ORAL CARE 53
beneficial effect of erythritol persisted beyond the intervention period. A follow- up check three years after the end point of the study showed a delayed development of caries and dentist interventions in the group of children, who had consumed erythritol.10
a b
This observation underlines the
long-term positive influence of erythritol on oral health, possibly through the promotion of a healthy oral microbiome.
Additional benefits
In addition to influencing the oral microbiome, erythritol can support remineralisation by forming complexes with calcium ions. While the affinity of erythritol to calcium ions is not strong enough to pose a risk to enamel integrity, erythritol does stabilise calcium ions in saliva, thus enhancing their bioavailability and promoting remineralisation of caries lesions.11
Furthermore, erythritol can boost
the efficacy of antimicrobial agents as was demonstrated regarding the fungicidal effect of benzethonium chloride (BTC) on Candida albicans when combined with 5– 20% erythritol.12
Erythritol and chlorhexidine
is another combination with strong antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties.13 The small molecular size of erythritol may allow for easier diffusion into the biofilm, making it more permeable for antimicrobial compounds.
Formulating oral care products with erythritol Erythritol’s distinct physicochemical properties render it a highly interesting ingredient in the formulation of oral care products (Table 1). In products with a high water content such as mouthwashes, erythritol can replace xylitol both fully and partially as a natural sweetener and non-cariogenic agent. Internal tests showed no difference in taste and sweetness when formulating a mouthwash with a blend of 70% xylitol and 30% erythritol compared with 100% xylitol. While the sweetness of pure erythritol is less intense than that of xylitol, the formulator can boost sweetness as required by using Jungbunzlauer’s blends of
a
Figure 3: Crystal stability in toothpaste formulation with a low and high erythritol to water ratio after exposure to temperature cycles. Images show toothpaste with erythritol to water ratio of 0.8:1 immediately after production (A) and temperature cycles (B) compared to an erythritol to water ratio of 1:1 immediately after production (C) and temperature cycles (D). Scale bars denote approx. 1 cm in all images.
erythritol with stevia (Erylite® Stevia 100,
200 or 400), thus achieving a fully natural sweetening solution. Similarly, erythritol or erythritol-stevia blends can be incorporated in dissolved form in the aqueous phase of a toothpaste. At a 15%–30% water content, the application of 5%–10% is straightforward.
Cooling crystals in toothpaste formulation
As an innovative alternative, erythritol may be incorporated in toothpaste in crystallised form by increasing its ratio to water significantly above solubility. This results in a toothpaste with visible, transparent crystals which quickly dissolve in the saliva upon brushing. The heat consumed upon dissolution results in a cooling effect which is directly perceptible by the consumer. This offers unique formulation possibilities which cannot be obtained with xylitol due to the
b c
higher solubility and lower cooling effect of this polyol.
One important consideration when
formulating a high erythritol content toothpaste concerns crystal size. Crystals exceeding a diameter of approximately 500 µm are perceived as sandy by the consumer. In contrast, small crystals give a pleasant mouth feel and dissolve quickly, immediately provoking the cooling effect. An examination of the crystal size in a benchmark toothpaste containing 40% erythritol identified a particle size of approximately 350 µm as an upper limit (Fig 1A). Furthermore, the presence of a significant proportion of particles below 50 µm was detected. These values served as a guide for the micronisation of Erylite to be incorporated into a toothpaste prototype developed by Jungbunzlauer (Fig 1B). Another relevant aspect concerns the stability of erythritol crystals over time and
c d
Figure 4: Re-crystallisation of a 30% erythritol solution in distilled water at 1°C (A) compared to the same solution with the addition of 175% sorbitol (B) and 225% sorbitol (C).
June 2019 PERSONAL CARE EUROPE
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