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Presenters urge Utah pilot to distribute xylitol gum or mints in schools and correctional facilities to prevent tooth decay
Summary
A dentist and private-sector presenter urged the interim committee to consider a pilot program distributing xylitol gum or mints in schools and prisons, citing international studies showing large cavity reductions and low per‑student costs; no committee action was taken.
Presenters asked the committee to consider a preventive dental program that would provide xylitol chewing gum or mints to children in schools and adults in correctional settings, citing international and U.S. studies that show large reductions in tooth decay and low per‑pupil costs.
Nathan (Nate) Jones, CEO and founder of XLEAR, described xylitol’s mechanism as targeting Streptococcus mutans bacteria and said programs in Finland, Belize and other places achieved over a 60 percent reduction in cavities. "Studies show…
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