Effects of xylitol wipes on cariogenic bacteria and caries in young children.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the use of xylitol-containing tooth-wipes in preventing dental caries in young children. In a double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, 44 mothers with active caries and their 6- to 35-month-old children were randomized to xylitol-wipe or placebo-wipe groups. The children's caries scores were recorded at baseline and 1 year. Salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were enumerated at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Data were analyzed by intent-to-treat modeling with imputation for caries lesions and a linear mixed-effect model for bacterial levels. Significantly fewer children in the xylitol-wipe group had new caries lesions at 1 year compared with those in the placebo-wipe group (P < 0.05). No significant differences between the two groups were observed in levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli at all time-points. Daily xylitol-wipe application significantly reduced the caries incidence in young children as compared with wipes without xylitol, suggesting that the use of xylitol wipes may be a useful adjunct for caries control in infants (Clinicaltrials.gov registration number CT01468727).

• Authors: L Zhan, J Cheng, P Chang, M Ngo, P K Denbesten, C I Hoover, J D B Featherstone
• Journal: Journal of dental research (J Dent Res) Vol. 91 Issue 7 Suppl Pg. 85S-90S (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1544-0591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22699675 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cariostatic Agents
• Placebos
• Sweetening Agents
• Xylitol

Topics

• Bacterial Load (drug effects)
• Cariostatic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Child, Preschool
• DMF Index
• Dental Caries (microbiology, prevention & control)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Lactobacillus (drug effects)
• Male
• Oral Hygiene
• Placebos
• Saliva (microbiology)
• Streptococcus mutans (drug effects)
• Sweetening Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Xylitol (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)