The anti-cariogenic potential of xylitol in comparison with sodium fluoride in rat caries experiments.
Previous rat caries experiments in our laboratory demonstrated an anti-cariogenic and most probably a remineralizing effect of xylitol. The purpose of the present study was to compare the caries-inhibiting property of xylitol and fluoride in drinking water. The study consisted of two experiments with Osborne-Mendel rats, superinfected with S. mutans. In the first experiment, the rats were fed ad libitum a cariogenic diet containing 20% sucrose and 5% glucose (diet SSP 20/5) and tap water containing 0%, 2%, or 4% xylitol. An additional control group was fed diet SSP 20/5 supplemented with 5% xylitol. In the second experiment, the rats were also fed diet SSP 20/5, but received tap water, demineralized water (both containing less than 0.1 ppm F-), or tap water containing 10 and 40 ppm fluoride. Some animals in the 4% xylitol drinking water group showed a mild osmotic diarrhea for the first four days and a retarded increase in body weight of limited duration. S. mutans colonized to a similar level in all groups of both experiments. Fluoride as well as xylitol in the drinking water reduced the fissure caries scores significantly. However, 10 and 40 ppm fluoride had a more pronounced inhibiting effect on the caries experience than did 4% xylitol in the drinking water or 5% xylitol in the diet.
D000818:Animals; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000166:cytology; D014881:Water Supply; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D014993:Xylitol