Xylitol-Containing Chewing Gum Reduces Cariogenic and Periodontopathic Bacteria in Dental Plaque—Microbiome Investigation

Abstract

BackgroundDental caries and periodontal disease remain the most prevalent oral health problems in the world. Chewing xylitol gum may help reduce the risk of caries and periodontitis for dental health benefits. However, little evidence has shown healthy food estimation by sequencing 16S rDNA in oral microbial communities. This study investigated the clinical effect of xylitol chewing gum on dental plaque accumulation and microbiota composition using the PacBio full-length sequencing platform in 24 young adults (N = 24). The participants were randomly assigned to xylitol chewing gum and control (no chewing gum) groups. Participants in the chewing gum group chewed ten pieces of gum (a total of 6.2 g xylitol/day). Dental plaque from all teeth was collected for weighing, measuring the pH value, and analysis of microbial communities at the beginning (baseline, M0) and end of the 2-week (effect, M1) study period.ResultsThe results suggested a 20% reduction in dental plaque accumulation (p < 0.05) among participants chewing xylitol gum for 2 weeks, and the relative abundance of Firmicutes (a type of pathogenic bacteria associated with caries) decreased by 10.26% (p < 0.05) and that of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria (two types of pathogenic bacteria associated with periodontitis) decreased by 6.32% (p < 0.001) and 1.66% (p < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, the relative abundance of Fusobacteria was increased by 9.24% (p < 0.001), which has been proven to have a higher proportion in dental plaque of healthy adults. However, the dental plaque pH value stayed in a healthy range for the two groups.ConclusionIn conclusion, chewing xylitol gum would benefit cariogenic and periodontal bacterial reduction in the oral cavity, which could help to prevent the diseases related to these bacteria.

Lactobacillus paracasei ET-22 Suppresses Dental Caries by Regulating Microbiota of Dental Plaques and Inhibiting Biofilm Formation

“…Combined with previous studies, probiotics administration can maintain the microbial stabilization of dental plaques to defend from the dentes cariosus [46]. This is similar to the chewing of xylitol gum in the mouth cavity in which the cariogenic bacteria were reduced in abundance and species diversity was decreased [47]. The individual study showed that the alpha diversity in the microbiota of plaques from healthy teeth was higher than that from damaged teeth with dental caries [48].…”

The Treatment Efficiency and Microbiota Analysis of Sapindus mukorossi Seed Oil on the Ligature-Induced Periodontitis Rat Model

“…F/B ratio identified in the inflammatory phase is a good indicator of microbiota dysbiosis in the oral cavity [ 57 , 58 ]. In our study, the F/B ratio was lower in the SM oil group compared to the oil-free group ( Figure 8 ) due to SM oil’s inhibition of Firmicutes overgrowth, also indicating that SM oil reduces the burst process of the inflammatory condition [ 59 ]. Our present results thus prove the beneficial effect of SM oil in preventing ligature-induced periodontitis and improving periodontal tissue health at an early stage.…”

Effect of xylitol on Porphyromonas gingivalis: A systematic review

“…It was revealed that study participants who substituted xylitol for sucrose experienced a drastic reduction in the development of dental caries over a 2‐year period (Scheinin et al, 1974 ). Many studies have since been published, confirming and further exploring the effect of xylitol on oral microbiota (Nayak et al, 2014 ; Rafeek et al, 2019 ; Söderling, 2009 ; Wu et al, 2022 ). Perhaps the most well‐known health benefit is its effect on Streptococcus mutans , a facultative anaerobe considered to be the main bacterial species responsible for dental caries.…”

“…It was revealed that study participants who substituted xylitol for sucrose experienced a drastic reduction in the development of dental caries over a 2-year period (Scheinin et al, 1974). Many studies have since been published, confirming and further exploring the effect of xylitol on oral microbiota (Nayak et al, 2014;Rafeek et al, 2019;Söderling, 2009;Wu et al, 2022).…”