Anti-Cariogenic and Remineralizing Properties of Xylitol in Combination with Sucrose in Rats Inoculated with Streptococcus mutans

The anticariogenic and remineralizing properties of xylitol were studied in Osborne-Mendel rats inoculated with Streptocococcus mutans, with special emphasis on the general health of the rats. A purified diet containing 20% sucrose and 5% glucose and supplemented with 5% xylitol (diet SX) induced significantly fewer fissure lesions than the unsupplemented control diet (diet S). Initial lesions induced by diet S were significantly reduced by subsequent exposure to the SX diet, while the very advanced lesions increased markedly. Changing from the SX diet to the S diet resulted in substantial caries progression. The percentage of S. mutans in plaque samples, the body weight gains and the health of the rats were not influenced by xylitol, although the cecum showed a reversible enlargement. This study confirms the suggested therapeutic effect of xylitol even when mixed with sucrose, while nonspecific effects were eliminated.