Xylitol, a naturally derived five-carbon sugar alcohol, has earned recognition in dental science for its unique ability to disrupt the life cycle of Streptococcus mutans—the bacterium most closely associated with cavities. Unlike sucrose, S. mutans struggle to ferment xylitol, which interferes with their energy metabolism. As a result, bacterial acid production drops, reducing enamel demineralization and slowing plaque accumulation.