xylitol

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xylitol A five‐carbon sugar alcohol found in some fruits and vegetables; 80–100% of the sweetness of sucrose; used in sugar‐free hard sweets and gelatine gums. Apart from being of low cariogenicity, xylitol is said to have an effect in suppressing the growth of some of the bacteria associated with dental caries. See sugar alcohols; tooth‐friendly sweets.

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