Xylitol carryover effects on salivary mutans streptococci after 13 months of chewing xylitol gum.

To assess mutans streptococci (MS) during xylitol gum chewing (mean 3.8 g/day, 2.9 times/day) for 13 months and then for 15 months after the intervention, Japanese mothers with high salivary MS were randomized into two groups: xylitol gum (n = 56) and no gum (n = 51). The proportion of low MS levels was highest at 3 months of consumption (48.8%), but was significantly lower compared to baseline at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001). MS levels did not change during the postintervention period. The data suggest that in the xylitol group 23.3% showed persistent carryover effects by xylitol gum chewing in the postintervention period.