Xylitol is recommended for pregnant mothers because it is a sugar alcohol that has which property?

• A. Is easily fermented by mouth bacteria
• B. Resists fermentation by mouth bacteria
• C. Increases plaque formation
• D. Decreases salivary flow

Answer: (B)

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is not fermentable by oral bacteria, particularly the cariogenic mutans streptococci. Because bacteria cannot metabolize it into acids, it does not contribute to acid buildup in dental plaque and can even help reduce the population of caries-causing bacteria over time. This resistance to fermentation by mouth bacteria is what makes xylitol protective and why it’s recommended for pregnant mothers as a cavity-preventive sugar substitute. If a sweetener were easily fermented, it would feed plaque bacteria, lower pH, and promote decay. Xylitol also does not decrease salivary flow; chewing products containing it can actually stimulate saliva, aiding remineralization and buffering.