CARIOSTATIC EFFECTS OF A XYLITOL NAF DENTIFRICE IN-VIVO/

Xylitol has been shown to reduce plaque acids, but its topical cariost atic effect has been equivocal. The purpose of the studies reported he re was to optimise the xylitol/NaF combination in dentifrices for an i mproved anticaries activity. In the first study, the combination of 10 per cent xylitol with 1100 ppm F (NaF), 1100 ppm F (NaF), and placebo dentifrices were tested in a rat caries model to assess the cariostat ic effect. The combination was significantly more effective than fluor ide by itself (P=0.05). The xylitol/NaF combination provided significa ntly more remineralisation of dentine than fluoride by itself. Collect ively, results of these investigations confirm the improved anticaries effectiveness of the xylitol/NaF combination in a variety of animal a nd intra-oral models. A three-year clinical study confirmed these find ings.