The effects of different doses of suckable xylitol tablet on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli on 6-8 years old children

Recently, the studies undergoing on the field of pediatric dentistry aim to describe the ways of prevention from dental caries and prevent the colonization of microorganisms causing dental caries. In these studies, the most prominent interventions investigated for caries prevention are xylitol as a prebiotic agent. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different doses of suckable xylitol tablets on salivary S.mutans and lactobasilli levels in children after 6 months of use.Children between ages 6 to 8 who admitted to Gazi University Department of Pedodontics are evaluated with CAT and out of those found to have moderate- high caries risk were divided in to three randomized groups of 15 children each. Group 1: xylitol tablet (2 gr/day), Group 2: xylitol tablet (4 gr/day) Group 4: Control group without tablet. Follow-up made by the measurements of S.mutans and Lactobasilli levels by CRT method in the 1., 3. and 6th month of the study.In both xylitol groups (2 g/day and 4 g/day) the S.mutans and lactobacilli levels in 1., 3. and 6 . months found to be decreased significantly with respect to control group (p<0,01). The level of decrease between two doses of xylitol groups was not statistically significant.