Impact of Maternal Xylitol Consumption on Mutans Streptococci, Plaque and Caries Levels in Children

Abstract

Aim:The present study was designed to determine whether maternal xylitol consumption through regular chewing of xylitol gums can affect the salivary mutans streptococci (MS), dental caries, and dental plaque levels of their children. Method: Study sample included 60 mother and child pairs with high salivary mutans streptococcus (MS) levels. Samples were randomly divided into experimental group (30 pairs) and control group (30 pairs). Mothers in the experimental group received xylitol chewing gum treatment three times/ day for three months, whereas the controls received fluoride varnish. Both groups received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling and restorative treatment. All children were examined after 6, 12 and 18 months from the initiation of the study to assess caries, plaque and salivary mutans streptococcus (MS) levels. Results showed that at 18 month the percent of children with high streptococcus levels in the control significantly increased when compared to the increase in the experimental group. Throughout the study, dmft scores of experimental children showed marginal non significant increase compared to controls that showed higher scores. Plaque scores revealed statistically non significant decrease among both groups. Conclusions: maternal xylitol consumption provided better preventive outcomes on salivary (MS) levels compared to fluoride varnish treatments.

Acquired Oral Microflora of Newborns During the First 48 Hours of Life

“…An example of such an intervention was recommended in few studies. A recent study found that a maternal xylitol consumption by gum provided better preventive outcomes on salivary MS levels among there children, as compared with fluoride varnish treatments 16 . Another study concluded that this intervention should be targeted to women with high levels of MS counts 17 .…”

Effect of maternal use of chewing gums containing xylitol on transmission of mutans streptococci in children: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…We divided our data into multiple groups according to the time for follow‐up. The followed time in the first group ranged from 6 to 9 months, including Alamoudi et al . which provided data on children who were 6 months old, and Fontana et al .…”

“…which provided data only on children who were 9 months old, and we picked the data on children who were 9 months old in Nakai et al . The followed time in the second group ranged from 12 to 18 months, including Alamoudi et al ,. Nakai et al ,.…”

Effectiveness of Xylitol in Caries Prevention

“…Alamoudi et al [12,13], studying mothers of 10-36-month-old children, which were using a chewing gum with 1.8 g of xylitol three times a day for 3 months, found no significant increase of S. mutans number in saliva, as well as no increase in the DMFT value in their children compared to the children of the mothers who were given a fluoride varnish. However, no difference in plaque in the children was found.…”