For robinw .... please tell me more about xylitol!!!

[Ghosty]

A question for the xylitol queen robinw

I was talking to a friend (well, acquaintance really) today about her daughter's grommits and the fact that both her daughters have a history of recurring ear infections (they are 4 and 6 and both have had grommits since the age of 18 months).

I told her that I knew xylitol had some effect on nasty bacteria and have seen that since my DS has been taking children's multi vitamins containing xylitol his instances of any kind of ENT infections have reduced ... and told her that I know someone (!) who swears by xylitol toothpaste .... (don't like to tell all and sundry about Mumsnet you understand!!)

I told her that I would find out some more info and give it to her when I see her at swimming next week.

Would you mind telling me more about it ... eg. what xylitol is and what it does etc (all I was able to tell her is that it is a natural sweetener that just happens to fight bacteria ... is that right??) ... and maybe pointing me in the right direction for a website or something????

TIA ...

Love, Ghosty

[SueW]

Just wanted to put here - as good as anywhere really since last night I was considering starting a new thread about xylitol - that we have just switched to Tescos Mildmint children's toothpaste.

I had an irritable tooth - not really an ache but occasional discomfort which has stopped dead as soon as I started using Mildmint (I know it's kids' but....).

One side effect I've noticed though is that it makes me extremely thirsty, in the same way other sweeteners do which is why I prefer to have full sugar products normally, at least wrt food/drink. My mouth goes very, very dry after brushing and since I've been told you shouldn't rinse after brushing, I put up with it. My mouth then seems to produce saliva like mad.

[Ghosty]

Sue W ... Shouldn't rinse after brushing? Really? Why is that?
Also, do brands like Colgate and Macleans do xylitol toothpaste? I ask because we don't have Tesco's/Sainsbury's here ...

[Ghosty]

I am just bringing this up to the top before I go to bed in the hope that robinw will see it while I snore on the other side of the world

[M2T]

You're not supposed to rinse after brushing?! Why not?

[suedonim]

She said she was going away, on the MMR thread, Ghosty.

[SoupDragon]

You shouldn't rinse after brushing because part of the benefit of the flouride in the toothpaste comes from the contact with your teeth (apparently). By not rinsing, this contact is longer. I read it on Mumsnet somewhere so it must be true!

[M2T]

But there is Fluoride added to the water that you rinse with, Soupy.

[Demented]

I believe very few areas of Britain have Flouride added to their water although the government is talking about adding it to everyone's water ().

Aldi have Xylitol chewing gum if that helps anyone.

I also had a look at this and found it quite informative.

[SueW]

I see the rinsing thing has already been answered so I'll move onto water

Water supplied by Severn Trent is not fluorinated - I rang them last year ask. Recently there was a report in our local paper saying that Notts children have the/one of the highest number of extractions for bad teeth in the UK.

[Ghosty]

Thanks for all your answers ....
That is an informative link Demented ... thanks for that ... I will pass it on to my friend.
Batters ... could you tell me why xylitol is good for ear infections (or rather for keeping them at bay?) ... that was the bit I couldn't remember ....
Has robinw gone for good or has she just gone away on holiday? ... am not following MMR thread at the moment ....
Thanks again everyone ...

[Karen99]

Hi Ghosty, found this link off the link Demented posted, about use against ear infections. Also says could be used against sinus infections as it's the same bacteria. Hope it helps.

Xlear.inc

[Mo2]

Has anyone who is using the Boots 'Crocodile Smile' kids toothpaste with Xylitol noticed that they have recently added on the back "Suitable for children 6 -12 years (I think - don't have it in front if me..). I was horrified, as I've been using it for both DSs (ages 4 and 1). Anyone any idea why?

[SoupDragon]

I think it's the flouride level.

[linzoid]

Yeah, i noticed that too and was a bit worried as i have been using on my 4 yr old for the past year. I asked behind the counter in boots and they said it is just because of the flouride, didn't get much more info than that but i'm presuming it's fine as i don't think flouride is added to the water here so flouride toothpaste is good?
I'm still using it anyway with no adverse effect.

[robinw]

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[robinw]

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[Karen99]

Hi robinw, which product do you use to help with sinus problems? We have tonnes of that in our family...

[robinw]

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[jasper]

The optimum lever of fluoride is 1000 ppm and you can read the label to see how much fluoride the one you use contains. The only reason for using weaker concentrations is in case a child uses too much.This is not an issue if the parent/carer dispenses the paste.(small pea sized amount, twice a day, spit don't rinse)

Lower lever childrens pastes are a marketting ploy . We even have a toothpaste aimed at the over 40s now!
View toothpaste as a drug - efficaceous in the correct dose, harmful in overdose.
As such the tube should be kept out of the reach of children.

[Ghosty]

robinw ... thanks for coming back from devon
Hope you had a good time ...
Thanks for the information ... it is all really useful and I will go back to my friend with it all.
Just one question ... the xylitol toothpastes mentioned here are UK brands ... Tesco/Sainsbury's/Boots ....
Do any of the specific brands contain xylitol ... colgate/macleans? Every time I have been to the supermarket in the last week (it's been one of those weeks!) I have looked on the ingredients of all the toothpastes and chewing gums and have only found 'sorbitol' no xylitol.
Luckily my DS' vitamins contain xylitol but from what I see on the websites they really need more than one 'dose' a day for it to be of benefit.

Jasper ... would it be a good idea now to encourage DS not to rinse then?

Karen99 ... I agree with robinw re. no dairy. Normally I am a dairy free freak because of sinus problems ... I sneeze at least 100 times in the morning when I get up and get really bunged up ... and the only thing that has ever helped me is to be milk (and all dairy) free. I have always taken calcium supplements and eat other things with calcium in them (fish/leafy greens). At the moment I am taking dairy as I am pregnant and feel the need to increase my calcium intake but will most likely stop again when I have finished breast feeding ....

[robinw]

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[Karen99]

Hi robinw/ghosty, sorry for late reply, not been able to get on the computer much this week.

Funnily enough I'm allergic to milk and only have butter and cheese very occasionally. However, I don't avoid it religiously. I know when I've had too much when my flu-like symptoms appear, classic blocked nose!

Will have a look at the uk website - thanks.

Ghosty, I hardly took in any dairy when I was pg as I constantly felt drained and bunged up (only cheese and the odd yoghurt). Took 1200mg Calcium+VitD supplement daily, plus leafy veg, almonds,brazil,pine nuts (great calcium source). Will see if I can dig up the few links on non-dairy calcium sources I found if you'd like?

[Karen99]

Forgot to add that I don't think amount of dairy you eat affects your breast milk. Your body will produce the right balance for baby regardless of what you eat. It will take the right amount of calcium from you to ensure baby gets enough. So supplements are a good way of keeping your levels up after the milk has 'drained' you. Atleast that's what I was told by my HV. She said to just eat sensibly via other sources. HTH