Perspectives on xylitol-induced oral effects.

The review covered xylitol-induced effects on oral health. Xylitol was considered virtually nonacidogenic and to possess specific and unspecific advantageous effects on oral health. It was shown to mediate nonspecific remineralization, while its demineralization-inhibiting and S. mutans-reducing effects were regarded as specific. The clinical trials and field studies indicated that partial substitution of dietary sucrose by low doses of xylitol was associated with a pronounced caries reduction.