A couple of Xylitol questions

[ohiomom1121]

DS really likes the Carifree Xyli-tots gel but the only place I can find it at is their old dentist's office and it's $15/tube. (Plus DD doesn't like the flavor) I want to try some other brands that are easier to find and maybe a little cheaper but I have no idea where to look! So where do you buy yours and what kinds do you (and your kids) like? TIA!!

Also, do you use any of the Xylitol mouthwashes? The kids always use act or Listerine Smart Rinse after brushing but maybe I should find a Xylitol option as well. DD and DH both have pretty weak teeth and I want to find some better options for them.

[buddyleebaby]

We use Burt Bee's orange flavor. It has xylitol and flouride. The only other toothpaste with xylitol that I have found locally is Biotene.
We get the Burt Bee's at Wal-mart.

[boilermakermom]

What is Xylitol? How is it different from Flouride? I have used Crest my entire life, and haven't had any problems. Should I be using something different? Should DD?

[mommylamb]

Buy Buy Baby has a number of toothpaste brands with Xylitol. We use one called NatureDent for DS (I think that's what it's called anyway). It has flouride in it too.

[RunnerDuck]

What is Xylitol? How is it different from Flouride? I have used Crest my entire life, and haven't had any problems. Should I be using something different? Should DD?

My dentist gave me samples of the carifree stuff.

I don't think it's xylitol INSTEAD of flouride, it's in addition to.

http://www.carifree.com/patients/solutions/xylitol_cavities.html

My problem is I drink too much pop, and the carifree stuff is supposed to make your mouth less acidic and help with enamel erosion from that. For normal people, flouride alone is probably sufficient. (Disclaimer - not a dentist!)

[daisymommy]

Actually, for those of us who are apposed to flouride and feel it is unsafe for human consumption, some of us use toothpaste that only has Xylitol in it. It eats away at the bad bacteria that cause caveties, so that you don't need flouride.

Beth (Brittone) has posted several helpful scientific studies on the subject in the past.

[pomegranate]

We use Jason Kids toothpaste, which I think has xylitol instead of fluoride. Got it at Whole Foods. Maybe $6 a tube? I forget, we've had ours for a long time now.

[ohiomom1121]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I wish we had a Buy Buy Baby!!!

Actually, for those of us who are apposed to flouride and feel it is unsafe for human consumption, we use toothpaste that only has Xylitol in it. It eats away at the bad bacteria that cause caveties, so that you don't need flouride.

Beth (Brittone) has posted several helpful scientific studies on the subject in the past.
I know Beth has said her water doesn't have flouride, but how do others avoid it if theirs does?

[daisymommy]

Buy a water filter that removes it.
We had one that just konked out, and we need to replace it.

My kids have no cavities, DH hasn't had any for the past 10 years, and I am the only one with a few small ones recently, after neglecting my teeth through the past two pregnancies and nursing times (no going for cleanings or flossing...oops). But healthy teeth without flouride can be done!

[essnce629]

We use the Spry flouride-free Xylitol toothpaste. Whole Foods sells it but it's cheaper on Vitacost. I'm pretty sure it has the highest concentration of Xylitol compared to all the other toothpastes (10%). Xylitol should by the main ingredient after water. The Spry toothpaste gets excellent reviews on both Vitacost and Amazon. It tastes just like regular toothpaste, which a lot of the natural ones don't. Spry also makes Xylitol containing mints (which we have), gum, mouth rinses, and they just came out with a children's/toddler toothpaste as well.

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?ss=1&Ns=P_ProductRating%7c1%7c%7cP_SoldQuantity%7c1&Ntk=products&Ntt=spry

I just sent a ton of info about Xylitol to my friend who just found out her 4 year old DD had 4 cavities (after being cavity-free 6 months ago). Here's the links I sent her:

Xylitol Powder (use anywhere you would normally use regular sugar)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013P3KC6

Book: Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition (excellent reviews)
http://www.amazon.com/Cure-Tooth-Decay-Cavities-Nutrition/dp/0982021305/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Xylitol The Decay-Preventive Sweetener
http://www.cda.org/popup/xylitol

Sweetener May Prevent Cavities in Toddlers: Sugar Substitute Xylitol Prevents Tooth Decay by Acting
http://children.webmd.com/news/20090706/sweetener_may_prevent_cavities_in_toddlers

How to Prevent Cavities Using Xylitol, a natural sweetener
http://www.ehow.com/how_2075433_cavities-using-xylitol-natural-sweetener.html

Information for Dental Professionals
http://www.xylitol.org/dental-info-about-xylitol

[ohiomom1121]

Thanks for all the info Latia!!! I think I'm going to order from Vitacost-the prices seem great and I'm just going to try a bunch of items. :)

[kevinsmama]

We've been using xylitol mouthwash and toothpaste for about 2 years now and ever since making the switch, I've developed no cavities at all and I used to be a total cavity machine!! We buy our xylitol products from epicdental.com . Their xylitol products use very high percentage of xylitol (at least 25%, which is super high compared to other brands we've bought at Whole Foods--other brands use very low percentage of xylitol even if they say "contains xylitol") and I like that they don't use harsh chemicals like other major brands (like Crest).

[brittone2]

We're big xylitol fans. This has been discussed before but xylitol is toxic to dogs (drops their blood sugar too low because of how it is metabolized in them) so keep out of reach of any curious doggies.

DS1 had an early cavity (and we did have fluoridated water back then) and we switched to xylitol products at that time (about 6 years ago). They've worked well for us and our dentists have been supportive (and know we don't use fluoride).

We use Spry or TJs Fennel toothpaste (dd likes the fennel because she doesn't like the strong mint flavor of Spry, which is more like a "regular" toothpaste) with xylitol. Baby is using earth's best. Spry makes a cherry flavored infant tooth gel as well. Kids chew the spry gum (they like the fruit flavor best, which is tougher to find at brick and mortar stores. It tastes like juicy fruit).

[mimosa]

We all use Spry (except DS2), both toothpaste and mouthwash. We like it a lot.

[ohiomom1121]

I picked up some Spry toothpaste and it's ok. I wish it had more mint or something though. Are the products from epic dental stronger tasting? (of course my kids both said it was too "spicy"). They didn't have the kids version or the mouthwash so I'm going to order both of those. The gum is a huge hit with DD. I bought 4 flavors for her to try and she liked them all, but especially the fruit one. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

We love Branam for DD!

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/m-1651-branam-oral-health

[ohiomom1121]

We love Branam for DD!

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/m-1651-branam-oral-health

Bubblegum flavor could be a hit, thanks!

[m448]

we also use spry from vitacost for our toothpaste (entire family) and the baby uses the gel. I use the Xlear mouth rinse and we all use the mints and gum.