木醣醇是代醣的一種，不會被口內造成蛀牙的細菌代謝為酸性產物，因此屬於不會導致蛀牙的醣類。
不過目前的研究無法明確證實它對於預防蛀牙的效用。

Xylitol is a sugar substitute which will not be fermented into acids by oral bacteria  and therefore it will not cause caries.
However, current studies remain inconclusive on its exact effect on caries prevention.