Effect of xylitol-containing chewing gums on interdental plaque-pH in habitual xylitol consumers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate the effect of high and low amounts of xylitol on the interdental plaque-pH, directly and after sucrose challenge, in schoolchildren with habitual consumption.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 11 healthy children (10-15 years) with low caries risk and the experiment had a single-blind crossover (Latin square) design. After a 2-week run-in period with a daily 4.0 g xylitol intake, the children were subjected to single-dose exposures of chewing gums with (i) paraffin (CTR; no xylitol), (ii) low-dose xylitol (LX; 2.0 g xylitol), and (iii) high-dose xylitol (HX; 6.0 g xylitol) in a randomized order separated by a washout period of 1 week. Samples of chewing-stimulated whole saliva were collected prior to and after the experimental period for determination of bacterial counts. The outcome measures were in situ plaque-pH (micro-touch method) and area under the pH curve (AUC).


RESULTS
The AUC was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the HX group compared to the LX and control groups during the first 5 min after chewing. After a 10% sucrose rinse, the interdental plaque-pH dropped in all groups but the HX regimen displayed significantly less reduction 0-5 min after chewing (p < 0.05). No significant alterations of the total viable counts or mutans streptococci levels in saliva were disclosed during the 4-week experimental period.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggested that a high single dose of xylitol had a short and limited beneficial effect on interdental plaque-pH in habitual xylitol consumers, while a low single dose, resembling normal chewing gum use, did not differ from the control.
Lif Holgerson
Pernilla
P
Department of Odontology, Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. pernilla.lif@odont.umu.se
Stecksén-Blicks
Christina
C
Sjöström
Inger
I
Twetman
Svante
S
D000293:Adolescent; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002326:Cariogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000254:growth & development; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D002638:Chewing Gum; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013395:Sucrose; D014993:Xylitol