Make it Zero Cavities with Lotte Xylitol

Remember that movie Intolerable Cruelty where Miles Massey, George Clooney's character, was super obsessed with his teeth?

Well, if he knew about Lotte Xylitol gum, he'd be chewing them after each meal.

Because when Lotte Xylitol invited me and some of my mommy friends to a talk about their Make it Zero campaign in Makati Shangri-la, I learned so many new things about oral health care that blew me away. 

Lotte Confectionery Philippines GM Soi  Kitaguchi, Dr. Fina Lopez, Therese Reyes BM of Lotte Xylitol & Dr. Angelo Fernandez

That says a lot considering that I am almost as obsessive about my teeth as Miles Massey is about his. I floss after every meal, I brush my teeth and go to the dentist every 6 months. I had braces when I was younger. I've had a teeth whitening procedure done. I wish I wore my retainers as prescribed though. I hated wearing them that well, my teeth moved again and I think, I'd be needing braces again, eeep! So I mean yeah, I have spent a fortune on my teeth making sure they look nice and all. And I'd do anything to make sure they stay that way if not look better.

The same goes for my kids' teeth as well. Berry started going to a pediatric dentist as soon as her milk teeth came out, which was when she was about 8 months old. I am pretty surprised that dentists I've been to here and in Singapore don't believe in professionally cleaning kids' teeth as they do in the US.

But enough about my ramblings, did you know that?

• Current statistics show that 9 out of every 10 Filipino children have cavities and suffer from tooth decay, and that 92.4% of all Filipinos have dental caries. 
• Tooth decay, caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans, can be easily transmitted to others. In fact, infants aged 9 months and below exhibit no signs of this tooth decay-causing bacteria yet, and are first infected by it from their mother at roughly 9 to 13 months of age.
• Bacteria that causes tooth decay may be transferred from parent to child by blowing on hot food, sharing food and sharing utensils (OMG, guilty!)

Apparently, avoiding, sweets, brushing and flossing are not enough to prevent tooth decay.

To improve dental health, it is recommended that we:

• eat a well-balanced diet
• brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day (but I'd say, better after every meal)
• floss after brushing
• Of course, Lotte Xylitol says for maximum dental health, both children and adults should also chew on 2 pellets of Lotte Xylitol dental health gum four to five times on a daily basis.

The folks from Lotte Xylitol share that mothers who regularly consume xylitol for a period of two years from the birth of their child were able to greatly reduce the chance of their children getting tooth decay. Two-year old children whose mothers consumed xylitol had up to 70% less tooth decay compared to children whose mothers only used fluoride toothpaste.

What is Xylitol and what makes it special? In a nutshell, it tricks tooth decay causing bacteria into thinking it is fermentable starch, and when bacteria ingests Xylitol, it kills them. Interesting huh? More on the wonders of Xylitol, in future posts, I promise!

But in the meantime, know that Lotte Xylitol gum can help ward off cavities. Because maybe Miles Massey is on to something. That the real intolerable cruelty, is a toothache. 

Lotte Xylitol dental health gum is available in bottles and blister packs, and comes in three exciting flavors: Blueberry Mint, Fresh Mint, and Lime Mint. Buy Lotte Xylitol in leading supermarkets and drugstores across the Philippines. 

For more information, visit http://www.lottexylitolgum.com/. 

About Lotte Xylitol Make It Zero

Make It Zero Program is a program that encourages Filipino parents’ commitment and support to zero cavities. The Make It Zero Program not only aims to increase awareness on oral health through the education of parents, but also to empower them to share this knowledge with their families, and ultimately achieve a cavity-free life for the entire family.

Lotte Xylitol’s Make It Zero Program is a fundamental effort to remind the Filipino family that living a healthy dental lifestyle goes beyond brushing one’s teeth everyday. There are numerous things one can do to achieve proper dental health, and chewing Lotte Xylitol is one of the most effective and enjoyable oral hygiene practices to make part of your daily habit.