Xylitol and its effects on teeth, digestion and body health
What it found
Xylitol reduced plaque and gum inflammation on teeth, helped control blood sugar and weight, and eased ear and breathing infections.
It also caused stomach upset when taken in large amounts.
What they found
Studies in people
Teeth and gums
Xylitol reduces plaque buildup and lowers gum inflammation. It slows the growth of cavity-causing bacteria early on and binds with calcium to help rebuild tooth enamel.
Ears and breathing
Because of its ability to fight bacteria and lower inflammation, xylitol can treat middle ear and airway infections. The authors note it helps with some illnesses that antibiotics or surgery cannot fix.
Digestion and immunity
Xylitol eases constipation and stimulates digestion. The authors report it also boosts the immune system and helps manage blood sugar, weight and fat processing.
Side effects at high doses
Taking too much xylitol can lead to diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and kidney stones.
Other findings
Bones
The authors say xylitol can help prevent bone thinning by supporting bone metabolism.
How it is made and used
Xylitol occurs naturally but is mostly made from plant materials using chemicals or by fermenting plant fibres with yeast or bacteria. Chewing gum is the most common way people take it in.
What the authors conclude
- They state that the benefits of xylitol go well beyond keeping teeth clean.
- They conclude that it supports the immune system, digestion, fat processing and bone health while helping control blood sugar and weight.
- They note it can reduce ear and breathing infections and treat certain illnesses that do not respond to antibiotics or surgery.
How it was done
Too much sugar is linked to tooth decay, diabetes, obesity and long-term inflammation. Sugar substitutes like xylitol are used in foods and medicines to help prevent these problems.
The authors gathered and analysed existing research on the positive and negative effects of xylitol on human health. They looked at how it is made, how it works in the body and how it is delivered, such as in chewing gum.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work gathers past research rather than running a new trial, so it cannot prove xylitol directly causes these changes on its own.
- Some findings may come from lab tests or animals, which do not always match what happens in people taking xylitol daily.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ukraine; Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine; University of Sassari, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Health benefits of xylitol
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Gasmi Benahmed A, Gasmi A, Arshad M, et al (2020). Health benefits of xylitol. Applied microbiology and biotechnology. doi:10.1007/s00253-020-10708-7PubMed 32638045DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error