Can I forget my toothpaste (or even toothbrush) and just use xylitol to prevent cavities and care for my mouth?
Yes, xylitol powder can indeed be sufficient by itself (that said, daily flossing is recommended to remove food particles stuck between the teeth). A toothbrush only allows to reach a part of the entire surface of the teeth (in fact, according to the German Stiftung Warentest magazine, 40% of the total tooth surface is located between the teeth) and is hardly used to clean the gums or the tongue. But xylitol does reach and “wash” a large part of the oral cavity when you do a several-minute “rinse cycle”, so it effectively inhibits the formation of cariogenic plaque throughout your mouth. If you also discontinue using your toothbrush, however, you may occasionally see unsightly but harmless light brown coatings on your teeth. These are removed by using a toothbrush to brush the saliva-xylitol-mix thoroughly over your teeth. If you miss the peppermint flavour of normal toothpaste, simply add a drop of essential peppermint oil (use organic if at all possible) to your xylitol.
