Xylitol May Be Effective Natural Solution for Oral Care in Nursing Homes

"Healthy Living" magazine features article by dental hygienist highlighting potentially lifesaving benefits of xylitol for dependent adults. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) June 10, 2011 - LOS ANGELES - "The Doctors' Prescription for Healthy Living" magazine (sometimes referred to as "Healthy Living") announced today they will publish an article on how xylitol-a natural sugar-may help prevent tooth decay and its advantages for the oral health of dependent adults. The article, entitled "Oral Care for Dependent Adults Can Mean Life or Death: How Xylitol Provides a Solution", was written by Shirley Gutkowski, RDH, BSDH, FACE, a dental hygienist, oral care expert, and advocate for dependent people of all ages. "Healthy Living" is featuring the article in its June issue available from health food retailers nationwide.

"We're very proud to publish an article about the rarely covered yet critical issue of oral care for dependent adults", says Sheila Huettl, director of marketing for Freedom Press, the publisher of "Healthy Living". "The care of dependent adults can have many challenges, and we believe many family members and professionals will be relieved to learn about the easy, delicious and natural potential solution of giving patients xylitol."

The "Healthy Living" article begins by telling the story of a spirited elderly woman in a nursing home who dies of starvation due to oral thrush (a painful yeast infection in the mouth) as a result of inadequate oral care. Gutkowski discusses the reasons caregivers may not brush and floss the teeth of dependent patients sufficiently, including focus on other critical care responsibilities or fear of being bitten or spat on. She suggests shifting the focus from caregiver compliance to finding new ways to decrease the amount of plaque growing on teeth. According to Gutkowski, when brushing and flossing are inadequate, "simple measures that don't require brushing can help achieve that [same] end" and may help dependent adults experience a better quality of life.

Gutkowski explains how the natural plant sugar xylitol inhibits plaque build-up on teeth. Whereas most sugars assist bacteria in forming a sticky plaque-consisting of hundreds of species of germs, viruses and yeasts-when xylitol is present, the sugar metabolism mechanism in bacteria is blocked and inhibited. This reduces plaque's protective biofilm coating, exposing it to dangers from the environment, including antibiotics. Further, xylitol prevents germs from creating acid, establishing a hostile ecological environment for toxic bacteria. In a nutshell, xylitol hinders oral pathogens so healthful bacteria can take over.

Dental plaque is also a frequent cause for pneumonia among dependent adults. Dependent people may catch pneumonia when pneumonia germs live in dental plaque and are inhaled with each breath. Gutkowski cites estimates that 114 people require hospitalization for pneumonia each year per every 1,000 nursing home residents. She also cites pneumonia as the fifth leading cause of death in the elderly and the most common cause of death in persons with severe dementia. Pneumonia aspiration (when plaque flies down the trachea into the lungs, causing infection) can also be a problem. As a result, Gutkowski highly recommends xylitol use as it may reduce the incidence of pneumonia.

In addition to clinical studies showing dental health benefits as a result of using xylitol, Gutkowski says she has seen the benefits of xylitol firsthand by working as a dental hygienist. She gives an example of a resident with such bad breath from plaque he lived in isolation and even caregivers hesitated approaching him. After using xylitol chewing gum in the morning and evening for several weeks, his breath was so much better, other residents were able to befriend him and he no longer ate alone.

Gutkowski assesses the many options for xylitol use, including chewing gum, mints, candies, sweeteners, toothpaste, tooth gel, and mouthwash. Gutkowski warns against products that use very small amounts of xylitol, mixed with intense sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose. The problem with alternative natural sugars like sorbitol is that bacteria metabolizes sorbitol. Gutkowski also recommends adding xylitol to water or eating foods sweetened with xylitol, such as pudding or ice cream. She specifically recommends the Spry Dental Products line from Xlear, Inc. (available at health food retailers and from www.xlear.com) as a dynamic product line with xylitol products for every use.

Shirley Gutkowski is a dental hygienist living in Madison, Wisconsin. She is the co-creator of Adopt A Nursing Home. For more information, visit "Adopt A Nursing Home" on Facebook.

About "Healthy Living" Magazine
"The Doctors' Prescription for Healthy Living" is a monthly magazine containing scientifically focused articles about natural health products and solutions, available at health foods stores and newsstands nationwide. "Healthy Living" is published by Freedom Press Media, a cutting-edge publisher of natural health and environmental books located near Los Angeles, California. Look for" Healthy Living" articles online at www.healthylivingmag.com or by following "healthylivngmag" on Twitter.

Freedom Press also produces the weekly Internet radio show "Green Patriot Radio with David Steinman", in which "Healthy Living"'s editor (environmental health consumer advocate David Steinman) interviews experts on natural health and the environment. Learn more at www.greenpatriotradio.com.

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