the first three ingredients in chewing gum ingredient panel.

Needless to say, the Xylitol Information Center was kept busy with enquiries for product recommendations, research data, dose and frequency of use, and explaining how xylitol is a unique sweetener in modulating oral bacteria.