Effect of Xylitol Chewing Gum on Salivary Mutans Streptococci

In the attempt to lower the sugar consumption in population is to exchange the number of sugar sweeteners which manufacture produced for used in foods, drinks and candy with non-sugar sweetener as xylitol. Xylitol is effective as noncariogenic substitutes for use in place of glucose. Objectives: A clinical trial was carried out to investigate the effect of sugar candy containing xylitol inhibiting the growth of the salivary mutans streptococci for a period one week consumption. Methods: Twenty respondents participated as the subjects on the clinical trial , conducting two times of treatment as follows: twenty as treatment groups before and after chewing xylitol chewing gum and the twenty subjects as control groups before and after chewing with a non-xylitol chewing gum. Saliva samples were collected before and after chewing xylitol chewing gum and with a non-xylitol chewing gum. A serial dilution was made, followed by inoculating on TYS20B medium (Shaeken,M.J.M ,van der Hoeven , J.S and Franken , H.C.M , 1986). Data which were obtained from colony forming units of salivary mutans streptococci grew on the TYS20B medium before and after chewing xylitol chewing gum were analyzed in a descriptive and “t” test. Results: showed that there is no significance in the average amount of Streptococcus mutans colonies between before and after chewing non-xylitol chewing gum. However , a significant difference was found respectively as results before and after chewing with xylitol chewing gum. Conclusion: Therefore it could be concluded that xylitol chewing gum is effective in inhibiting the growth of the salivary mutans streptococci. Hence , it can be used in preventing caries risk in the future.(This study was supported by The PT Lotte Indonesia).