title: Xylitol in caries prevention: what is the evidence for clinical efficacy?
abstract: Xylitol has attracted much attention as an alternative sweetener. Essentially all clinical studies concerning the effect of xylitol on caries development consent to its non-cariogenicity and to the beneficial effect of substituting sucrose with xylitol in chewing gums and sweets. However, claims of anti-caries or therapeutic effects, and superiority of xylitol over other polyols are still to be confirmed by well designed and conducted studies from independent research groups.
authors: Department of Oral Biology, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Scheie
authors: O B
authors: OB
authors: Fejerskov
mesh_terms: D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002638:Chewing Gum; D013395:Sucrose; D014993:Xylitol