title: Effect of polyol gums on salivary S mutans levels.
abstract: The predominant sugar substitutes used in chewing gum are polyols which are low-caloric substances. The polyols most frequently used in chewing gums are sorbitol and xylitol.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study assessed the effectiveness of xylitol and sorbitol chewing-gums on levels of S mutans in saliva.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 30 normal and healthy males aged between 13-17 years. A pellet of gum (sorbitol or xylitol) was given to each participant after breakfast (8am), lunch (2pm) and dinner (8pm) for the study period of 3 months. On the first day of the study, baseline salivary samples were collected after breakfast from all participants and assessed for S mutans levels. At the end of 3 months, salivary samples were collected and processed in a similar manner
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary S mutans levels showed a significant reduction after the use of xylitol based chewing gum than with sorbitol based chewing gum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, the Oxford Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre. drpriyapedo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suresh Babu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002638:Chewing Gum; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013012:Sorbitol; D014993:Xylitol