Effect of Xylitol on various Oral bacteria.
- Author:
Hee Sam NA
1
;
Sheon Min KIM
;
Seyeon KIM
;
Yoon Hee CHOI
;
Jin CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Korea. jchung@pusan.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Oral bacteria;
Periodontopathogen;
Xylitol
- MeSH:
Actinomyces;
Bacteria*;
Forsythia;
Fructose;
Gemella;
Incidence;
Mouth;
Neisseria mucosa;
Neisseria sicca;
Periodontal Diseases;
Porphyromonas gingivalis;
Prevalence;
Streptococcus;
Streptococcus mutans;
Sweetening Agents;
Treponema denticola;
Veillonella;
Xylitol*
- From:International Journal of Oral Biology
2013;38(4):175-180
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that reduces the incidence of caries by inhibiting the growth of oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. Since xylitol is transported via the fructose phosphotransferase system, we hypothesized that it could also affect the growth of other oral bacteria strains. We tested the effects of xylitol against non-periodontopathogenic oral bacteria frequently found in healthy subjects as well as periodontopathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia. With 5% xylitol, Streptococcus vestibularis and Gemella morbillorum showed marked growth inhibition. With 10% xylitol, all of the tested periodontopathogens and Actinomyces naeslundii showed marked growth inhibition, whereas the growth inhibition of Neisseria mucosa, Neisseria sicca and Veillonella parvula was mild only. Xylitol is a widely used sweetener and the concentration used in our experiment is easily achieved in the oral cavity. If xylitol reduces the growth of periodontopathogens more preferentially, it could also reduce the prevalence of these pathogens and have clinical utility in the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease.
