Sorbitol compared with xylitol in prevention of dental caries

OBJECTIVE: To summarize published data on the comparative efficacy of sorbi tol and xylitol for prevention of dental caries. DATA SOURCES: Published double-blind comparative trials, using sorbitol and xylitol products, identified by MEDLINE (January 1966-December 1998) and I nternational Pharmaceutical Abstracts (January 1970-December 1998) searches . DATA SYNTHESIS: Clinical trials generally used sorbitol and xylitol gums, w hich patients chewed three to five times daily for 20-40 months. Xylitol wa s superior to sorbitol in two longer, secondary dentition trials (30-63% re ductions), but not in two primary dentition trials. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that xylitol-containing gums may provide supe rior efficacy in reducing caries rates in high-risk populations.