Dental Health Xylitol Toothpaste Benefits and Side Effects By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS on January 07, 2020 linkedin Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS, is a general dentist practicing in New York. She works in numerous private practices, comprehensively caring for a diverse patient population in all areas of general dentistry. Learn about our Medical Review Board Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS on January 07, 2020 Print Xylitol toothpaste is a type of toothpaste that contains xylitol, a sugar alcohol sourced from birch trees and other types of hardwood trees and plants. Said to improve dental health, xylitol tastes sweet but unlike sugar, isn't converted in the mouth to acids that can promote tooth decay. Said to slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans (the bacteria most closely associated with tooth decay), xylitol toothpaste is often touted as a natural approach to cavity prevention. Xylitol is also used as an ingredient in dental care products like chewing gum, lozenges, tablets, and breath mints. domin_domin / Getty Images The Research on Xylitol Toothpaste: Does It Work? Although research on xylitol toothpaste has yielded mixed results, there's some evidence that brushing with xylitol toothpaste may provide certain dental health benefits: In a 2015 report from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, for instance, scientists sized up 10 previously published studies (with a total of 5,903 participants) on the use of xylitol to prevent cavities. In their review, the report's authors found that over 2.5 to 3 years of use, a fluoride toothpaste containing 10% xylitol reduced cavities by 13% when compared to a fluoride-only toothpaste. The study authors noted, however, that the evidence was considered low quality and recommended large, well-designed clinical trials. A 2014 study from the Journal of Dentistry for Children assessed the effectiveness of xylitol toothpaste in preventing early childhood cavities and reducing streptococci mutans. For the study, 196 four to five-year-old children brushed their teeth with either a fluoride toothpaste with 31% xylitol or standard fluoride toothpaste. After six months, the toothpaste with added xylitol wasn't found to be more effective than the standard fluoride toothpaste. Other research hasn't found xylitol toothpaste to be effective at reducing the growth of oral bacteria. For instance, a laboratory study published in the European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry in 2015 compared the effects of different types of toothpaste on the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The researchers found that xylitol toothpaste did not significantly inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans or Lactobacillus acidophilus. Possible Side Effects Xylitol has been approved for safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a non-nutritive sweetener. Adverse effects that have been reported in studies include mouth sores, bloating, cramps, constipation, gas, loose stools, and diarrhea. The toothpaste shouldn't be ingested or left in the mouth without rinsing. It's important to note that xylitol toothpaste shouldn't be used as a substitute for standard care in the treatment of a dental condition (such as periodontitis). If you are considering trying a xylitol toothpaste, it's a good idea to consult your dentist first. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. If your dog eats xylitol toothpaste, it is important to take the dog to a veterinarian immediately. A Word From Verywell Although it's too soon to tell whether xylitol toothpaste can significantly cut your risk of cavities, it's possible that xylitol products may be of some benefit when used in conjunction with standard measures to prevent cavities. For optimal dental health, the National Institutes of Health suggest brushing your teeth every day with a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth every day with dental floss or another type of between-the-teeth cleaner, limiting your consumption of sugary foods, avoiding tobacco use and smoking, and seeing your dentist or oral health professional on a regular basis. There's also preliminary evidence that several foods may help protect against cavities. For instance, some research indicates that black tea and oolong tea can each help prevent tooth decay. And in a research review, scientists note that cranberry may help fight tooth decay by preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Riley P, Moore D, Ahmed F, Sharif MO, Worthington HV. Xylitol-containing products for preventing dental caries in children and adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(3):CD010743. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010743.pub2 Chi DL, Tut O, Milgrom P. Cluster-randomized xylitol toothpaste trial for early childhood caries prevention. J Dent Child (Chic). 2014;Jan-Apr;81(1):27-32. Evans A, Leishman SJ, Walsh LJ, Seow WK. Inhibitory effects of children's toothpastes on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2015;16(2):219-26. FDA. CFR- Code of federal regulations Title 21. Updated April 2019. FDA. Xylitol and dogs, a deadly combination. Updated July 2019 NIH. Fluoride and dental health. Updated April 2019. Goenka P, Sarawgi A, Karun V, Nigam AG, Dutta S, Marwah N. Camellia sinensis (Tea): Implications and role in preventing dental decay. Pharmacogn Rev. 2013;7(14):152–156. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.120515 Philip N, Walsh LJ. Cranberry Polyphenols: Natural weapons against dental caries. Dent J (Basel). 2019;7(1):20. doi:10.3390/dj7010020