Effects of Xylitol and Sucrose Mint Products on Streptococcus mutans Colonization in a Dental Simulator Model.

Few laboratory methods exist for evaluating the cariogenicity of food ingredients. In this study, a dental simulator was used to determine the effects of commercial sucrose and xylitol mint products on the adherence and planktonic growth of Streptococcus mutans. Solutions (3% w/v) of sucrose, xylitol, sucrose mints, xylitol mints, xylitol with 0.02% peppermint oil (PO), and 0.02% PO alone were used to test the levels of planktonic and adhered S. mutans. A dental simulator with continuous artificial saliva flow, constant temperature, and mixing was used as a test environment and hydroxyapatite (HA) discs were implemented into the model to simulate the tooth surface. Bacterial content was quantified by qPCR. Compared with the artificial saliva alone, sucrose and sucrose mints increased the numbers of HA-attached S. mutans, whereas xylitol decreased them. Similarly, planktonic S. mutans quantities rose with sucrose and declined with xylitol and xylitol mints. Versus sucrose mints, xylitol mints significantly reduced the counts of HA-bound and planktonic S. mutans. Similar results were observed with the main ingredients of both types of mints separately. PO-supplemented artificial saliva did not influence the numbers of S. mutans that attached to HA or planktonic S. mutans compared with artificial saliva control. In our dental simulator model, xylitol reduced the counts of adhering and planktonic S.mutans. The mints behaved similarly as their pure, main ingredients-sucrose or xylitol, respectively. PO, which has been suggested to have antimicrobial properties, did not influence S. mutans colonization.

The use of in vitro model systems to study dental biofilms associated with caries: a short review.

A dental biofilm forms a distinct environment where microorganisms live in a matrix of extracellular polysaccharides. The biofilm favors certain bacteria and creates a habitat that functions differently compared to planktonic bacteria. Reproducible model systems which help to address various questions related to biofilm formation, the process of caries development, and its prevention are needed and are continuously developed. Recent research using both batch culture, continuous culture and flow cells in caries biofilm formation is presented. The development of new techniques and equipment has led to a deeper understanding of how caries biofilms function. Biofilm models have also been used in the development of materials inhibiting secondary caries. This short review summarizes available models to study these questions.