title: Effect on plaque of a xylitol-containing chewing-gum. A clinical and biochemical study.
abstract: The effects on plaque induced by single or repeated use of xylitol- and sucrose-containing chewing-gums were studied on twenty subjects refraining from tooth-brushing for three days. Mechanical removal of plaque by chewing during a single period was shown to yield no significant differences between gravimetric values obtained before and after chewing. Daily use of a xylitol-containing chewing-gum reduced by 47% the weight of plaque formed in comparison to a sucrose-containing product, and by 20--41% in comparison to conditions when no chewing-gum was used. The use of a xylitol chewing-gum induced a lower invertase-like activity in plaque extra cellular phase. Results at variance with the gravimetric data were obtained by using a stained plaque scoring system; the eventual inadequacy of such plaque scoring systems was discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D013393:Sucrase / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D013395:Sucrose; D013393:Sucrase; D014993:Xylitol