Effects of xylitol wipes on cariogenic bacteria and caries in young children.
The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the use of xylitol-containing tooth-wipes in preventing dental caries in young children. In a double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, 44 mothers with active caries and their 6- to 35-month-old children were randomized to xylitol-wipe or placebo-wipe groups. The children's caries scores were recorded at baseline and 1 year. Salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were enumerated at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Data were analyzed by intent-to-treat modeling with imputation for caries lesions and a linear mixed-effect model for bacterial levels. Significantly fewer children in the xylitol-wipe group had new caries lesions at 1 year compared with those in the placebo-wipe group (P < 0.05). No significant differences between the two groups were observed in levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli at all time-points. Daily xylitol-wipe application significantly reduced the caries incidence in young children as compared with wipes without xylitol, suggesting that the use of xylitol wipes may be a useful adjunct for caries control in infants (Clinicaltrials.gov registration number CT01468727).
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California San Francisco, Box 0758, 707 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. ZhanL@dentistry.ucsf.edu
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L
Zhan
J
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Cheng
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Chang
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Ngo
P K
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Denbesten
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CI
Hoover
J D B
JD
Featherstone
D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010919:Placebos; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014993:Xylitol