Effect of xylitol-containing chewing gums on lactic acid production in dental plaque from caries active pre-school children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the lactic acid concentration in supragingival plaque from caries-active pre-school children after a short-term use of either xylitol- or sorbitol-containing chewing gums.


METHODS
The investigation consisted of a prospective crossover design with 10 healthy children aged 2-4 years each with at least two caries lesions within the dentine (ds > or = 2). The children were instructed to chew 6 pieces of a test or a control gum every day for a 14-day period. The test gum contained 65% xylitol and the control gum was sweetened with sorbitol. At baseline and after 14 days, salivary mutans streptococci were enumerated with a chair-side test (Strip mutans) and dental plaque was collected from the upper maxillary incisors. After a washout period of 6 weeks, the same procedure was repeated with the corresponding test or control gum. Lactic acid was determined enzymatically in glucose-challenged plaque suspensions.


RESULTS
The lactic acid concentration was significantly reduced (p<0.05) by 22% compared with baseline following the xylitol gum regimen but was unaltered after the control gum. The levels of salivary mutans streptococci were mainly unaffected by both chewing gums.


CONCLUSIONS
A 14-day use of xylitol-containing chewing gums, corresponding to a daily amount of 5 grams of xylitol, could diminish glucose-initiated lactic acid formation in supragingival plaque in caries-active pre-school children.
Twetman
Svante
S
Department of Odontology/Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. svante.twetman@odont.umu.se
Stecksén-Blicks
Christina
C
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002638:Chewing Gum; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013012:Sorbitol; D014993:Xylitol