title: Effect of maternal use of chewing gums containing xylitol on transmission of mutans streptococci in children: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mutans streptococci (MS) are the major causative bacteria involved in human dental decay. Habitual consumption of xylitol has been proved to reduce MS levels in saliva and plaque.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of the maternal use of xylitol gum on MS reduction in infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured literature review and meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to assess the relative risks of the incidence of MS in the saliva or plaque of children who were 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed 11 RCTs derived from 5 research teams that included 601 mothers. Our results indicated that the incidence of MS in the saliva or plaque of the infants was significantly reduced in the xylitol group (risk ratio: 0.54; 95% confidence interval: 0.39-0.73, at 12-18 months) and (risk ratio: 0.56; 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.79, at 36 months) compared with the control groups. The long-term effect of maternal xylitol gum exposure on their children's dental caries was controversial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Habitual xylitol consumption by mothers with high MS levels was associated with a significant reduction in the mother-child transmission of salivary MS.
authors: Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Hsi-Kuei
authors: HK
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Dentistry, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chia-En
authors: CE
authors: Fang
authors: Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.|Research Center for Biomedical Devices, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Mao-Suan
authors: MS
authors: Huang
authors: School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsin-Chung
authors: HC
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Nursing, HungKuang University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Tsai-Wei
authors: TW
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Hui-Ting
authors: HT
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.|Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Center for Evidence-based Health Care, Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Ka-Wai
authors: KW
authors: Tam
mesh_terms: D002638:Chewing Gum; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009035:Mothers; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014993:Xylitol