ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effect of maternal xylitol consumption on children's salivary mutans streptococci [MS] level, caries activity, and plaque accumulation in contrast with maternal fluoride varnish in a group of mother-child pairs. In this randomized controlled trial, the study subjects were 60 mother-child pairs recruited from the pediatric dentistry clinic and the hospital well baby clinic at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample was recruited on the basis of maternal high salivary MS levels, and a child aged 10-36 months. The subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Mothers in the experimental group chewed xylitol gum, 1.8 gram [66% xylitol by weight], 3 times/day for 3 months. Mothers in the control group received fluoride varnish. Both groups received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling, and restorative treatment. Children were examined after 6, 12, and 24 months from the initiation of the study to evaluate salivary MS levels, caries, and plaque accumulation. There was an increase in MS levels in the experimental and control children at 24 months, which was non-significant in the experimental group, and significantly higher in the control group when compared with the baseline [p=0.008]. The decayed, missing, filled scores of the children in the experimental group showed no change after 24 months, contrary to the controls that showed a significant increase [p=0.001]. Plaque scores revealed no differences over time or between the 2 groups. Compared with fluoride varnish, maternal xylitol consumption provided preventive outcomes on salivary MS and caries levels in children
ABSTRACT
To assess the effect of xylitol on salivary mutans streptococcus [MS], plaque level, and caries activity in a group of Saudi mother-child pairs. A clinical trial of 60 mother-child pairs with high MS levels attending at King Abdulaziz University clinics were randomly grouped into experimental [received xylitol] and control [received fluoride varnish] groups [30 pairs each]. The study was conducted from February 2009 to July 2010 for 18 months period. At 18 months, the sample dropped to 21 [experimental] and 13 pairs [control]. Xylitol gum were given to mother and chewable tablets were given to children 3 times a day for a period of 3 months. Both groups received oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling, and restorative treatment and examined to assess caries, plaque and MS levels at 6, 12, and 18 months. The number of mother-child pairs with high MS level in the experimental group decreased significantly at 18 months compared to baseline [p=0.001, p=0.000]. A statistically significant difference in plaque level was found between the experimental and control groups at 6 and 12 month in children [p=0.000,p=0.006], while in mother, a significant decrease was recorded in the experimental group only at 18 month compared to baseline. Control group showed statistical significant increase in caries throughout the study period [p=0.040, p=0.040]. The use of xylitol chewing gum by mother and chewable tablets by children, showed significant reduction of MS count, plaque score as well as caries experience