title: Three clinical trials comparing xylitol- and sorbitol-containing chewing gums for their effect on supragingival plaque accumulation.
abstract: Studies have evaluated the effects of xylitol when administered in chewing gum, as a dietary substitute for sugar, in dentifrice and in mouthrinse. Three clinical trials were conducted to further investigate chewing gums containing xylitol or xylitol/sorbitol mixtures for their ability to reduce plaque accumulation when compared to a sorbitol containing gum. These studies all had two phases; supragingival prophylaxis with an assessment of plaque accumulation to be used for balanced assignment for the second phase, which assessed plaque regrowth following a second supragingival prophylaxis and various chewing gum regimens. In the first trial of xylitol/sorbitol versus sorbitol gum only, the combination gum had a significantly greater reduction in plaque growth. In the second trial, different regimens of chewing gums with xylitol/sorbitol and sorbitol alone were compared. The combined average of the plaque regrowth scores for the subjects chewing the xylitol/sorbitol gum was significantly better than that for the sorbitol gum alone. The final trial evaluated two regimens in two forms (stick and pellet) of a xylitol gum versus a sorbitol gum. Both xylitol-containing gum forms were statistically superior to the sorbitol gum in retarding plaque regrowth.
authors.affiliation: TKL Research, Inc., Paramus, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balbo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002638:Chewing Gum; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013012:Sorbitol; D014993:Xylitol