Effects of Frequent Mouthrinses with Palatinose and Xylitol on Dental Plaque.

April 1997

Lingström P, Lundgren F, Birkhed D, Takazoe I, Frostell G.
Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Göteborg University, Sweden. peter.lingstrom@odontologi.gu.se

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The aim was to evaluate the effects of frequent mouthrinses with palatinose, xylitol and a mixture of palatinose and xylitol on dental plaque pH, dental plaque formation and cariogenic microorganisms.

15 subjects refrained from toothbrushing during 3 test periods and rinsed 15 x daily for 4 d with 10 ml of: (1) 50% palatinose, (2) 37.5% palatinose + 12.5% xylitol, or (3) 50% xylitol. A contrast period with no mouthrinses was also carried out. The 4 periods were carried out in a randomized order with a cross-over design.

After the 4-day periods, 3 parameters were measured: (1) dental plaque pH during the first 30 min after a mouthrinse with palatinose, a mixture of palatinose and xylitol or xylitol alone, directly followed by a 2nd rinse with 10% sucrose; (2) number of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in plaque and saliva; (3) plaque index.

The most pronounced pH drop for the sugar substitutes was found when rinsing with 50% palatinose after the palatinose period, and the least pH drop with 50% xylitol after the xylitol period. The sucrose rinse gave similar pH fall after all 4 periods.

The microbial data showed no differences between the 4 periods, but the mutans streptococcus counts in saliva decreased after the xylitol period in contrast to the 3 other periods.

Regarding the plaque index, xylitol gave lower scores compared to the other 3 periods.