Xylitol: effects on the acquisition of cariogenic species in infants.

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of xylitol gum (XG) on the acquisition pattern of 39 bacterial species, including mutans streptococci (MS), in infants. METHODS: Ninety-seven mothers (MS counts > 10(5) CFU/ml) were randomly divided into 4 groups and received: (1) XG (4.2 gm/day); (2) XG (6 months after baseline exams); (3) sorbitol gum (4.2 gm/day); or (4) no gum. Groups 1 and 3 chewed gum 3 times a day for 9 months. Microbiota of plaque and saliva samples from the mother-child pairs were analyzed by culturing and via checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. RESULTS: MS was isolated from 33% of the predentate infant (< or =5 months old) baseline saliva samples and from 41% of the saliva and 65% of the plaque samples at the final visit. At baseline, positive responses to "mother's checking of baby's food temperature using baby's spoon" and "starting a bottle after stopping breast-feeding" were significant predictors (P = .009 and P < .001, respectively) of infant's total streptococci counts. At the final visit (9 months later), there were no significant differences between treatment groups for infants' 39 microbial plaque species, including MS. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal use of xylitol gum did not result in statistically significant differences in the microbial plaque composition of 9- to 14-month-old infants.