The Medical Advisor

Streptococcus mutans is a stealthy bacterium. It lives in your mouth, clings to your teeth, and wreaks havoc on oral health. S. mutans thrives on sugar, converting it into acid that erodes enamel and leads to cavities. It’s a primary source of tooth decay, making preventative measures and effective oral hygiene vital for a healthy mouth and cavity-free teeth. Streptococcus Mutans Streptococcus mutans is a gram-positive bacteria predominantly found on the surface of the teeth, particularly in dental plaque —a biofilm that sticks to the tooth’s surface. Streptococcus mutans feeds on sugars from our diet, and produce lactic acid as a byproduct. This acid demineralizes tooth enamel and leads to cavities. It can also thrive in conditions of low pH, or acidity, favoring an environment below pH 6 . One to six on the pH scale is acidic, seven is neutral, and eight to fourteen is alkaline. The pH level of our mouths is affected by the foods and drinks that we consume, and a more acidic enviro...

High amounts of xylitol, a popular sugar substitute, can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, according to a new study by the Cleveland Clinic. The study , published in the European Heart Journal, focused on xylitol’s health effects. Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that looks and tastes like sugar but has fewer calories. Unlike regular sugar, it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels, so diabetic patients are often advised to use it for sugar replacement. Xylitol is naturally present in trace amounts in many fruits and vegetables, such as plums, strawberries, cauliflower, and pumpkin. It is often used in dental hygiene products, such as toothpaste, to reduce the risk of dental cavities and is generally thought to have a good safety profile. However, larger quantities of xylitol replace sugar in sugar-free candy, gums, and baked goods. “This study again shows the immediate need for investigating sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, especially...