Long-term effect of xylitol chewing gum on dental caries.
About 85% (n = 269) of the subjects who participated in the Ylivieska follow-up studies on the effect of xylitol chewing gum on dental caries during 1982-84 or 1982-85 were re-examined in 1987 for the analysis of possible long-term preventive effects. Further caries reduction was found 2 or 3 yr after the discontinuation of the use of xylitol. The effect was especially marked in girls; the reduction in caries increment in the post-use years was 60% for the 2-yr users, suggesting that more pronounced caries reduction was associated with the most regular use of xylitol. In teeth erupting during the first year of the use of xylitol gum the long-term preventive effect was greater than in other teeth. Several explanations are suggested: lasting effect of the microbiological changes in the mouth, bacterial colonization on newly erupted teeth by organisms other than S. mutans, and/or thorough maturation of the teeth under favorable physico-chemical circumstances. The results suggest that the value of xylitol in caries prevention depends on the timing of the treatment in relation to the development of the dentition.
Public Health Center, Ylivieska, Finland.
P
P
Isokangas
J
J
Tiekso
P
P
Alanen
K K
KK
Mäkinen
D000293:Adolescent; D002638:Chewing Gum; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002638:Chewing Gum; D014993:Xylitol