Effect of Xylitol

D ental caries is a significant public health problem for a large proportion, of the Saudi population, especially the child segment. Preventive strategies tend to focus on dietary modification and the use of fluoride and pit and fissure sealants to increase the host resistance. Mutans streptococci (MS) in particular Streptococcus mutans is a major causative bacteria that are involved in dental carie. Accordingly, a new strategy based on the suppression of MS levels on the dentition is recently addressed in clinical practice. Substitution therapy replacing harmful habit (excessive sucrose consumption) with a more positive practice (ingestion of non-fermentable sugar substitutes) can lead to a promising caries control strategy. Xylitol which is a polyola pentatol that occurs widely in nature is used originally to sweeten a number of sugar-free products and is most frequently used in chewing gum. Recent caries researches showed that xylitol, has a well documented inhibitory effect against dental caries. The caries inhibitory effect of xylitol is related to the inability of cariogenic bacteria to ferment it, therefore plaque bacteria do not proliferate, enamel demineralization is prevented and remineralization is enhanced. Some studies suggest that xylitol reduces the ability of MS to adhere, making it more easily removed from plaque. In addition to its antibacterial effect, chewing gum containing xylitol has also a salivary stimulating effect that leads to an increased salivary buffering capacity and clearance of Effect of Xylitol on Dental Caries and Salivary Streptococcus Mutans Levels among a Group of Mother-Child Pairs