RT  - Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
ID  - 10.17796/jcpd.36.2.3mr3843h52427k38
T1  - Effect of Polyol Gums on Salivary S Mutans Levels
A1  - Subramaniam P
A1  - Suresh Babu P
K1  - xylitol
K1  - sorbitol
K1  - S mutans
K1  - polyols
K1  - chewing gums
YR  - 2011
SP  - 145
AB  - <p>The predominant sugar substitutes used in chewing gum are polyols which are low-caloric substances. The polyols most frequently used in chewing gums are sorbitol and xylitol. <strong>Aim:</strong>The present study assessed the effectiveness of xylitol and sorbitol chewing-gums on levels of S mutans in saliva. <strong>Method:</strong> The study group consisted of 30 normal and healthy males aged between 13-17 years. A pellet of gum (sorbitol or xylitol) was given to each participant after breakfast (8am), lunch (2pm) and dinner (8pm) for the study period of 3 months. On the first day of the study, baseline salivary samples were collected after breakfast from all participants and assessed for <em>S mutans</em> levels. At the end of 3 months, salivary samples were collected and processed in a similar manner. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Salivary S mutans levels showed a significant reduction after the use of xylitol based chewing gum than with sorbitol based chewing gum.</p>