title: Long-term effect of xylitol gum use on mutans streptococci in adults.
abstract: Many studies have shown the effects of chewing xylitol gum on mutans streptococci (MS) over short- and long-term periods in children; however, few studies have addressed long-term periods in adults. The objective of this investigation was to examine for 6 months the effects of chewing xylitol gum on MS in saliva and plaque in 127 adults (mean age 28.0 years). The participants were assigned to three groups according to gum type, in part taking preference for flavor into account and in part at random: xylitol (XYL), maltitol (MAL) and control (CR); 33, 34 and 27 subjects in each group, respectively, completed the trial. Daily gum use of the XYL and MAL groups was 7.9 and 7.1 g, respectively. MS levels, which declined significantly in saliva (p < 0.05) and plaque (p < 0.001) in the XYL group after 6 months, exhibited a significant increase in plaque in the MAL group (p < 0.001). Differences in relative changes of MS levels in plaque during the experimental period were significant between the XYL group and the CR (p < 0.05) and MAL groups (p < 0.001). Differences in relative change of amount of plaque during the experimental period were not statistically significant between the groups. The present study demonstrated that chewing xylitol gum for 6 months continued to inhibit the growth of mutans streptococci in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Public Health Dentistry, Oral Public Health, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haresaku
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanioka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gunjishima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008320:Maltose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D008320:Maltose; C010745:maltitol; D014993:Xylitol