#19 - Shirley Gutkowski - Xylitol and How It Helps Stop Cavities

Xylitol is one of the things I talk about with anyone who will listen!  It has so many uses and misconceptions. People question the name and often confuse it with artificial sweeteners so they disregard it. But it isn't a chemical artificial sweetener at all, it is a sugar that is found in birch trees and corn cobs...it also happens to be something that our body creates naturally, and supplementing with it in the mouth helps stop cavities SIGNIFICANTLY! The magic of xylitol is best realized when you understand WHY it works, and to best explain that I brought in Shirley Gutkowski. Shirley has been at the forefront of mouth transformations with xylitol, and she gets to the point instead of wasting your time with fluff! Whether you are a consumer looking for better outcomes at home or a dental provider, this episode is packed full of gems, and shouldn't be missed! Have a listen and enjoy, and thanks Shirley! Links to products discussed: Ivoclar Chlorhexidine Varnish Find Shirley at: Primal Air: primal air Email: [email protected] If you're looking for the low down on strep bacteria, here it is: The bacteria streptococcus mutans is the one of the most significant bacteria in creating a cavity. Its purpose is to mainly pump out a sticky film that allows other bacteria to enter and create bigger problems (listen to the podcast for a detained breakdown). Not only is strep responsible for cavities and gum disease, but throat, ear and sinus infections as well. Xylitol works directly on the strep bacteria – starving it and not allowing it to create the sticky film. Without the sticky film, the cavities cannot happen. Thanks Shirley for all your knowledge and insights, we value you so much! Shirley's Bio: Shirley is an envelope pusher and clinical agitator. After nearly 20 years of chairside dental hygiene practice in SSC, small group and large group practice she retired her scalers and became a full-time writer and speaker. Her topic in the past: caries management beyond floss and fluoride introducing practitioners to xylitol and biofilm management. Today her passion is reignited with the study of orofacial myofunctional therapy and its role in absolute health. She owns and operates Primal Air OMT and Breathing Retraining. By spotting the earliest signs of orofacial myofunctional disorders she coaches parents in simple exercises for their child (close their mouth) to providing full service myofunctional techniques to widen the palate offering space for the tongue to maintain the arch space and improve sinus volume. Nothing works without air. CAREERfusion is a collaborative effort she works on with her mentor Beth Thompson. CAREERfusion brings together opportunities for corporate partners and clinicians. Motivates everyone to be their best and puts them into an environment that stimulates positive actions for each person. It also is extremely self-directed so everyone leaves with something different, different goals, different paths to explore and individualized ways to achieve their desires. To learn more about how to implement xylitol and how to help stop the progression of gum disease and cavities visit Oral Health Coaching