THE EFFECTS OF XYLITOL-CONTAINING CHEWING GUMS ON DENTAL PLAQUE AND ACIDOGENIC POTENTIAL

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the chewing of x ylitol- or xylitol/sorbitol-containing chewing gum reduces plaque form ation and the acidogenic potential of dental plaque. Thirty healthy vo lunteers aged from 19 to 28 yrs were randomly allocated to one of thre e test groups, chewing either xylitol-, xylitol/sorbitol-, or sucrose- sweetened gums. A three-day plaque accumulation period of no oral hygi ene was instituted prior to and at the termination of the chewing gum program, which lasted 33 days. Plaque quantity was assessed on the bas is of protein content of individual plaque samples collected by a stan dardized technique. Acidogenic potential of individual baseline and te st plaque samples was assessed by the quantity of various organic acid s formed from D-(U-C-14)glucose. Identification of extracellular and i ntracellular metabolites was performed by HPLC. Statistical evaluation of data was performed according to paired comparisons of individual b aseline and post-chewing data. Plaque formation, acidogenic potential, and glycolytic profiles were similar at baseline and after the gum-ch ewing periods. Also, there was no intracellular accumulation of glycol ytic metabolites within the plaque bacteria to indicate the inhibition of glycolysis. The study thus leads to the conclusion that, in young adults with low caries experience, exposure of the oral cavity to acce ptable doses of xylitol or xylitol and sorbitol has no effect on the m icrobial deposits on the teeth.