Xylitol-containing gummy bear snacks given to young children may prevent plaque, say researchers in an article published July 25 in BMC Oral Health.
Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that frequently is used as a sweetener, and it has been shown to reduce levels of mutans streptococci in the oral cavity. While xylitol chewing gums are available, they are not considered to be suitable for younger children.
Researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle, examined the effectiveness of xylitol received via a different delivery method: gummy bear snacks. They randomly assigned 154 children in first through fifth grade at two elementary schools in rural Washington state to three groups. Children received gummy bears with xylitol concentrations of 15.6 grams per day or 11.7 g per day or malti-tol concentrations of 44.7 g per day. The children were given four gummy bears three times a day during school hours.
Led by Dr. Kiet A. Ly, acting assistant professor, Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, Warren G. Magnuson Health Sciences Center, University of Washington, researchers sampled the children’s plaque at baseline and six weeks to determine the levels of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Lactobacillus species.
They found no differences in S. mutans, S. sobrinus and Lactobacillus species levels in plaque between the groups at baseline. At six weeks, they found significantly reduced levels of S. mutans and S. sobrinus in all groups. Results for Lactobacillus species, however, were mixed. Researchers found reductions in plaque levels for the higher-dose xylitol group and the maltitol group, while they found an increase for the lower-dose xylitol group.
"For xylitol to be successfully used in oral health promotion programs among primary-school children, an effective means of delivering xylitol must be identified," said Dr. Ly. "Gummy bears would seem to be more ideal than chewing gum."
This study was supported by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research-National Institutes of Health grant U54 DE14254 and Office of Head Start, Health Resources and Services Administration grant 90YD0188.
