Xylitol: effects on the acquisition of cariogenic species in infants.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of xylitol gum (XG) on the acquisition pattern of 39 bacterial species, including mutans streptococci (MS), in infants.


METHODS
Ninety-seven mothers (MS counts > 10(5) CFU/ml) were randomly divided into 4 groups and received: (1) XG (4.2 gm/day); (2) XG (6 months after baseline exams); (3) sorbitol gum (4.2 gm/day); or (4) no gum. Groups 1 and 3 chewed gum 3 times a day for 9 months. Microbiota of plaque and saliva samples from the mother-child pairs were analyzed by culturing and via checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization.


RESULTS
MS was isolated from 33% of the predentate infant (< or =5 months old) baseline saliva samples and from 41% of the saliva and 65% of the plaque samples at the final visit. At baseline, positive responses to "mother's checking of baby's food temperature using baby's spoon" and "starting a bottle after stopping breast-feeding" were significant predictors (P = .009 and P < .001, respectively) of infant's total streptococci counts. At the final visit (9 months later), there were no significant differences between treatment groups for infants' 39 microbial plaque species, including MS.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal use of xylitol gum did not result in statistically significant differences in the microbial plaque composition of 9- to 14-month-old infants.
Fontana
Margherita
M
Microbial Caries Facility, School of Dentistry and Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA. mfontan@iupui.edu
Catt
Diana
D
Eckert
George J
GJ
Ofner
Susan
S
Toro
Milagros
M
Gregory
Richard L
RL
Zandona
Andrea Ferreira
AF
Eggertsson
Hafsteinn
H
Jackson
Richard
R
Chin
Judith
J
Zero
Domenick
D
Sissons
Christopher H
CH
D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002638:Chewing Gum; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D004245:DMF Index; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010919:Placebos; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002638:Chewing Gum; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010919:Placebos; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013012:Sorbitol; D014993:Xylitol