title: Polyol-combinant saliva stimulants and oral health in Veterans Affairs patients--an exploratory study.
abstract: An exploratory study investigated the root caries incidence in Department of Veterans Affairs patients with exposed root surfaces. For a period of six to 30 months, the subjects were systematically assigned to groups which used chewable dragees or chewing gums that contained either xylitol or sorbitol as bulk sweeteners. The mean treatment time was 1.8 years (standard deviation = 0.8). The consumption levels of both polyols was up to 8.5 g daily, used typically in five episodes during a 16-hour period. The subjects were examined every six months in connection with their standard scheduled visits at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The risk for a root-surface lesion in the xylitol group was only 19% of that for a surface in the sorbitol group (relative risk, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.62; p < or = 0.0065). Simultaneous study in periodontal patients showed that both polyols significantly reduced the gingival index scores, and slightly (but not significantly) reduced the plaque index scores. Collectively, both studies suggest that frequent daily consumption of chewable, saliva-stimulating products containing essentially nonfermentable or slowly fermentable dietary carbohydrate sweeteners (xylitol and sorbitol) may have an oral-health-improving effect in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center patients. It is necessary to evaluate if these procedures would be efficacious in larger and expanded patient cohorts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Hujoel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lopatin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D017213:Root Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014728:Veterans; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013012:Sorbitol; D014993:Xylitol