Effect of Xylitol and Sorbitol on Polysaccharide Production by and Adhesive Properties of Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

Batch culture techniques were used to study the effect of sorbitol and xylitol on the aggregation, adhesion and solubility of the polysaccharides produced by Streptococcus mutans in the presence of 3% sucrose. Both polyols increased the production of soluble polysaccharides: control < xylitol < sorbitol. The presence of sorbitol increased also the amount of insoluble carbohydrates associated with the cell mass, whereas xylitol decreased the amount of these polysaccharides compared to the control. The highest amount of total polysaccharides was produced in the presence of sorbitol: sorbitol > xylitol ≃ control. The ratio of soluble polysaccharides to insoluble polysaccharides was higher for cells grown in the presence of xylitol compared with those grown in the presence of sorbitol. When cell-cell aggregation of the bacteria was studied, the lowest degree of aggregation was observed in the medium supplemented with 6% xylitol. The adhesivity of the cells to glass surfaces was reduced in the presence of the polyols in the basal medium as follows: control ≥ sorbitol > xylitol. Thus, in cell-cell and cell-glass interactions of S. mutans, the ratio of easily soluble to insoluble polysaccharides seems to play a more important role than the absolute amounts of soluble, insoluble or total polysaccharides per se.

Comparison of Erythritol and Xylitol Saliva Stimulants in the Control of Dental Plaque and Mutans Streptococci

“…This finding may be in agreement with previous observations on the general increase in plaque nitrogen (and protein) metabolism in a situation where plaque bacteria are affected by a nonglucose substrate such as xylitol [Mäkinen and Scheinin, 1975;Knuuttila and Mäkinen, 1981]. During a xylitol regimen, dental plaque actually loses portions of its polysaccharide content [Mäkinen et al, 1985;Söderling et al, 1987]. The present study used a 0.9% NaCl extract to study plaque protein levels, while Scheie et al [1998] used a deoxycholate solution.…”

Chewing Xylitol Gum Improves Self-Rated and Objective Indicators of Oral Health Status under Conditions Interrupting Regular Oral Hygiene

“…Our findings also suggest the plausible mechanism linking xylitol gum chewing and oral bacteria quantity. The xylitol contained in xylitol chewing gum has been known to inhibit the growth, metabolism, and polysaccharide production of Streptococcus mutans (Söderling et al 1987(Söderling et al , 2008Söderling 2009). The subsequent decreased ability of biofilm formation may lead to a decrease in the amount of some kind of bacteria involved in the biofilms.…”

Xylitol and caries prevention — is it a magic bullet?

“…2,4 Other evidence has shown that xylitol leads to a reduction in the quantity of plaque, possibly by interfering with mechanisms of adhesion between plaque organisms and the tooth's surface. [65][66][67][68] This is the most likely explanation for the reduced colonisation of mutans streptococci in the mouths of these children.…”