Xylitol vs Other Sugar Alcohols

5-Carbon Molecule vs 6-Carbon Molecule

• "Sugar Alcohol" is a confusing classification of products because not all sugar alcohols behave the same way.
• Sugar alcohols are not related to the liquid we call “alcohol.” The name is a chemical description of their molecular structure.
• Xylitol lives within this group but has a different chemical structure from other sugar alcohols.
• Xylitol has a pentose or five-carbon molecular structure with supportive benefits for our bodies and oral health.
• All other sugar alcohols have a six-carbon structure similar to sucrose sugar that lack the health benefits offered by xylitol.
• Xylitol is expensive so many commercial xylitol products are mixed with cheaper sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners––such as sorbitol, maltitol, sucralose, and erythritol.
• Sorbitol can feed plaque-forming bacteria with frequent consumption.
• For maximum health benefits, it's important to use products that contain 100% xylitol.