Can chewing gum made with the naturally-occurring substance “xylitol” aid in preventing ear infections?
Q: My 7-month old has developed his first ear infection, and our doctor has started him on antibiotics. My question, however, is about the naturally-occurring substance, xylitol. It is sold in sugar-substitute form, toothpaste, and chewing gum. I recently read an article about xylitol aiding in ear infections. My question is, does this help? If so, how much and how often should I give it to my baby? He has 3 teeth, and uses a toothbrush for teething. Can I sprinkle a little of the “sugar” on the toothbrush? Thank you! Christine Dwyer Cincinnati, Ohio A: The xylophone is a percussion instrument consisting of a series of wooden bars of increasing lengths, which when struck makes sounds of the musical scale. The “xyl” in xylophone comes from the Greek word xylan, meaning wood. A xylophone makes sound from wood; xylitol is a sugar made from wood. Xylitol, also called wood sugar, can be made from the cell walls of most land plants. Xylan, the naturally occurring substance that yields xylito
