Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural sweetener classified as a sugar alcohol. It in found in many fruits and plants, but the more plentiful sources include corn, potatoes, and birch trees. Unlike some other non-sucrose sweeteners, xylitol tastes almost exactly like table sugar. The only noticeable difference is a slightly cool feeling on the tongue.

Xylitol is harder to digest than sucrose and other common sweeteners. This makes it a better sweetener for people to eat, since more energy is spent in the digestive process, thus providing a lower net amount of energy. This difficulty of breaking xylitol down is even more helpful for dental health. The bacteria which live in the mouth will capture sugar molecules and digest them for energy as a person eats. When they detect xylitol, they see it as a sugar and capture it. However, they are often unable to use it, and literally run out of energy trying to break it down. Therefore, it helps to remove plaque-generating, cavity-causing bacteria from the mouth..