International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 4 , ISSUE 1 ( January-April, 2011 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Effectiveness and the Effect of Dosage and Frequency of Sugar-free Chewing Gums on Streptococcus mutans Count: An in vivo Microbiological Study

Mohita Marwaha

Citation Information : Marwaha M. Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Effectiveness and the Effect of Dosage and Frequency of Sugar-free Chewing Gums on Streptococcus mutans Count: An in vivo Microbiological Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2011; 4 (1):29-34.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1077

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2018

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2011; The Author(s).


Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of sugar-free chewing gums and also to assess the effect of dosage and frequency of intake of sugar-free gums on Streptococcus mutans count. Method: The sample consisted of 30 subjects, divided into two groups AI and AII. Each group consisted of 15 subjects. Group AI chewed two sugar-free chewing gum, twice daily for 20 minutes (Total four gums daily) and group AII chewed two sugar-free chewing gum, four times daily for 20 minutes (Total eight gums daily) and saliva sample was collected and agar plates were inoculated for Streptococcus mutans colony count. The study was carried for a week’s time and saliva samples collected were baseline, day 1 morning and evening, day 4 evening, day 7 morning and evening. Results: After the gum was chewed, it was observed that the colony count started to reduce when compared with baseline in both the groups. The fall in Streptococcus mutans count was statistically highly significant with p < 0.001 in both the groups. When comparing between group AI (dosage 4 gums daily) and group AII (dosage 8 gums daily), the fall in Streptococcus mutans count for both the groups was not statistically significant with p > 0.05. It was concluded that there was reduction in the level of salivary Streptococcus mutans, but was not statistically significant by increasing the dosage and frequency of intake of sugar-free chewing gums. Therefore, we recommend that dosage of sugar-free chewing gums can be restricted to four gums instead of eight gums per day.


PDF Share
  1. Bowden GHW. Which bacteria are cariogenic in man? In markers of high and low risk groups and individuals for dental caries. NW Johnson (Ed). Cambridge University press 1991: 266-286
  2. CPMP list of allowed terms for pharmaceutical dosage form, route of administration, container, closure and administration devices, III/3593/91 (1991)
  3. Sugar substitutes, chewing gum and dental caries— A review. Br Dent J 1998;184(1):29-32
  4. The effect of chewing xylitol gum on the plaque and saliva levels of Streptococcus mutans. JADA 1984;108:587-92
  5. Incidence of dental caries in relation to one year consumption of xylitol chewing gum. Acta Odontol Scand 1975;33:269-78
  6. Caries prevention with xylitol. Wld Rev Nutr Diet, 1988;55:183-209
  7. Chewing gum: Trick or Treat? A review of literature. Dental update 1996:162-69
  8. Dental plaque formation and salivary mutans streptococci in school children after use of xylitolcontaining chewing gum. Int J Pediatr Dent 2007;17:79-85
  9. Effect of sorbitol and xylitolcontaining chewing gum on salivary microflora, saliva and oral sugar clearance. Scand J Dent Res 1989;97:257-62
  10. Maintaining mutans streptococci suppression with xylitol chewing gum. JADA 2000; 131:909-16
  11. Six months polyol chewing gum programme in kindergarten-age children: A feasibility study focusing on mutans streptococci and dental plaque. Int Dent Journal 2005; 55:81-88
  12. Long-term effect of xylitol gum use on mutans streptococci in adults. Caries Res 2007;41:198-203
  13. Mutans streptococci dose response to xylitol chewing gum. J Dent Res 2006;85(2): 177-81.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.