Six-month polyol chewing-gum programme in kindergarten-age children: a feasibility study focusing on mutans streptococci and dental plaque.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of polyol-containing chewing gums in a day-care centre (kindergarten) setting as a means to affect the growth of mutans streptococci and dental plaque.


METHODS
Over a period of six months, 123 five-year-old children chewed xylitol (X group), sorbitol (G group), or did not chew gum (C group). Consumption of xylitol, and sorbitol was 4.5 to 5.0 g per day and subjects consumed in five supervised daily chewing episodes four at the day-care centres and one at home.


METHODS
Interproximal dental plaque was sampled at baseline and after six months for a laboratory study of mutans streptococci counts. The Quigley & Hein plaque index procedure was used. Interviews and questionnaires elucidated the acceptability of the programme.


RESULTS
Parents and kindergarten personnel regarded the programme as an important, additional procedure to promote better oral health. The children regarded the use of chewing gum as a pleasurable experience. Compared with groups G and C, there was a statistically significant reduction of mutans streptococci in the interproximal plaque in the X group. The Quigley & Hein plaque index scores tended to decrease in the X group, while no such trend was observed in the G group.


CONCLUSIONS
Habitual use of relatively small daily quantities of polyol-containing chewing gum by young children may be regarded as an important additional caries-preventive procedure in a combined day-care centre and home setting. Especially xylitol-containing chewing gum may significantly reduce the growth of mutans streptococci and dental plaque which may be associated with dental caries.
Mäkinen
Kauko K
KK
International Institute for Preventive Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland. kauko.makinen@uusikaupunki.fi
Isotupa
Kauko P
KP
Mäkinen
Pirkko-Liisa
PL
Söderling
Eva
E
Song
Keun Bae
KB
Nam
Soon Hyeun
SH
Jeong
Seong Hwa
SH
D002638:Chewing Gum; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002638:Chewing Gum; D011108:Polymers; D013549:Sweetening Agents; C024617:polyol; D013012:Sorbitol; D014993:Xylitol