Author: Autio, Jaana T.

Source: Journal of Dentistry for Children, Volume 69, Number 1, January-April 2002 , pp. 81-86(6)

Publisher: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract:

Dental caries remains a significant problem for poor children in the United States. One strategy for treating dental caries is to suppress streptococcus mutans, the chief pathogen responsible for the disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of xylitol gum in salivary S. mutans levels in preschool children. Sixty-one children were randomly assigned into the xylitol group and the control group. The xylitol group chewed gum sweetened only with xylitol (XyliFresh 100%, Hershey Food Corporation, U.S.A.) three times a day for three weeks. S. mutans counts were tested using the Dentocult-SM Strip Mutans-test (Orion Diagnostica, Finland) at baseline and after three weeks. The shift from higher S. mutans scores to lower was greater in the xylitol group than in the control group (p;lt0.05). This study supports the suggestion that chewing xylitol gum may reduce salivary S. mutans levels. Xylitol chewing gum may provide a feasible caries prevention method for preschool children.

Keywords: STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS; XYLITOL CHEWING GUM

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2002-01-01

More about this publication?

• Acquired after the merger between the American Society of Dentistry for Children and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in 2002, the Journal of Dentistry for Children (JDC) is an internationally renowned journal whose publishing dates back to 1934. Published three times a year, JDC promotes the practice, education and research specifically related to the specialty of pediatric dentistry. It covers a wide range of topics related to the clinical care of children, from clinical techniques of daily importance to the practitioner, to studies on child behavior and growth and development. JDC also provides information on the physical, psychological and emotional conditions of children as they relate to and affect their dental health.
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