Xylitol

Xylitol belongs to a family of sweeteners called sugar alcohols. It tastes like sugar, but your body processes it differently. A few things that make xylitol unusual:

• Slow absorption. Your body absorbs it gradually. It has a much smaller effect on blood sugar than regular sugar.
• It does not feed cavity bacteria. Xylitol is non-cariogenic. The bacteria behind tooth decay cannot use it as fuel (Janakiram et al. 2017). So you can take it after brushing without feeding what your routine just cleared. Better still: starving those harmful bacteria opens the surface for K12 and M18 (the friendly strains in Fenn Method) to settle in.
• Naturally occurring. Most fruits, vegetables, and tree barks contain trace amounts. The xylitol in Fenn Method is extracted from non-GMO birch and corn cobs. Same molecule either way.
• Dental research goes back decades. Xylitol has been studied for its effects on oral health since the 1970s, starting with the Turku sugar studies (Mäkinen and colleagues).

Xylitol works in your mouth through three separate mechanisms. Each one is supported by research.

1. It starves the bacteria behind bad breath and cavities.
   These bacteria try to feed on xylitol the way they feed on sugar. They cannot break it down. They spend energy trying. Their growth slows. Researchers call this the futile energy cycle.
2. It boosts your saliva.
   Saliva is your mouth's natural defense. It washes away food and bacteria. It carries proteins that kill germs. It keeps acid levels balanced. Xylitol stimulates saliva flow as it dissolves in your mouth. More saliva means less bad breath.
3. It makes plaque less sticky.
   Plaque is the film that forms when bacteria cling to your teeth. Xylitol makes them less able to stick. Less plaque means healthier gums and a cleaner mouth over time.*

Xylitol research goes back to the 1970s. The mechanisms most relevant to a daily oral probiotic mint are well-supported and operate any time xylitol is in your mouth:

• Bacterial inhibition. Xylitol disrupts the energy cycle of the bacteria behind bad breath. They cannot metabolize it and stop growing (Janakiram 2017).
• Saliva stimulation. Xylitol triggers saliva flow as it dissolves, and saliva is your mouth's primary defense system.
• Plaque reduction. Daily xylitol exposure makes plaque-forming bacteria less able to stick to your teeth, supporting healthier gums over time.*

This is why we position Fenn Method as a daily complement to brushing and flossing. It supports your routine. It is not a replacement for it.

We use 550mg of xylitol per oral probiotic mint. Significantly more than most oral care products with xylitol, which often use trace amounts or do not disclose the dose at all.

Why 550mg specifically?

• It is enough for fresh breath and gum support. The bacterial-inhibition, saliva-stimulation, and plaque-reduction mechanisms all operate well at this dose (Söderling 2009).*
• It is the maximum we can include without compromising probiotic viability. Xylitol is hygroscopic. It pulls moisture from the air, and moisture damages probiotic bacteria over time. Going higher would drop the viability of K12 and M18 below the doses we stand behind on the label. 550mg is the ceiling that keeps the probiotic counts intact through shelf life, in an oral probiotic you actually want to use every day.
• It supports a cumulative daily protocol. One Fenn Method oral probiotic per day delivers 550mg. If you also use a xylitol toothpaste or chewing gum, your daily total grows.

Daily use of one Fenn Method oral probiotic delivers 550mg of xylitol. Combined with normal saliva flow and brushing, this is intended to support a healthy oral microbiome.*