Use of xylitol chewing gum among Finnish schoolchildren

The preventive, and partly the remineralizing, effect of xylitol was shown in Finland in the Turku Sugar Studies in 1971-73. Since then, several clini cal trials in many countries have confirmed these results, In Finland, oral health personnel have recommended daily use of xylitol chewing gum in thei r dental health education. Moreover, commercial companies have advertised x ylitol, emphasizing in particular its caries preventive effects. All Nordic dental associations have given their recommendations for xylitol use. The aim of this study was to describe how this health habit tias been adopted b y Finnish schoolchildren. The study was part of the comprehensive cross-nat ional survey on Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC Study) a WHO Collaborative Study. The data were collected using standardized questionnai res to which pupils in grades 5 (11 years), 7 (13 years) and 9 (15 years) r esponded anonymously in school classrooms during the spring term 1998. The response rate varied between 87% (15-year-old boys) and 94% (11- and 13-yea r-old girls). Among boys, the percentages of daily users of xylitol chewing gum were 47% (11) years, 46% (13 years), and 44% (15 years), and among gil ls, 57% (11)ears)65% (13 years), and 69% (15 years), respectively. Use of s ugar-sweetened chewing gum was very rare (1%) as also was use of chewing gu m with other artificial sweeteners (1%). It may be concluded that since 199 1 the use of xylitol chewing gum has further increased in Finland and curre ntly more than a half of all schoolchildren benefit from it.