title: Efficacy of xylitol and fluoride mouthrinses on salivary Mutans streptococci.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the level of salivary Mutans streptococci (MS) after rinsing with xylitol, fluoride, and a combination of xylitol and fluoride solutions, compared with distilled water.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty healthy 8-9 years old subjects with high level of MS (> 10(5) CFU/mL) were equally divided into 4 groups. Subjects rinsed their mouths for 1 min with 10 mL of 0.05% (w/v) sodium fluoride (NaF), 12.5% (w/v) xylitol or 0.05% (w/v) NaF + 12.5% (w/v) xylitol 3 times daily over 10 weeks. Distilled water rinsed group served as a control. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva samples were collected at baseline, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks after rinsing to determine the level of salivary MS by culturing on Mitis Salivarius Bacitracin agar. The statistical significance was calculated by Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests at a significant level of P< 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions in MS count were observed in subjects using 0.05% NaF + 12.5% xylitol over other groups within 5 weeks and after 10 weeks and 12.5% xylitol alone after 10 weeks compared with baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides evidence for the inhibitory effect of xylitol, used in combination with fluoride, delivered in the form of mouthrinse, on salivary MS in the group of schoolchildren.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedriatic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University 6 Yothi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Malee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arunakul
authors.forename: Boonyanit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thaweboon
authors.forename: Sroisiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thaweboon
authors.forename: Yuwadee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asvanund
authors.forename: Kesinee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charoenchaikorn
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D005459:Fluorides; D014993:Xylitol
keywords: Dental caries; Fluoride; Mouthrinse; Mutans streptococci; Salivary; Xylitol